EDITORIAL PROCESS

The journal’s editorial process is structured into two independent stages: evaluation and publication, which are described below:

EVALUATION STAGE

Initial Review

Submitted manuscripts first undergo an internal preliminary review process to determine whether they comply with the journal’s thematic focus, academic quality standards, and originality requirements.

During this stage, the manuscript is examined to ensure compliance with the journal’s guidelines, including thematic relevance, required length, proper citation practices, and adherence to the author guidelines. Additionally, Turnitin software is used to identify possible similarities or indications of plagiarism. The resulting similarity report will be shared with the authors.

The journal only considers original and unpublished works. Therefore, previously published articles or manuscripts simultaneously under review by other journals will not be accepted. Likewise, when previously disseminated data are used, they must be approached from a novel analytical perspective that provides original results or interpretations.

Articles that successfully pass this initial review will be sent to at least two external reviewers, who will independently and confidentially assess the academic quality of the manuscript. If the article does not meet the journal’s required standards, the author will be notified along with the reasons for the editorial decision.

Peer Review

Articles are reviewed under a double-blind peer review system. Each manuscript is evaluated by external specialists, both national and international, who conduct a comprehensive assessment considering criteria such as thematic relevance, methodological rigor, clarity and coherence of presentation, and the originality of the research contribution.

Based on this analysis, reviewers issue an evaluation report accompanied by observations and recommendations that support the editorial decision-making process. The specific evaluation criteria may be consulted in the Article Evaluation Form.

Final Decision

The final decision regarding publication rests with the journal editors, who consider the recommendations issued by the peer reviewers. In cases where significant discrepancies exist between reviewers’ reports, additional independent reviewers may be appointed. If disagreements persist, the final determination will be made jointly by the editors and the editorial committee.

The evaluation process may conclude with one of the following decisions. In all cases, authors will receive a report containing the reviewers’ comments and recommendations:

a) Acceptance in its current form:
The article fully complies with the established criteria and may be published without modifications.

b) Acceptance subject to minor revisions by the authors:
The manuscript requires specific corrections in order to comply with the journal’s standards. Authors will have 15 business days to complete the requested revisions.

c) Acceptance subject to major revisions by the authors:
The article requires substantial modifications. In this case, authors will have 60 business days to revise the manuscript and resubmit it for evaluation.

d) Rejection:
The article does not meet the required quality standards and, therefore, will not continue in the editorial process.

PUBLICATION STAGE

a) Copyediting and Style Review

The manuscript undergoes copyediting to ensure clarity, coherence, and consistency of the language used. Once this review has been completed, authors will have 8 business days to verify and approve the corrected version.

b) Layout and Editorial Design

During this stage, the final version of the article is prepared, including layout formatting and editorial design. Authors will have 8 business days to review and approve the preliminary proofs before publication.

c) Originality Statement and Copyright Transfer

All authors must complete and sign a form certifying the originality of the work and authorizing the transfer of publication rights to the journal under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Likewise, the journal reserves the right to review published articles at any time, even after dissemination, in order to ensure continued compliance with its editorial quality standards.

EDITORIAL PROCESS TIMELINE

The journal has established the following estimated timeframes for the editorial process:

a) Submission receipt and initial review: Approximately 15 business days.

b) Peer review process: Approximately 60 business days.

c) Final decision: Approximately 15 business days.

d) Publication: Approximately 20 business days after publication approval.