AOSIS

Peer review procedure

AOSIS publishes publications that are peer-reviewed. This guarantees the quality of our publications and we therefore regularly appeal to scholars to assist in the process.

The peer review of scholarly books functions on the basis of a Chief Editor (for scholarly books), supported by international Domain Editorial Boards, and expert review panels appointed by the Chief Editor in consultation with the relevant Domain Editorial Board.

A review panel appointed by the Chief Editor, in consultation with the Domain Editorial Board, formally evaluates each book or component/chapter of a book. Each review panel consists of a title editor, who acts as coordinating reviewer, and two additional reviewers, who are experts in the main area of coverage of the manuscript/chapter. Local and international reviewers are used to ensure a balanced review.

The Title Editor:

  • Acts as coordinating reviewer;
  • Is responsible for the whole manuscript;
  • Compiles the final review report to the domain editor; and
  • Finally edits the scholarly justification report (max. 500 words) for accepted manuscripts.
  • Initial selection review process by a panel of domain experts; and then
  • In-depth double-blind peer review by at least 3 reviewers (content experts).

The names of the editorial board, the scholarly justification report and a peer review declaration are published as part of the book.

The manuscript selection and commercial publishing process operates independently to prevent undue commercial influence over the manuscript selection process. The Chief Editor, Domain Editorial Board, Title Editor and Reviewers are responsible for selection, peer review and editorial matters, whilst the publisher decides on all commercial and publishing matters (production and layout, dissemination and marketing).

Reviewers must declare any conflict of interest with manuscripts submitted to them for review, and the process are managed accordingly by the Chief Editor.

AOSIS offers reviewers financial compensation.

The review process is electronically managed through an online manuscript management system, and archived for future reference. The entire publishing process is coordinated by a publishing assistant under supervision of and in close cooperation with the publisher.