EDITORIAL POLICY

Peer Review

The Journal adheres to a rigorous peer-review process to ensure the validity, quality, and scientific integrity of published work. All submissions first undergo an editorial assessment to determine their suitability for the Journal’s scope, standards, and ethical requirements. Manuscripts deemed appropriate are typically sent to at least two independent reviewers with relevant subject-matter or methodological expertise to evaluate their scientific merit. The final decision to accept or reject a manuscript rests with the editorial team.

The Journal uses a double-blind peer-review system, meaning that both authors and reviewers remain anonymous throughout the process. Publication decisions are based on the originality, novelty, scientific rigor, clarity, and methodological soundness of the work. Editors have broad discretion in determining whether a submission is appropriate for external review or for publication. Manuscripts may be rejected at the editorial stage without external peer review, accompanied by a general explanation. Such decisions are final and not subject to formal appeal.

To ensure fairness and transparency, editors do not take part in decisions on manuscripts they have authored; manuscripts submitted by family members, close colleagues, or collaborators; or papers involving products or services in which they hold a financial or professional interest.

Reviewer Responsibilities and Confidentiality

Reviewers must uphold the highest standards of confidentiality and integrity throughout the peer review process. They may not contact authors directly without prior authorization from the Journal. Any potential financial, personal, or professional conflicts of interest that could compromise impartiality must be disclosed to the Editors immediately upon invitation to review, so that appropriate action can be taken.

Manuscripts under review are privileged and confidential documents. Reviewers are strictly prohibited from disclosing, sharing, or using any part of an unpublished manuscript for personal or professional benefit. The use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools in preparing or conducting reviews is not permitted. Reviewers are expected to act with fairness, integrity, and professionalism throughout the review process.

Archiving of Digital Version

In accordance with legal requirements, digital copies of all published volumes are archived in the legal deposit library of the National Library of Serbia and simultaneously deposited in the Repository of the Serbian Citation Index (SCIndeks), which serves as the primary full-text database.

Self-Archiving Policy

Authors may deposit the publisher’s version (PDF) of their article in an institutional or thematic repository, on their personal website, or on academic social networks such as ResearchGate or Academia.edu at any time after publication. The deposit must include full bibliographic details (authors, article title, journal title, volume, issue, pages) and provide links to the article’s DOI and licensing information.