SOCIETAS: Studies of Community Service and Sustainable Communities applies a double-blind peer review process to ensure the quality, originality, relevance, and academic integrity of all manuscripts submitted for publication. The identities of authors and reviewers are kept confidential throughout the review process.

Peer Review Stages

1. Submission
   Authors submit their manuscripts through the journal's online submission system and ensure that the manuscripts comply with the journal's author guidelines.
2. Initial Editorial Screening
   The editorial team checks the manuscript's suitability for the journal's focus and scope, compliance with submission requirements, completeness, and basic academic quality. Manuscripts that do not meet the requirements may be returned to authors or rejected at this stage.
3. Double-Blind Peer Review
   Manuscripts that pass the initial screening are assigned to qualified reviewers with relevant expertise. Reviewers evaluate the manuscript's originality, methodological rigor, relevance, clarity, and contribution to community service and sustainable community development. The identities of authors and reviewers are concealed from each other.
4. Editorial Decision
   Based on the reviewers' comments and recommendations, the editor makes a decision. Possible decisions include acceptance, minor revision, major revision, or rejection. The editorial decision is communicated to the corresponding author.
5. Revision
   When revisions are required, authors must address the reviewers' comments and submit a revised manuscript along with a response explaining how each comment has been addressed. Revised manuscripts may be returned to reviewers for further evaluation.
6. Final Decision
   The editor evaluates the revised manuscript and determines whether it meets the journal's publication standards. The editor retains responsibility for the final publication decision.
7. Copyediting and Publication
   Accepted manuscripts proceed to copyediting, layout, and proofreading. The final article is published in the relevant issue of SOCIETAS after the production process is completed.

Review Criteria

Reviewers are expected to assess manuscripts based on the following criteria:

• Relevance to the journal's focus and scope.
• Originality and contribution to knowledge or community practice.
• Clarity of research objectives and problem formulation.
• Appropriateness of methods, implementation, and analysis.
• Validity of findings and the strength of supporting evidence.
• Significance and potential impact on communities and sustainable development.
• Quality of writing, organization, and references.
• Compliance with publication ethics.

Confidentiality and Publication Ethics

All manuscripts under review are treated as confidential documents. Reviewers must not share, reproduce, or use unpublished information from submitted manuscripts for personal or professional advantage. Reviewers are also expected to disclose any potential conflicts of interest and provide objective, constructive, and evidence-based feedback.

SOCIETAS upholds publication ethics and expects authors, reviewers, and editors to act with integrity, fairness, and accountability throughout the editorial and peer review process.