Reviewer Guidelines

Manuscript Evaluation Policy

To maintain the quality and integrity of published research, all submitted manuscripts will undergo an initial editorial assessment prior to the peer-review process.

Desk Rejection

A manuscript may be rejected at the editorial screening stage under the following conditions:

  • The manuscript is outside the aims and scope of JPAP.
  • The manuscript is not written in English.
  • The manuscript does not comply with the official JPAP template and author guidelines.
  • The manuscript demonstrates insufficient academic contribution, methodological rigor, or overall scholarly quality.

 

 

A manuscript will be categorized as Major Revision when substantial improvements are required before it can proceed to the peer-review stage.

This decision may be assigned when:

  • The manuscript does not fully satisfy the JPAP Manuscript Quality Requirements.
  • Significant revisions are required regarding theoretical foundation, research design, methodology, analysis, discussion, or manuscript structure.
  • Authors are required to address all editorial comments within the specified revision period.
  • Failure to submit satisfactory revisions within the designated timeframe may result in rejection.
  • Manuscripts that successfully address all editorial recommendations will proceed to external peer review by Reviewer 1 and Reviewer 2.

 

Minor Revision

A manuscript will be categorized as Minor Revision when it generally meets the journal's quality requirements and requires only limited improvements.

This decision may be assigned when:

  • The manuscript substantially satisfies the JPAP Manuscript Quality Requirements.
  • Revisions are limited to technical, formatting, language, similarity, or referencing issues.
  • The manuscript will proceed directly to Reviewer 1 and Reviewer 2 for further evaluation.

 Manuscript Quality Requirements

  1. Qualitative Research

Qualitative studies submitted to JPAP are expected to demonstrate methodological rigor and strong theoretical contributions.

Minimum expectations include:

  • Preference for multi-case study designs where appropriate, allowing broader analytical insights.
  • A clearly articulated research framework illustrating the overall research process.
  • A well-defined conceptual model or analytical framework.
  • Research settings, organizations, institutions, or participants that represent broader and more meaningful contexts, preferably at provincial, national, or equivalent levels.
  • Key informants should primarily consist of Top Management Team (TMT) or Middle Management Team (MMT) members.
  • A minimum of 50 references managed using reference management software such as Mendeley or Zotero.
  • Approximately 70% of references should originate from reputable international journals indexed in Scopus or Web of Science (WoS).
  • Authors are strongly encouraged to cite at least 1–2 relevant articles previously published in JPAP.

 

  1. Quantitative Research

Quantitative studies should demonstrate strong theoretical development and advanced analytical approaches.

Minimum expectations include:

  • A clearly presented conceptual framework with high-quality visual representation.
  • The incorporation of direct and indirect relationships, including mediation and/or moderation models where theoretically justified.
  • A minimum sample size of 100 respondents or observations.
  • Data analysis using advanced structural modeling techniques such as SmartPLS, AMOS, LISREL, or equivalent software.
  • A minimum of 50 references, with approximately 70% sourced from reputable Scopus- or WoS-indexed journals.
  • Authors are strongly encouraged to cite at least 1–2 relevant articles previously published in JPAP.

 

  1. Systematic Literature Review (SLR)

Systematic Literature Review manuscripts should adhere to internationally recognized review protocols.

Minimum expectations include:

  • Adoption of the systematic review procedures proposed by Tranfield and colleagues.
  • A rigorous and transparent article identification, screening, and selection process.
  • Clearly defined inclusion and exclusion criteria.
  • A minimum dataset of 50 relevant scholarly articles.
  • Coverage of at least one decade of scholarly publications. For example, manuscripts submitted in 2026 should primarily review studies published between 2016 and 2026.
  • Critical examination of at least 10 core articles from highly ranked journals based on the Scimago Journal Rank (SJR).
  • A minimum of 75 references, with approximately 70% originating from reputable international journals indexed in Scopus or Web of Science.
  • Authors are strongly encouraged to cite at least 1–2 relevant articles previously published in JPAP.