Qubahan EcoLead Journal operates a double-anonymous peer-review process.

The identities of authors are concealed from reviewers, and reviewer identities are concealed from authors.

INITIAL SCREENING

All manuscripts undergo editorial screening before external review.

The editor evaluates:

• relevance to QELJ's Aims and Scope;
• originality;
• scholarly contribution;
• methodological or theoretical quality;
• ethical compliance;
• research-integrity concerns; and
• suitability for external peer review.

Manuscripts may be rejected at this stage without external review.

REVIEWER SELECTION

Manuscripts proceeding to external review are normally evaluated by at least two independent reviewers with relevant subject expertise.

Reviewers must not have conflicts of interest that could reasonably affect their impartiality.

The journal may consider reviewer suggestions from authors but is not obliged to use suggested reviewers.

REVIEW CRITERIA

Reviewers evaluate:

• originality;
• academic contribution;
• relevance to the journal's scope;
• literature and theoretical foundation;
• methodology or scholarly approach;
• quality of analysis;
• validity of interpretations;
• clarity of presentation;
• ethical compliance;
• limitations;
• conclusions; and
• relevance and accuracy of references.

EDITORIAL DECISIONS

Possible decisions are:

• Accept
• Minor Revision
• Major Revision
• Reject

Reviewer recommendations are advisory.

The responsible editor evaluates the quality and reasoning of the reports before making the editorial decision.

CONFLICTING REVIEWS

When reviewer recommendations differ substantially, the editor may obtain an additional independent review or adjudicate the reports on the basis of their scholarly reasoning.

REVISIONS

Authors must respond systematically to reviewer and editorial comments.

Major revisions may be returned for another round of peer review.

FINAL DECISION

The final publication decision rests with the Editor-in-Chief or an appropriately delegated editor.

EDITORIAL-BOARD SUBMISSIONS

Manuscripts submitted by editors, editorial-board members, publisher representatives, or other individuals closely associated with QELJ are handled independently by an editor without a relevant conflict of interest.

The submitting individual must not participate in reviewer selection, access confidential reviewer information, or make the publication decision.

CONFIDENTIALITY

Submitted manuscripts, reviewer reports, editorial correspondence, and unpublished research information are confidential.