About the Journal

The Research Journal of Education, Science, and Technology (RJEST) is the official research journal of Carlos Hilado Memorial State University (CHMSU). It publishes scholarly works in education, science, technology, and related disciplines and serves as a platform for disseminating and preserving research and scholarly contributions.

RJEST is published annually, and all manuscripts undergo peer review before publication. The findings, interpretations, conclusions, and opinions expressed in published articles are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of the RJEST Editorial Board or Carlos Hilado Memorial State University.

Correspondence concerning manuscript submissions, journal inquiries, and permissions should be addressed to:

Research Journal of Education, Science, and Technology (RJEST)
Research and Development Services Office
Carlos Hilado Memorial State University
Mabini Street, Talisay City, Negros Occidental
Telephone: (034) 712-0005, local 154; (034) 712-8464
Email: research.rjest@chmsu.edu.ph

PEER REVIEW PROCESS

To ensure the quality, validity, relevance, and suitability of manuscripts for publication, the Research Journal of Education, Science, and Technology (RJEST) implements a multi-stage editorial and peer review process. The process includes preliminary editorial screening, internal technical review, external double-blind peer review, evaluation of reviewers' recommendations, editorial decision, and production and publication.

Stage 1. Preliminary Review by the Managing Editor

Indicative duration: 5–15 days

The author submits the manuscript to the Editorial Board together with the required supporting documents, including:

  • a Certificate of Compliance with the recommendations of the panel during the in-house review, issued by the RDS Director; and
  • a duly accomplished notification or declaration that the manuscript has not been previously published and is not simultaneously under consideration by another journal.

The Managing Editor conducts a preliminary review of the manuscript, covering format, language, and text similarity.

The format review examines compliance with the journal's requirements concerning manuscript organization, font style and size, pagination, margins, indentation, manuscript length, word count, spacing, tables and figures, and reference formatting.

The language review examines grammar, syntax, spelling, capitalization, punctuation, appropriate tense, clarity, and overall readability.

A text-similarity check is conducted using plagiarism-detection software to identify textual overlap with existing literature and other sources. A similarity index below 15% is generally considered acceptable by the journal; however, the similarity report shall be evaluated in context rather than solely on the numerical similarity score.

The results of the preliminary review shall be communicated to the author within the prescribed review period.

Manuscripts that satisfactorily pass the preliminary review shall be forwarded to the Editor-in-Chief for the next stage. Manuscripts requiring substantial improvements in formatting, language, or other preliminary requirements may be returned to the author for revision.

Authors shall normally be given ten (10) days to submit the revised manuscript for another preliminary review.

Stage 2. Technical Review by the Editorial Board

Indicative duration: 10–25 days

The Editor-in-Chief (EIC) designates two Associate Editors to conduct a double-blind technical review of the manuscript.

The technical review evaluates, as applicable:

  • originality and contribution to knowledge;
  • scientific or scholarly validity;
  • significance and relevance;
  • completeness of the manuscript;
  • appropriateness and rigor of the methodology;
  • accuracy and adequacy of the analysis;
  • consistency between the objectives, methods, results, and conclusions;
  • technical accuracy;
  • quality and adequacy of the supporting literature; and
  • overall suitability for publication in RJEST.

Following the technical review, the manuscript may receive one of the following recommendations:

  1. Accept as is;
  2. Accept with minor revisions;
  3. Accept with major revisions; or
  4. Reject.

The author shall be informed of the editorial decision and provided with the relevant comments or recommendations. When a manuscript is rejected, the author shall be informed of the principal reasons supporting the decision.

For manuscripts requiring revision, the author shall normally be given fourteen (14) days to submit the revised manuscript and a corresponding response or compliance report.

For manuscripts with multiple authors, the corresponding author shall ensure that all co-authors have approved the submitted manuscript and agreed to the authorship order and other publication requirements.

Stage 3. Technical Review by External Reviewers

Indicative duration: 10–15 days

Manuscripts that proceed beyond the internal technical review shall undergo external double-blind peer review.

External reviewers shall be selected based on their expertise, qualifications, research experience, and familiarity with the manuscript's subject area. Reviewers shall evaluate the manuscript independently and objectively.

The external review shall consider, as applicable:

  • originality;
  • scholarly or scientific validity;
  • significance and contribution;
  • methodological rigor;
  • completeness;
  • technical accuracy;
  • quality of the analysis and interpretation;
  • adequacy of the conclusions;
  • quality and relevance of the literature; and
  • suitability for publication.

External reviewers shall submit their evaluation to the Editor-in-Chief together with a recommendation to accept, reject, or require minor or major revisions before the manuscript is reconsidered.

Stage 4. Evaluation of Peer Reviews by the Editorial Board

Indicative duration: 5–10 days

The Editorial Board evaluates the reports and recommendations submitted by the external reviewers before reaching an editorial decision.

The decision shall consider the reviewers' comments, the manuscript's scholarly quality, compliance with journal requirements, and its suitability for publication.

When reviewers provide substantially conflicting assessments or recommendations, the Editor-in-Chief may seek an evaluation from an additional independent reviewer before making a decision.

Stage 5. Editorial Decision

Indicative duration: 3–5 days

Following the evaluation of the peer-review reports, the author shall be notified of the editorial decision.

A Notice of Acceptance shall be issued when a manuscript has satisfactorily met the journal's scholarly, technical, and editorial requirements for publication.

For manuscripts requiring further revision, the author shall normally be given ten (10) days to address the reviewers' comments and submit:

  • the revised manuscript; and
  • a detailed compliance report or response to reviewers indicating how each comment or recommendation was addressed.

The Editorial Board shall review the revised manuscript and the author's compliance report to determine whether the reviewers' substantive comments and recommendations have been adequately addressed.

Acceptance shall be based on the quality of the final manuscript and satisfactory compliance with the journal's editorial and peer-review requirements.

Stage 6. Production and Publication

Indicative duration: 7–14 days

After the manuscript has successfully completed the editorial and peer-review process and has been formally accepted, it shall proceed to production and publication.

During this stage, the manuscript may undergo final copyediting, formatting, layout, proofreading, and other production processes necessary to prepare the article for publication.

Authors may be requested to review proofs and identify typographical, formatting, or production errors before final publication. Substantive changes to the study should not normally be introduced at the proofing stage unless authorized by the Editor-in-Chief.

The final article shall be published in accordance with the journal's publication schedule and established editorial policies.

PUBLICATION FREQUENCY

The Research Journal of Education, Science, and Technology (RJEST) is published annually.

SOURCES OF SUPPORT

The Research Journal of Education, Science, and Technology (RJEST) is supported by the Carlos Hilado Memorial State University Research Fund.