Reviewer Selection Criteria

The credibility and overall quality of peer review depend heavily on the expertise, independence, and professionalism of the reviewers selected. The Celebes Nursing Journal (CNJ) employs a structured and transparent reviewer selection process to ensure that manuscripts are evaluated by qualified individuals who can provide fair, constructive, and evidence-based assessments. CNJ prioritizes reviewers with strong scholarly backgrounds, a demonstrated record of ethical conduct, and expertise aligned with the manuscript’s subject matter.

Selection Criteria
Academic Expertise
Reviewers must:

• Hold relevant academic or professional qualifications
• Demonstrate subject-area competence
• Have a record of publications in reputable peer-reviewed journals

Ethical Reliability
Reviewers must:

• Have no history of ethical violations or academic misconduct
• Be familiar with COPE-aligned peer-review ethics
• Demonstrate responsible and professional scholarly behavior

Experience
Preferred reviewers:

• Possess prior peer-review experience
• Are actively engaged in research
• Understand key reporting guidelines (EQUATOR, CONSORT, PRISMA, etc.)

Independence & COI-Free
Reviewers must:

• Not have conflicts of interest with the authors
• Not have collaborated with the authors within the past 3–5 years
• Not share institutional affiliations with the authors

Timeliness
Reviewers must be able to complete evaluations within the required timeframe and communicate promptly regarding availability.

Reviewer selection procedures are aligned with CNJ’s broader ethical and editorial governance policies, including the Peer Review Policy and Publication Ethics & Malpractice Statement (PEMS), available under the POLICIES menu.