Peer Review Policy

The International Journal of Habilitation and Rehabilitation (IJHAR) is committed to maintaining the highest standards of academic quality, research integrity, and scholarly excellence through a transparent and rigorous peer-review process. All manuscripts submitted to the journal undergo a double-blind peer-review system, in which the identities of both authors and reviewers remain confidential to ensure fairness, objectivity, and impartial evaluation.

Initial Editorial Screening

All submitted manuscripts are first reviewed by the editorial team to assess:

  • Relevance to the scope and objectives of the journal
  • Originality and academic contribution
  • Compliance with submission guidelines and formatting requirements
  • Ethical considerations and plagiarism screening
  • Overall quality and suitability for peer review

Manuscripts that do not meet the basic editorial requirements may be returned to the authors for correction or rejected before the review stage.

Reviewer Selection

Manuscripts that successfully pass the initial screening are assigned to qualified reviewers who possess expertise in the relevant subject area. The journal aims to ensure diversity, professional competence, and academic impartiality in the reviewer selection process so that manuscripts are evaluated from multiple scholarly perspectives.

Review Criteria

Reviewers evaluate manuscripts on the basis of the following criteria:

  • Originality, novelty, and significance of the research
  • Relevance to habilitation, rehabilitation, disability studies, inclusive education, and allied disciplines
  • Clarity of research objectives and conceptual framework
  • Appropriateness of methodology, data analysis, and interpretation
  • Academic quality, organization, language, and readability
  • Accuracy of references and citations
  • Ethical standards, research integrity, and compliance with publication ethics

Reviewer Responsibilities

Reviewers are expected to:

  • Conduct reviews objectively, professionally, and confidentially
  • Provide constructive, unbiased, and evidence-based feedback
  • Identify possible plagiarism, duplication, or ethical concerns
  • Avoid personal criticism and focus on scholarly merit
  • Disclose any conflict of interest related to the manuscript
  • Submit review reports within the specified timeframe

Reviewer Feedback and Revisions

Based on the reviewers’ comments and recommendations, authors may be requested to revise their manuscripts. Authors are expected to address all review comments carefully and submit a revised version within the prescribed timeline. The revised manuscript may be sent for further review if necessary.

Editorial Decision

After completion of the review process, the editorial board may take one of the following decisions:

  • Accept the manuscript
  • Accept with minor revisions
  • Request major revisions and resubmission
  • Reject the manuscript

The final decision regarding publication is made by the Editor-in-Chief and editorial board based on the reviewers’ evaluations, the quality of revisions, and the overall academic merit of the manuscript.

Ethical Compliance

IJHAR follows strict ethical standards throughout the review and publication process. Manuscripts involving human participants, children, persons with disabilities, or vulnerable populations must comply with institutional and ethical guidelines. Authors may be required to provide ethical approval letters, informed consent, permissions, or supporting documents wherever applicable.

Confidentiality and Transparency

The journal maintains complete confidentiality of manuscripts, reviewer comments, and author information during the review process. Editors and reviewers are expected not to disclose or misuse unpublished material for personal or professional benefit.

Commitment to Quality

IJHAR is dedicated to promoting transparency, fairness, academic integrity, and ethical responsibility in scholarly publishing. The journal continuously strives to ensure that all published articles contribute meaningfully to research, policy, and professional practice in the fields of habilitation, rehabilitation, inclusive education, special education, psychology, disability studies, and allied health sciences.