Editorial Policy

The Journal of Integrated Social Sciences and Wellbeing (JISSAW) is a biannual, peer-reviewed, open-access journal. We publish high-quality research at the intersection of but not limited to social sciences, public health, physical education, and human wellbeing. The journal is committed to rigorous editorial standards aligned with the Higher Education Commission (HEC) of Pakistan, COPE, and global academic best practices.

1. Journal Structure and Scope

We welcome submissions that contribute to the understanding of individual and collective flourishing.

  • Editorials: Expert commentaries on emerging trends (e.g., "The impact of AI on social policy" or "Global health equity").
  • Original Research: Empirical studies using quantitative, qualitative, or mixed methods (e.g., "Sociological analysis of community resilience" or "Biomechanical factors in active aging").
  • Review Articles: Systematic reviews or meta-analyses (e.g., "Mental health interventions in educational settings").
  • Case Studies: Reports on specific interventions (e.g., "Implementing wellbeing programs in corporate organizations").
  • Short Communications: Brief, high-impact insights or preliminary findings.

2. Peer Review Process

JISSAW employs a strict Double-Blind Peer Review process where both author and reviewer identities are concealed.

  • Evaluation Criteria: Manuscripts are assessed for Originality (novelty in method or theory), Methodological Soundness (valid study design), Ethical Compliance (IRB approval/consent), and Impact (contribution to the field).
  • Similarity Check: All submissions are screened via Turnitin. The similarity index must be ≤19%, with no single source exceeding 5%.
  • Timeline: The average time from submission to acceptance is approximately 12–14 weeks (actually it varies due to submission load, reviewers’ response etc.).

3. Open Access and Licensing

  • License: All articles are published under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0). This allows for maximum dissemination and reuse, provided the original work is properly cited.
  • Repository Policy: Authors are encouraged to share preprints (e.g., OSF, arXiv) but must update the record with a link and DOI to the final published version in JISSAW upon acceptance.

4. Ethical Standards

  • Human Research: Ethical approval from an Institutional Review Board (IRB) is mandatory for all studies involving human participants.
  • Confidentiality: Participant data must be fully anonymized (e.g., using codes like "Participant-01") to protect privacy.
  • Animal Research: Studies involving animals must strictly follow the ARRIVE guidelines.
  • Competing Interests: Authors must disclose all funding sources (e.g., "Funded by the National Social Science Foundation") and potential conflicts of interest (e.g., institutional ties or corporate advisory roles).

5. Authorship Criteria

Authorship is restricted to those who meet the ICMJE criteria (as endorsed by COPE):

  1. Substantial Contribution to conception, design, or data analysis.
  2. Drafting or Critical Revision of the manuscript.
  3. Final Approval of the version to be published.
  4. Accountability for all aspects of the work.
  • Note: "Ghost," "Guest," or "Gift" authorship is strictly prohibited. Contributors who do not meet these criteria (e.g., data collectors, funding supervisors) should be listed in the Acknowledgments.

6. Withdrawal and Retraction

  • Withdrawal: Authors may withdraw a manuscript before publication by submitting a formal request signed by all co-authors.
  • Retraction: JISSAW follows COPE’s Retraction Guidelines. Articles may be retracted post-publication for serious breaches such as data fabrication, plagiarism, or major ethical violations (e.g., unauthorized use of vulnerable populations' data).