Objectives

1. To establish a specialized academic reference in the fields of educational research and development. 2. To meet the needs of researchers at the local, regional, and international levels in the fields of educational research and development. 3. To promote and strengthen scientific research by publishing distinguished studies and scholarly papers in the areas covered by the journal, in line with the objectives of the Center. 4. To enrich Arabic and international libraries with specialized studies and research in the fields addressed by the journal. Scope The International Journal of Educational Research and Development publishes peer-reviewed scientific research in both Arabic and English. The journal welcomes original research submissions from scholars and researchers around the world in the following fields:

The International Journal of Educational Research and Development publishes manuscripts that comply with its publication policies and meet the following requirements: 1. The journal publishes original and innovative research in the field of educational research and development in both Arabic and English. Each manuscript must include an abstract of no more than 200 words, accompanied by a translation into English or Arabic, depending on the language of the manuscript. 2. Manuscripts and all required documents must be submitted through the "Submit Your Paper" link available at the top of the journal's website. 3. Authors must submit their manuscripts in Microsoft Word format and adhere to the following formatting requirements: o Arabic manuscripts: Times New Roman, font size 14 for the main text and 10 for footnotes. o English manuscripts: Calibri, font size 12 for the main text and 10 for footnotes. 4. The manuscript should contain 6,000 to 10,000 words. 5. The first page of the manuscript must include the author's full name, academic rank, institutional affiliation (position), and email address. 6. Authors are required to provide a complete list of all references and sources cited in the manuscript, translated into English. 7. The submitted manuscript must not have been published, in whole or in part, in a book, journal, or any other publication, nor submitted simultaneously to another journal. Authors must submit a signed declaration confirming the originality of the work and stating that it will not be submitted elsewhere until the peer-review decision has been issued (Declaration Form). 8. Once a manuscript has been accepted for publication in the International Journal of Educational Research and Development, the author may not republish the manuscript, or any part of it, elsewhere without obtaining written permission from the Editor-in-Chief and only after three years have elapsed from its official publication in the journal. 9. The Editorial Board reserves the right to request the deletion or modification of any part of a manuscript to ensure compliance with the journal's publication policies. 10. All publication rights are reserved by the journal. The journal also reserves the right to republish the manuscript, in whole or in part, without further permission from the author, and to translate it into any language after obtaining the author's consent. Disclaimer The views and opinions expressed in published articles are those of the respective authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Editorial Board. Accordingly, the Editorial Board assumes no responsibility for the opinions expressed by contributors.

Research Review Procedure 1. All manuscripts submitted to the International Journal of Educational Research and Development undergo a double-blind peer review process. 2. Manuscripts are initially screened by the Editorial Board to determine whether they comply with the journal's publication guidelines and are suitable for peer review. The Editor-in-Chief may reject a manuscript at this stage if it falls outside the journal's scope or is of insufficient quality to warrant peer review. 3. Manuscripts that pass the initial screening are sent to at least two expert reviewers specializing in the subject area. Reviewers are selected from different academic institutions and nationalities whenever possible. They evaluate whether the manuscript should be: o Accepted without revision, o Accepted with minor revisions, o Accepted with major revisions, or o Rejected. 4. The Editor-in-Chief forwards the reviewers' reports to the author(s), who are required to revise the manuscript in accordance with the reviewers' comments. 5. Authors whose manuscripts are not accepted for publication will receive a formal notification of rejection. 6. The peer review process is normally completed within two weeks. Guidelines for Reviewers 1. The International Journal of Educational Research and Development follows a double-blind peer review policy. This process supports the Editor-in-Chief and the Editorial Board in making publication decisions while also helping authors improve the quality of their manuscripts. 2. Reviewers are not expected to evaluate manuscripts that fall outside their area of expertise or beyond the journal's scope. 3. Any reviewer who feels unqualified to review a submitted manuscript should promptly notify the Editor-in-Chief and withdraw from the review process. 4. All reviewers acting on behalf of the journal are required to understand and adhere to the journal's confidentiality standards throughout the peer review process. 5. Reviewers must treat all manuscripts received for review as confidential documents and must not disclose or discuss them with others except as authorized by the Editor-in-Chief. 6. Reviews should be conducted objectively and professionally. Reviewers must avoid personal criticism of the author(s) and provide clear, constructive, and evidence-based comments. 7. Reviewers should inform the Editor-in-Chief of any substantial similarity or overlap between the manuscript under review and any published work of which they are aware. 8. Reviewers must not use any unpublished information or data obtained through the peer review process for their personal or professional benefit. 9. Reviewers should decline invitations to review manuscripts in which they have any conflict of interest, including competitive, collaborative, institutional, or personal relationships with the author(s). 10. The identities and institutional affiliations of reviewers are maintained in a secure database that complies with applicable data protection and privacy standards.

Publication Frequency The International Journal of Educational Research and Development publishes four issues annually in both print and electronic formats: • January • April • July • October

سياسة Crossmark

Policy Statement The International Journal of Educational Research and Development maintains a zero-tolerance policy toward plagiarism. To uphold the highest standards of academic integrity, the journal has established the following policy outlining the procedures and actions taken when plagiarism is detected in manuscripts submitted for publication. • Plagiarism is defined as the use or imitation of another author's language, ideas, or work and presenting them as one's own original work. • Submitted manuscripts must be original, previously unpublished, and not under consideration for publication elsewhere. Authors are required to clearly identify any material reproduced verbatim from other sources by: 1. Indenting the quoted text where appropriate; 2. Using quotation marks; and 3. Providing a complete and accurate citation of the original source. • Any reproduced text exceeding the limits of fair use (defined as more than two or three consecutive sentences or their equivalent), as well as any reproduced figures, tables, illustrations, or other graphical materials, requires prior permission from the copyright holder and, where possible, the original author. The original source must also be properly acknowledged. • All submitted manuscripts are screened using plagiarism detection software to determine the similarity index before entering the peer review process. • If plagiarism is confirmed, the Editor-in-Chief will apply the appropriate editorial measures based on the percentage of similarity detected, in accordance with the following guidelines. Similarity Index Policy The International Journal of Educational Research and Development does not tolerate plagiarism under any circumstances. The Editorial Board uses plagiarism detection software to assess the manuscript's similarity index and applies the following procedures: 1. Similarity Index above 40% o The manuscript will be rejected outright due to excessive plagiarism, improper citation, or inadequate paraphrasing. o Such manuscripts will not be eligible for resubmission. 2. Similarity Index between 15% and 40% o The manuscript will be returned to the author(s) for revision in accordance with accepted academic writing and citation standards. 3. Similarity Index below 15% o The manuscript may still require minor revisions, including improvements in paraphrasing or the addition of appropriate citations wherever external sources have been used. 4. Requirements for Cases (2) and (3) o Authors must carefully revise the manuscript, ensure that all borrowed material is properly cited, and improve the quality of paraphrasing where necessary. o The revised manuscript must be resubmitted together with a plagiarism detection report confirming that:  no plagiarism is present, and  the final similarity index does not exceed 15%.

المراجع

Publication Requirements 1. The manuscript must be original and must not have been published previously. Authors are required to submit a written declaration confirming its originality. 2. The manuscript must not be under consideration for publication by any other journal. 3. Once a manuscript has been accepted for publication in the International Journal of Educational Research and Development, it may not be published elsewhere without obtaining written permission from the Editor-in-Chief. 4. Authors agree to transfer all publication rights to the journal. Should the journal wish to republish the work in another format, it will obtain the author's written consent. 5. Authors must disclose all sources of funding or financial support received for the research. 6. Authors will receive an electronic copy (offprint/PDF) of their published article. 7. Manuscripts submitted to the journal will not be returned, regardless of whether they are accepted or rejected for publication. Manuscript Preparation Requirements • The manuscript should contain 6,000–10,000 words. • The manuscript must include: o An abstract in both Arabic and English, presented on a single page, with each abstract not exceeding 200 words. o Keywords reflecting the manuscript's specific field of specialization. o An introduction. o The main body, organized into appropriate sections. o Conclusions. o A brief author biography. o A complete list of references. • The author's name and current institutional affiliation should appear immediately below the manuscript title. • Manuscripts should be prepared in Microsoft Word using the following formatting: o Times New Roman, 14-point font for the main text. o 12-point font for footnotes. o 1.5-line spacing throughout the manuscript. o Text should be typed on one side of the page only. o Authors are responsible for ensuring careful proofreading before submission. • Figures and illustrations should: o Be inserted within the text. o Be presented in black and white. o Be numbered consecutively. o Include captions and explanatory notes placed below each figure. • Tables should: o Be inserted within the text. o Be numbered consecutively. o Include titles placed above each table. o Include explanatory notes, when necessary, below the table. • Footnotes should be used only when necessary. Referencing and Citation Style The journal adopts APA 7th Edition as the only accepted referencing style. In-text Citations Citations should appear immediately after the quoted or paraphrased material using the following format: • (Author's surname, Year, p. Page Number) For example: • (Yousef & Ahmed, 2020, p. 16) Page numbers should be included whenever available, particularly for direct quotations. Reference List • The reference list should appear at the end of the manuscript. • References must be arranged alphabetically by the author's surname. • All references should conform to the APA 7th Edition guidelines. The journal accepts APA 7 as the exclusive citation and referencing style for all submitted manuscripts. APA 7 Reference Style Books and Book Chapters Single-Author Book Format Author's Surname, Initial(s). (Year). Title of the book (Edition, if not the first). Publisher. Example Al-Halabi, M. (2020). Contemporary Arabic Literature (2nd ed.). Dar Al-Maaref Publishing. Note: The first edition is not indicated. Authors' given names may be abbreviated to initials in accordance with APA 7. Book with Multiple Authors Format Author's Surname, Initial(s)., & Author's Surname, Initial(s). (Year). Title of the book (Edition). Publisher. Example Al-Muhairi, M., & Al-Najjar, A. (2021). Comparative Arabic Literature (3rd ed.). Dar Al-Fikr. Under APA 7, up to 20 authors may be listed in the reference list before using an ellipsis. Edited Book Format Editor's Surname, Initial(s). (Ed.). (Year). Title of the book (Edition). Publisher. Examples Al-Sarraj, A. (Ed.). (2016). Constitutional Law. Dar Al-Kitab. Al-Sarraj, A., & Al-Nabulsi, O. (Eds.). (2018). Civil Law (2nd ed.). Dar Al-Uloom. Chapter in an Edited Book Format Author's Surname, Initial(s). (Year). Title of the chapter. In Editor's Initial(s). Editor's Surname (Ed.), Title of the book (Edition, pp. xx–xx). Publisher. Example Al-Murabit, A. (2008). Arabic poetic meters. In A. Al-Rayhani (Ed.), Introduction to Arabic Literature (3rd ed., pp. 120–134). Al-Manarah Publishing. Journal Articles Journal Article Format Author's Surname, Initial(s). (Year). Title of the article. Journal Title, Volume(Issue), Page Range. https://doi.org/xxxxx Under APA 7, the journal title and volume number should be italicized. Include the DOI whenever available. If no DOI exists and the article was retrieved from a website, provide the direct URL without using "Retrieved from." Examples Al-Rahmani, A. (2021). The artistic vision in the poetry of Al-Mutanabbi. Journal of Humanities, 19(2), 130–145. https://doi.org/10.1108/ITP-04-2014-0083 Al-Sarraj, I. (2022). Referencing and citation practices. Adwaa Journal, 16(3), 19–35. Conference Papers Published Conference Proceedings Format Author's Surname, Initial(s). (Year). Title of the paper. In Editor's Initial(s). Editor's Surname (Ed.), Title of the conference proceedings (pp. xx–xx). Publisher. https://doi.org/xxxxx Example Mansour, F. (2017). Causes, manifestations, and prevention of addiction. In A. Zaki (Ed.), Proceedings of the Fifth Conference on Contemporary Social Issues (pp. 77–89). Dar Al-Maaref. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-4241-6_2 Unpublished Conference Paper Format Author's Surname, Initial(s). (Year, Month). Title of the paper [Conference paper]. Conference Name. City, Country. URL (if available). Example Abdullah, S. (2019, November). Criminal law in Bahrain [Conference paper]. Tenth Conference on Criminal Law in the Arab States 2019. Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. https://bit.ly/37DvrHR Theses and Dissertations Published Thesis or Dissertation Format Author's Surname, Initial(s). (Year). Title of the thesis or dissertation [Doctoral dissertation or Master's thesis, University Name]. Repository or URL (if available). Example Abdul Hamid, T. (2020). Cybercrime law: A case study [Doctoral dissertation, University of Mosul]. Unpublished Thesis or Dissertation Format Author's Surname, Initial(s). (Year). Title of the thesis or dissertation [Unpublished master's thesis or doctoral dissertation]. University Name. URL (if available). Example Abu Shaqaf, K. A. A. (2025). Bullying and its relationship to self-acceptance among female secondary school students [Unpublished master's thesis]. Jazan University. General APA 7 Referencing Guidelines 1. The heading "References" should be centered at the top of the reference list. 2. References should not be numbered. They must be arranged in alphabetical order by the surname of the first author. 3. The reference list should appear as one unified list, without categorizing references by source type (e.g., books, journal articles, conference papers). 4. Use double line spacing throughout both the manuscript and the reference list. 5. Page Numbers o The abbreviation "pp." should be used only when citing:  a chapter in an edited book, or  a paper in conference proceedings. o For journal articles, include only the page range (e.g., 220–235), without "pp." 6. Commas should be used only in the following cases: o After the journal title. o After the issue number and before the page range.  Example: Knowledge World, 12(5), 23–25. o After the edition number in a book chapter citation.  Example: In A. Al-Alawi (Ed.), Sociology (3rd ed., pp. 112–130). o After the type of published thesis/dissertation and before the university name.  Example: [Doctoral dissertation, University of Sharjah]. o After the author's surname.  Example: Al-Alawi, A. 7. For an unpublished thesis or dissertation, the university name should appear outside the square brackets, followed by a period rather than a comma. Example: [Unpublished master's thesis]. University of Khartoum. 8. The edition statement should appear immediately after the book title, without a period separating them. Example: History of Science among Muslims (3rd ed.). Dar Al-Fikr. 9. The first edition is not indicated. Only the second edition and subsequent editions should be included. 10. For edited books, cite the editor's surname and initials followed by (Ed.) or (Eds.), then the publication year. Example: Al-Sarraj, A. (Ed.). (2018). 11. For translated or edited books, the translator or editor should be identified immediately after the title. Example: Introduction to Psychology (A. Al-Shamsi, Trans.). Dar Al-Fikr. (Original work published 2006). 12. If a book includes both an editor/translator and an edition number, both should appear immediately after the title. Examples: Linguistics (R. Al-Hilali, Ed.) (4th ed.). Dar Al-Uloom. or Linguistics (Ed. R. Al-Hilali, 4th ed.). Dar Al-Uloom. 13. If a journal issue number is unavailable, cite only the italicized volume number, followed by the page range. Example: Knowledge World Journal, 34, 97–113. 14. Italic type should be used for: • Book titles. • Journal titles. • Thesis and dissertation titles. • Volume numbers of journals. • Titles of unpublished conference papers. • Titles of conference proceedings where applicable. Specifications for Manuscripts Submitted for Publication The International Journal of Educational Research and Development welcomes high-quality, original research that demonstrates scholarly depth and makes a meaningful contribution to the field of educational research and development. Manuscripts may be submitted in either Arabic or English, provided that they comply with the following requirements: 1. Each manuscript must include two abstracts—one in Arabic and one in English. Each abstract must not exceed one page and should be followed by five keywords. 2. The first page of the manuscript must include: o The title of the paper, o The name(s) of the author(s), and o The institutional affiliation(s) of the author(s). 3. The manuscript must not have been previously published or submitted for publication in another journal, conference, or any other publication venue. It must not be extracted from a published book or from a master's or doctoral thesis. Authors are required to submit a signed declaration confirming these conditions along with their manuscript. 4. Authors must adhere to the highest standards of academic integrity throughout the preparation of the manuscript. The journal assumes no responsibility for any breach of academic ethics committed by the author(s). 5. Manuscripts should follow recognized standards of scholarly writing, including: o A clear introduction, o Well-defined research objectives, o An appropriate research methodology, o A logical structure and organization, o Accurate and complete referencing, o A conclusion summarizing the principal findings and recommendations, and o A reference list arranged in alphabetical order. 6. Manuscripts must be submitted in both Microsoft Word (.doc/.docx) and PDF formats. 7. The manuscript should be 20 to 50 A4 pages in length. 8. Formatting requirements are as follows: o Arabic manuscripts: Times New Roman, 14-point font for the main text and 12-point font for footnotes. o English manuscripts: Calibri, 14-point font for the main text and 12-point font for footnotes. 9. Footnotes should appear at the bottom of each page and be numbered consecutively throughout the manuscript. 10. Manuscripts that have not undergone professional linguistic proofreading, whether written in Arabic or English, will not be considered for publication. Second: Publication Procedures 1. Manuscripts must be submitted electronically through the "Submit Your Manuscript" portal available at the top of the journal's website. 2. All correspondence concerning manuscript submission and publication shall be addressed to the Journal Secretariat. 3. Authors must attach a brief biographical statement, including their academic and professional information, with the manuscript submission. 4. All submitted manuscripts are subject to a plagiarism screening. The similarity index must not exceed 15%. Manuscripts exceeding this threshold will not be considered for publication. 5. The Editor-in-Chief refers submitted manuscripts to the Scientific Publication Committee for an initial evaluation to ensure their alignment with the journal's aims and scope. Based on the Committee's recommendation, manuscripts deemed suitable are assigned to expert reviewers specializing in the relevant field. 6. All submitted manuscripts and the corresponding peer-review reports are treated with the strictest confidentiality. 7. The Managing Editor sends the author copies of the reviewers' reports, accompanied by an official notification from the Editor-in-Chief outlining any required revisions. Authors are expected to complete and submit the requested revisions within one month from the date of receiving the notification. 8. After completing the required revisions, the author shall submit the revised manuscript to the Editor-in-Chief, accompanied by a detailed response letter explaining how each reviewer comment has been addressed, within the specified deadline. 9. The Editor-in-Chief forwards the revised manuscript, together with the author's response letter and the reviewers' reports, to the Scientific Publication Committee to verify that all required revisions have been satisfactorily completed. Upon approval, the manuscript proceeds to the final publication and production stages. 10. The Managing Editor formally notifies the author of the final publication decision—acceptance or rejection—based on the recommendation of the Scientific Publication Committee. 11. Upon acceptance, the author receives an official letter of acceptance issued by the journal and sent via email. 12. Once published in the journal, the manuscript may not be republished in any other academic journal or conference proceedings. 13. The author will receive one printed copy of the journal issue containing the published article, in addition to an electronic offprint of the article sent via email. 14. In addition to the printed edition, the Editorial Board reserves the right to publish the journal issues electronically on the International Journal of Research and Development in Education website.

Processing Charge The peer-review and publication fee is USD 400 (equivalent to SAR 1,500). Payment is required after the initial acceptance of the manuscript.

The International Journal of Research and Development in Education adheres to the Code of Conduct and Best Practice Guidelines for Journal Editors issued by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) (2011). Additional information is available at https://publicationethics.org. The Journal fully supports the principles and best practices of publication ethics as defined by COPE and is committed to maintaining the highest standards of integrity throughout all stages of the scholarly publishing process. The Editorial Board takes all necessary measures to prevent and address any form of publication malpractice. Preventing publication misconduct—including plagiarism, improper citation, unauthorized republication, data fabrication, data falsification, and other unethical practices—is a fundamental responsibility of the Editorial Board. The Journal maintains a zero-tolerance policy toward any conduct that violates publication ethics and recognizes its ethical responsibility to ensure the integrity and credibility of the scholarly record. A. Responsibilities of the Editor-in-Chief The Editorial Board consists of distinguished scholars and experts in the Journal's fields of specialization. The Editor-in-Chief is responsible for publishing the names, institutional affiliations, and contact information of Editorial Board members on the Journal's website. Editorial Decisions 1. The Editor-in-Chief has the final authority over all editorial decisions, including manuscript submission, peer review, revision, acceptance, or rejection. 2. Publication decisions are based on reviewers' reports, the scientific merit, originality, clarity, significance, and relevance of the manuscript to the Journal's aims and scope. 3. The Editor-in-Chief may consult Associate Editors or external expert reviewers when making editorial decisions. 4. Editorial decisions shall also consider applicable legal requirements regarding defamation, copyright infringement, plagiarism, research integrity, and publication ethics. Confidentiality 1. The Editor-in-Chief and Editorial Board members shall not disclose any information regarding a submitted manuscript to anyone other than the corresponding author, reviewers, potential reviewers, editorial advisers, and the publisher, as appropriate. 2. The Journal operates a fully anonymous (double-blind) peer-review process, and all manuscripts and review reports are treated with strict confidentiality. Fair and Transparent Peer Review 1. Manuscripts shall be evaluated solely on their academic merit, without discrimination based on race, gender, nationality, religion, institutional affiliation, or political or philosophical beliefs. 2. Acceptance or rejection decisions shall be based exclusively on the originality, scientific quality, clarity, significance, and relevance of the manuscript. 3. Authors may be invited to recommend potential reviewers or request that specific reviewers be excluded, provided that appropriate justification is given. Electronic Archiving 1. The Editor-in-Chief shall ensure that all published materials are permanently archived electronically through the Journal's official website. Disclosure, Research Integrity, and Conflicts of Interest 1. The Editor-in-Chief and Editorial Board members shall not use unpublished material disclosed in submitted manuscripts for their own research without the author's written consent. 2. Confidential information or innovative ideas obtained through peer review shall not be used for personal advantage. 3. Reviewers must disclose any actual or potential conflicts of interest before accepting a review assignment and must decline participation whenever an impartial review cannot be guaranteed. 4. Original manuscripts submitted by authors who have co-authored publications with the Editor-in-Chief within the previous three years shall be handled by an independent editor or guest editor. 5. Authors shall be required to disclose any conflicts of interest, and appropriate corrections shall be made if undisclosed conflicts are identified after publication. Handling Allegations of Research Misconduct 1. Any suspected unethical conduct identified before, during, or after the peer-review process must be reported immediately to the Editor-in-Chief. 2. Individuals reporting misconduct must provide sufficient evidence and supporting documentation. 3. All allegations shall be investigated promptly, objectively, and confidentially until a decision supported by clear evidence is reached. 4. Investigations may be initiated regardless of how much time has elapsed since publication. 5. If a breach of publication ethics is confirmed, the Editor-in-Chief, in coordination with the publisher, shall notify the author in writing and provide an opportunity to respond to the allegations. 6. Minor ethical concerns may be resolved internally without involving external organizations. 7. In cases of serious misconduct, the Editor-in-Chief may refer the matter to the author's institution or relevant research authorities for further investigation. 8. Actions resulting from confirmed serious misconduct may include: o Issuing a formal notice describing the ethical violation. o Sending an official notification to the author's department, institution, reviewer, or research sponsor. o Retraction of the published article and notification of the author's institution. o Permanent removal of the author or reviewer from the Journal's database of contributors. B. Responsibilities of Authors Compliance with Journal Policies 1. Authors shall comply with the Journal's submission guidelines and publication policies, as well as internationally accepted standards of research and publication ethics. 2. Authors shall confirm that they meet the Journal's authorship criteria. 3. Authors shall present an accurate, objective, and complete account of their research and appropriately explain its significance. 4. Manuscripts shall contain sufficient detail and appropriate references to enable replication and proper scholarly citation. Responsible Authorship 1. Authors shall avoid all forms of research misconduct, including plagiarism, fabrication, falsification, and misrepresentation. 2. Simultaneous submission of the same manuscript to more than one journal is strictly prohibited. 3. Authors may be requested to provide the original research data during the review process and should be prepared to make such data available where appropriate. 4. Submitted work must be original, and appropriate acknowledgment shall be given to the contributions of others. Authors shall properly cite all relevant previous studies that influenced the reported research. 5. All individuals who have made substantial scholarly contributions must be listed as co-authors, and their written consent to publication must be obtained. 6. If a significant error is identified after publication, authors must promptly notify the Editor-in-Chief or the publisher to facilitate correction or retraction. Copyright Authors retain copyright of their work until acceptance. Upon acceptance for publication, copyright is transferred to the International Journal of Research and Development in Education, in accordance with the Journal's publication policy. Disclosure and Conflicts of Interest 1. Authors shall disclose all sources of financial support and any actual or potential conflicts of interest that could influence the evaluation or interpretation of the submitted work. 2. Any conflict of interest identified during or after the peer-review process must be reported immediately to the Editor-in-Chief or the publisher. C. Responsibilities of Reviewers Contribution to Editorial Decisions The Journal employs a double-blind peer-review system. Reviewers assist the Editor-in-Chief in making editorial decisions and provide constructive recommendations that help authors improve the quality of their manuscripts. Responsible Reviewing 1. Reviewers shall accept review assignments only within their areas of expertise. Those who lack the necessary expertise or are unable to complete the review promptly shall notify the Editor-in-Chief and decline the invitation. 2. Information obtained through peer review shall not be used for personal, professional, or financial gain. 3. Reviewers shall decline any review assignment in which a conflict of interest exists because of competitive, collaborative, financial, institutional, or other relationships with the author(s). 4. Reviewers shall promptly notify the Editor-in-Chief of any substantial similarity or overlap between the submitted manuscript and other published or unpublished work known to them. Confidentiality and Objectivity 1. All reviewers shall maintain strict confidentiality throughout the double-blind peer-review process. 2. Manuscripts received for review shall be treated as confidential documents and shall not be shared, discussed, or disclosed to others except with the authorization of the Editor-in-Chief. 3. Reviews shall be conducted objectively, fairly, and professionally. Personal criticism of the author is inappropriate. 4. Reviewers shall express their evaluations clearly, objectively, and constructively, providing well-supported comments and recommendations based on scholarly evidence.