1. Submission

1.1 Manuscript Submission: Authors submit their manuscripts through the online submission system, ensuring adherence to the journal’s guidelines and ethical standards.

1.2 Initial Assessment: The editorial office conducts an initial assessment to ensure the submission meets the basic criteria, including compliance with formatting and ethical guidelines.

2. Editor Assignment

2.1 Editorial Board Assignment: The Editor-in-Chief assigns the manuscript to an Associate Editor or Editorial Board member based on their expertise in the subject matter.

2.2 Conflict of Interest Check: Editors disclose any potential conflicts of interest and, if necessary, reassign the manuscript to another editor.

3. Peer Review

3.1 Reviewer Selection: The assigned editor selects appropriate peer reviewers based on their expertise, ensuring a fair and thorough review process.

3.2 Double-Blind Review: ZAP Journals follows a double-blind peer review process, where both the authors and reviewers remain anonymous.

3.3 Reviewer Evaluation: Reviewers assess the manuscript’s quality, originality, methodology, and ethical considerations. They provide constructive feedback and recommend a publication decision.

4. Editorial Decision

4.1 Editorial Board Meeting: The editor compiles reviewer comments and convenes an Editorial Board meeting to discuss the manuscript’s strengths, weaknesses, and recommendations.

4.2 Decision Options: The Editorial Board makes a decision on acceptance, minor revisions, major revisions, or rejection. The decision is communicated to the authors along with detailed feedback.

5. Author Revisions

5.1 Author Revision: If revisions are required, authors are given a reasonable timeframe to address reviewer comments and revise their manuscript.

5.2 Re-review (if necessary): Revised manuscripts may undergo a second round of peer review to ensure that all concerns have been adequately addressed.

6. Copyediting and Proofreading

6.1 Copyediting: Accepted manuscripts undergo copyediting for grammar, style, and formatting, ensuring adherence to the journal’s guidelines.

6.2 Proofreading: Authors receive galley proofs for final review, allowing them to identify any remaining errors before publication.

7. Publication

7.1 Online Publication: The final, approved version is published online, and articles are assigned a digital object identifier (DOI) for citation.

7.2 Indexing: Published articles are indexed in relevant databases, increasing their visibility and accessibility.

8. Continuous Improvement

8.1 Editorial Review: The editorial process is regularly reviewed and refined to enhance efficiency, transparency, and the overall quality of publications.

8.2 Feedback Mechanism: Authors, reviewers, and editors are encouraged to provide feedback to further improve the editorial process continually.

ZAP Journals is committed to maintaining a rigorous and ethical editorial process that upholds the highest standards of scholarly publishing. Authors are welcomed to contact the editorial office for any clarifications or concerns throughout the process.