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GUIDELINES FOR PEER REVIEWERS

The reviewers should ensure that the manuscripts conform to the following 

1.       PROBLEM STATEMENT, CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK, AND RESEARCH QUESTION(S)

  • The introduction builds a logical case and context for the problem statement.
  • The problem statement is clear and well-articulated. iii. The conceptual framework is explicit and justified.
  • The research question(s) /hypothesis (where applicable) should be clear, concise, and complete. 
  • The variables being investigated are clearly identified and presented.

2.        LITERATURE REVIEW

  • The literature review is up-to-date.
  • The number of references is appropriate.
  • The review of the literature is well integrated. iv. The references are mainly primary sources.
  • Ideas are acknowledged appropriately and accurately.
  • The literature is analyzed and critically appraised
  • The literature is relevant to the themed literature addresses important problems or issues.
  • The study adds to the literature already available on the subject.

3.         RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

a)        Research Design

  • The research design is clearly defined, described, and sufficiently detailed to permit the study to be replicated.
  • The design is appropriate to the research question/hypothesis.
  • The design has both internal validity i.e. biasness is addressed and external validity. 
  • The design allows for unexpected outcomes or events to occur.
  • The design and conduct of the study are plausible.

b)       Instrumentation, Data Collection, and Quality Control

  • The development and content of the instrument are sufficiently described or referenced and are sufficiently detailed to permit the study to be replicated.
  • The measurement instrument is appropriate given the study’s variables; the scoring method is clearly defined.
  • The psychometric properties and procedures are clearly presented and appropriate.
  • The data set is sufficiently described or referenced.
  • Observers or raters were sufficiently trained. vi. Data quality control is described and adequate.

c)      Population and Sample

  • The population is defined clearly, both for subjects (participants) and stimulus (intervention), and is sufficiently detailed to permit the study to be replicated.
  • The sampling procedures are sufficiently described.
  • Subject samples are appropriate to the research question.
  • Stimulus samples are appropriate to the research question.
  • Selection bias is addressed.

d)       Data Analysis and Statistics

  • Data analysis procedures are sufficiently described and are sufficiently detailed to permit the study to be replicated.
  • Data analysis procedures conform to the research design; hypotheses, models, or theory drives the data analyses.
  • The assumptions underlying the use of statistics are fulfilled by the data, such as measurement properties of the data and normality of distributions.
  • Statistical tests are appropriate (optimal).
  • If statistical analysis involves multiple tests or comparisons, proper adjustment of significance level for chance outcomes was applied.
  • Power issues are considered in statistical studies with small sample sizes.
  • In qualitative research that relies on words instead of numbers, basic requirements of data reliability, validity, trustworthiness, and absence of bias were fulfilled.

e)       Reporting of Statistical Analyses

  • The assumptions underlying the use of statistics are considered, given the data collected.
  • The statistics are reported correctly and appropriately.
  • The number of analyses is appropriate.
  • Measures of functional significance, such as effect size or proportion of variance accounted for, accompany hypothesis-testing analyses.

     f)     Presentation of Results

  • Results are organized in a way that is easy to understand. 
  • Results are presented effectively; the results are contextualized.
  • The results are complete. 
  • The amount of data presented is sufficient and appropriate. 
  • Tables, graphs, or figures are used judiciously and agree with the text.

g)       Discussion and Conclusion: Interpretation

  • The conclusions are clearly stated; key points stand out. 
  • The conclusions follow from the design, methods, and results; the justification of conclusions is well articulated. iii.         Interpretations of the results are appropriate; the conclusions are accurate (not misleading).
  • Alternative interpretations for the findings are considered.
  • Statistical differences are distinguished from meaningful differences. 
  • Personal perspectives or values related to interpretations are discussed. 

4.        REFERENCING 

APA 6th edition, including conventions on long and short quotes

Reviewers report form