Policy Document

1.      Policy Document

CEERAT Journal of Society and Development (CEERATJSD), ISSN(O): 3080-4256, ISSN (P): 3080-4248, is an interdisciplinary, blind peer-reviewed, open access journal published under Center of Engineering Research Advancement and Technology (CEERAT) (SMC-Private) Limited (CUI No. 0287484). The CEERAT Journal of Society and Development 
(CEERATJSD) is an international, peer-reviewed research journal dedicated to advancing 
scholarly knowledge in the fields of sociology, developmental studies, social sciences, and  humanities. CEERATJSD serves as a platform for academics, researchers, practitioners, and  policymakers to share insights and foster dialogue on pressing issues related to sustainability development and medical health, technology and society, the metaverse, and social well-being. 
The journal adopts an interdisciplinary approach, encouraging contributions that explore the complex dynamics between crime and peace within local, national, and global contexts. By publishing high-quality research, CEERATJSD aims to promote innovative thinking, evidence based solutions, and collaborative efforts toward creating safer and more harmonious societies. 

Frequency of Publication

CEERAT Journal of Society and Development (CEERATJSD) publication schedule comprises one (01) volume with two (02) issues each year on a regular basis with the following description.

1st Issue            January - June

2nd issue           July - December

2.      About

About the Journal
CEERAT Journal of Society and Development (CEERATJSD), ISSN (Online) (3080-4256) & ISSN (print) (3080-2448), is an interdisciplinary, blind peer-reviewed, open access journal published under Center of Engineering Research Advancement and Technology (CEERAT) (SMC-Private) Limited (CUI No. 0287484). The CEERAT Journal of Society and Development (CEERATJSD) is an international, peer-reviewed research journal dedicated to advancing scholarly knowledge in the fields of sociology, developmental studies, social sciences, and humanities. CEERATJSD serves as a platform for academics, researchers, practitioners, and policymakers to share insights and foster dialogue on pressing issues related to sustainability development and medical health, technology and society, the metaverse, and social well-being. 
The journal adopts an interdisciplinary approach, encouraging contributions that explore the complex dynamics between soceity and development within local, national, and global contexts. By publishing high-quality research, CEERATJSD aims to promote innovative thinking, evidence based solutions, and collaborative efforts toward creating safer and more harmonious societies. 
Mission 
The mission of the CEERAT Journal of Society and Development (CEERATJSD) is to 
promote rigorous academic research and foster interdisciplinary dialogue on issues related to crime, peace, and societal well-being. The journal is committed to advancing knowledge that addresses the root causes of crime and conflict while exploring innovative solutions for social development in the fields of social change and medical health advancement. 
CEERATJSD seeks to bridge the gap between research, policy, and practice by providing a platform for scholars, practitioners, and policymakers to share evidence-based insights that contribute to creating more advanced development among worldwide societies. 
Aims and Objectives 
The CEERAT Journal of Society and Development (CEERATJSD) aims to provide a scholarly platform for interdisciplinary research and critical discussions on issues related to complex social organization, policy, and governance for societal development. The journal seeks to promote innovative research that explores the complex interplay between technology and society, community development, cultural dynamics, and sustainable development goals. It encourages contributions from sociology and related fields to advance knowledge and offers solutions for pressing societal challenges. The primary objective of CEERATJSD is to facilitate evidence based policy discourse, enhance public understanding related to migration and urbanization, education, and social change, and foster collaborative efforts among academics, policymakers, and practitioners to make sustainable societies. 
Audience 
Our readership includes academics and researchers in the fields of sociology, social inequality, and mobility; consultants; students; and policymakers interested in the empirical and theoretical analysis of society and its development in institutions of health, medical illness, and well-being. 
Scope and Focus 
CEERATJSD welcomes empirical research (quantitative and qualitative), theoretical analyses, policy reviews, discourses, scientific and systematic literature reviews, and case studies on topics such as: 
• Public and social policy 
• Community resilience 
• Social inequality and mobility, 
• Community development 
• Cultural dynamics and economic crisis 
• Sustainable development 
• Technology and society 
• Health, medical illness and well-being 
• Migration and urbanization 
• Education and social change 
• Gender studies 
• Policy and governance 
The journal is committed to maintaining the highest standards of academic integrity and strives to contribute meaningfully to ongoing scholarly and policy debates. 
Open Access 
We are proud to be an open-access journal, providing unrestricted online access to our content to support a greater global exchange of knowledge. This aligns with our belief that free access to scholarly research supports a greater global exchange of information and has the power to amplify the impact of research across borders and among diverse academic and practical communities. 
Submitting to the Journal 
CEERATJSD welcomes submissions that advance the fields of social sciences and humanities. For submission guidelines and deadlines, please visit the journal page. The review process is rigorous, ensuring that only the highest quality research is published. Submit your manuscript to the CEERAT Journal of Society and Development (CEERATJSD) at editor@ceeratjsd.com

2.2. Publication Process

CEERAT Journal of Society and Development (CEERATJSD) uses Open Journal Systems (OJS), which is an open-source journal management and publishing software developed, supported, and freely distributed by the Public Knowledge Project under the GNU General Public License. All articles submitted for possible publication in CEERATJSD will be processed through the process detailed below:

2.3. Authority Registration

CEERAT Journal of Society and Development (CEERATJSD), ISSN (Online) & ISSN 
(print), is an interdisciplinary, blind peer-reviewed, open access journal published under 
Center of Engineering Research Advancement and Technology (CEERAT) (SMC-Private) 
Limited (CUI No. 0287484).

2.4. Privacy Statement

Any information provided by authors on the CEERAT Journal of Society and Development (CEERATJSD) website, including names, email addresses, and contact details, will be used solely for the purposes of managing submissions, communications, and other activities related to this journal. This information will not be shared, sold, or otherwise disclosed to any third party for any purpose beyond the stated objectives of the journal.

2.5. Conflicts Of Interests

CEERATJSD is committed to transparency and requires authors to disclose any potential conflicts of interest that could influence—or appear to influence—their research. Declaring conflicts helps maintain trust and integrity in the publication process.

What is a Conflict of Interest?
A conflict of interest may arise from relationships, affiliations, or financial interests that could affect an author’s judgment or actions. This includes, but is not limited to:

  • Receiving fees for consulting
  • Research funding from organizations with a stake in the results
  • Employment or stock ownership in a related company
  • Financial support for attending conferences or talks

If there are any other interests that a reasonable reader might think could affect the research, authors must disclose them before their manuscript is accepted.

Declaration Requirements
Authors must provide a written statement during manuscript submission. This statement will appear in the published article under the heading “Declaration of Conflicting Interest.” If there is no conflict, simply state:

“The Author(s) declare(s) that there is no conflict of interest.”

Authors must also ensure the following:

  1. All financial support for the research is acknowledged.
  2. Any commercial or financial involvement that could create a conflict is disclosed.
  3. Potential conflicts are discussed with the Editor to determine whether they should be included in the manuscript.
  4. Authors have not signed any agreements that prevent them from publishing results, whether positive or negative, without sponsor approval.
  5. Authors comply with the journal’s manuscript submission guidelines for conflict of interest declarations.

Applicability
The same requirements apply to editors, guest editors, and peer reviewers where relevant.

By following this policy, CEERATJSD ensures that all research is published fairly and transparently, helping authors, readers, and the academic community maintain trust in the work.

2.6. Copyrights and Licensing

This CEERAT Journal of Society and Development (CEERATJSD) operates under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC 4.0). This means that users are free to use, share, reproduce, or display the content in any medium, as long as proper credit is given to the original authors. The material may only be used for non-commercial purposes, such as research, education, or academic discussion, and must be appropriately cited to maintain scholarly integrity.

2.7. Announcements

All announcements of calls for papers are made through the journal website and social media platforms and are shared with the authors.

2.8. Contact

Publisher Name: Center of Engineering Research Advancement and Technology (CEERAT)

3.         Guidelines

3.1. Review Process

All manuscripts submitted to the CEERAT Journal of Society and Development (CEERATJSD) undergo a rigorous evaluation process based on originality, significance, proper documentation, reader engagement, and overall quality of writing. Submissions that do not comply with the journal’s author guidelines will be returned for revision before the review process begins.

In line with international ethical standards, if any allegation of research misconduct arises regarding a published article, the journal’s editorial team will follow the COPE’s guidelines or an equivalent framework to address the issue appropriately.

Key points of the review process include:

  • Plagiarism Screening: All submissions are subjected to a plagiarism check using Turnitin. Manuscripts with a total similarity index exceeding 19%, or more than 3% similarity from a single source, and not allowed AI will be allowed for clarification, revision, or rejection based on editorial evaluation.
  • Initial Editorial Review: The editorial board conducts a preliminary assessment to ensure the manuscript aligns with the journal’s aims, scope, and submission policies.
  • Peer Review Process: Manuscripts passing the initial review are sent to two independent external reviewers and, where appropriate, a statistical reviewer. The journal follows a double-blind peer review process, ensuring anonymity of both authors and reviewers to maintain impartiality.
  • Revision and Re-evaluation: Revised submissions are re-evaluated for how effectively authors address the reviewers’ comments and suggestions. Manuscripts may be returned multiple times during this phase for clarification or improvement.
  • Technical and Language Editing: Accepted articles undergo further checks for technical accuracy, statistical soundness, ethical compliance, and language clarity.
  • Final Decision: The Editorial Board retains the right to make the final decision regarding the acceptance or rejection of any manuscript at any stage of the submission or review process.
  • Guidelines for Authors

The CEERAT Journal of Society and Development (CEERATJSD) follows specific bibliographic and formatting standards, including preferred citation styles. Authors must adhere to the following guidelines when preparing and submitting manuscripts:

  1. Submission Platform: All manuscripts must be submitted through the Open Journal Systems (OJS), accessible via the journal’s official website: ceeratjsd.com
  2. Registration Requirement: Authors are required to register on the OJS platform before submitting their manuscripts. Registration is essential for communication and tracking throughout the editorial process.
  3. Formatting Compliance: Authors must carefully read and follow the submission guidelines provided on the journal’s website. Manuscripts should be formatted according to the journal’s standards, particularly in APA style 7th (latest edition).
  4. Initial Screening: Once submitted, manuscripts undergo an initial review by the desk editors. Submissions not aligned with the author guidelines may be returned to the authors for revision before proceeding to peer review.
  5. Originality Statement: Authors must confirm that the manuscript has not been previously published and is not under consideration elsewhere, either in whole or in part.
  6. Language and Style: Submissions should be written in clear, concise, and grammatically correct English, and structured to meet high academic standards.

3.3. Guidelines for Reviews

Reviewers bear the responsibility for objectivity, professionalism, impartiality, and confidentiality in the assessment of content quality.

CEERAT Journal of Society and Development (CEERATJSD) follows a double-blind peer-review process. Where the identities of authors and reviewers are hidden from each other. Its purpose is to improve the quality of the content and of the scientific material under review that is ultimately published. Conscientious review is a time-consuming effort but is essential to assure the quality of scientific journals. The CEERATJSD is very grateful for the time and effort reviewers invest in this process. CEERATJSD adheres to the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) guidelines and strives to ensure that the review process is fair, unbiased, and timely. Decisions to accept a manuscript for publication depend on the importance of the investigated issue, originality, clarity, validity, and relevance of the work to the scope of the CEERATJSD. Therefore, reviewers have a major role decision of whether to accept an article for publication.

General Notes

  • Reviews should be conducted fairly and objectively. Personal criticism of the author is inappropriate. If the research reported in the manuscript is flawed, criticize the science, not the scientist. Personal criticism is likely to lead an author to ignore useful comments, making your review less useful to your field. Criticisms should be objective, not merely differences of opinion, and intended to help the author improve his or her paper.
  • You should decline to review manuscripts in which you have conflicts of interest resulting from competitive, collaborative, or other relationships or connections with any of the authors, companies, or institutions connected to the papers.
  • If your previous or present connection with the author(s) or an author’s institution might be construed as creating a conflict of interest, but no actual conflict exists, please include this issue in your confidential comments to the editor. If in doubt, please contact the Editor who requested the review before accepting.
  • Respect the confidentiality of the manuscript, which is sent to you in confidence. You should not discuss unpublished manuscripts with colleagues or use the information in your own work. If you feel a colleague is more qualified than you to review the paper, do not pass the manuscript on to that person without first requesting permission to do so from the editor. Your review and your recommendation should also be considered confidential.
  • If you choose to remain anonymous, ensure that you avoid comments to the authors that might serve as clues to your identity.

Comments to Editor

Your Comments to the Editor will be submitted to the Managing Editor and the Editor-in-Chief only. These should include any possible conflicts of interest. Comments and constructive criticism of the manuscript should be placed in the Comments to the Author.

Comments to the Author(s)

Your Comments to the Author(s) will be submitted to the Managing Editor and the Editor-in-Chief. They are also communicated to the author(s) and to the other anonymous reviewers of the manuscript once the editor has decided.
Comments should be constructive and designed to enhance the manuscript. You should consider yourself the author’s mentor. Make your comments as complete and detailed as possible. Express your views clearly with supporting arguments and references as necessary. Include clear opinions about the strengths, weaknesses, and relevance of the manuscript, its originality, and its importance to the field. Specific comments that cite line numbers are most helpful. If you feel unqualified to address certain aspects of the manuscript, please include a statement to identify these areas.

Begin by identifying the major contributions of the paper. What are its major strengths and weaknesses, and its suitability for publication? Please include both general and specific comments concerning these questions and emphasize your most significant points.
Support your general comments, positive or negative, with specific evidence.
If you wish to make comments directly on the manuscript PDF using the Note tool, you may do so. However, we do not expect you to copy-edit the manuscript. If you do annotate the pdf, please also include a summary of your general comments. You may also upload other documents (e.g., your review as a document, useful references). The journal editorial assistant will remove your identity from the properties of these documents to maintain your anonymity.

Points to consider in your review include:

  • Is the topic of the manuscript appropriate for CEERATJSD? Is the information of significant interest to the broad readership of the CEERATJSD?
  • Do the title, abstract, keywords, introduction, and conclusions accurately and consistently reflect the major point(s) of the paper?
  • Is the writing concise, easy to follow, and interesting, without repetition?
  • Is the aim clearly stated?
  • Are the methods appropriate, scientifically sound, current, and described clearly enough that the work could be repeated by someone else?
  • Is the research ethical, and have the appropriate approvals/consent been obtained?
  • Are appropriate statistical/econometric analyses used? Are they sufficiently justified and explained? Are statements of significance justified?
  • When results are stated in the text of the paper, are they supported by data? Can you verify them easily by examining tables and figures? Are any of the results counterintuitive?
  • Are all tables and figures necessary, clearly labeled, well-designed, and readily interpretable? Is the information in the tables and figures redundant? Is it repeated in the text?
  • Are the conclusions supported by the data presented?
  • Are the references cited the most appropriate to support the manuscript? Are citations provided for all assertions of fact not supported by the data in this paper? Are any key citations missing?
  • Consider the length of the manuscript relative to the content. Should any portions of the paper be expanded, condensed, combined, or deleted? (Please be specific in your advice, and don’t simply advise overall shortening by 15%).
  • Does the manuscript comply with the Instructions for Authors?

Please also comment on any possible research or publication misconduct, such as:

  • Does this manuscript report data or conclusions already published or in the press? If so, please provide details.
  • Has the author plagiarized another publication?
  • Is there any indication that the data has been fabricated or inappropriately manipulated?
  • Have the authors declared all relevant competing interests?

3.4. Publication Schedule

Frequency and regularity are the main requirements that directly influence the credibility of journal. In this connection, the CEERAT Journal of Society and Development (CEERATJSD) publication schedule comprises one (1) volume with two (2) issues each year regularly with the following descriptions:

  • January to June Issue
  • July to December Issue

3.5. Author(s) Contribution

The author’(s) contribution statement must be contained as a separate statement while publishing their articles in CEERAT Journal of Society and Development (CEERATJSD).The acknowledgments must contain all those who have substantially contributed to the research. Upon submission of a manuscript, all authors’ (principal, corresponding & co-authors) must provide their full names, e-mail addresses, contact numbers, and institutional affiliations (first page only). Besides, providing author(s)’ ORCID identifiers are encouraged.

3.6. Ownership of the Published Articles

By default, all content published in CEERATJSD is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Non-commercial 4.0 International license (CC BY-NC 4.0). This license permits users to use, reproduce, disseminate, or display the article provided that the authors are the original creators and that the reuse is restricted to non-commercial purposes, i.e., is attributed to research or educational use.

3.7. Ethics Statement

Publication Ethics and Mal-Practice Statement (PEMS)

The CEERAT Journal of Society and Development (CEERATJSD) is committed to the academic community and the lay world in ensuring ethics in publication and the quality of articles in publication. Plagiarism is strictly condemned, and papers found to be plagiarized will be removed or not published in the CEERATJSD. While signing the publication agreement, the author(s) have to warrant that the article and associated materials are original and do not infringe the copyright of anyone. Also, the authors must warrant that there was a full consensus of all the authors, and it was neither submitted nor published previously. We state the following principles of Publication Ethics and Publication Malpractice Statement based on the Code of Conduct and Best Practice Guidelines for Journal Editors of the Committee on Publication Ethics. The CEERAT Journal of Society and Development (CEERATJSD) has adopted and applies the ethical rules for publication in accordance with the guidelines of the COPE (Publication Ethics Committee) (available at http://publicationethics.org/).

Author(s) Guidelines (Authors Ethics)

  1. A full-length article should be around 7000 words, but should not exceed 7000 words, including references.
  2. A Focus essay-which we define as an essay written on an event, concept, or theory of enduring significance and for providing an initial thesis or creating understanding–should be around 4,000 words with references . Both types of articles will go through a similar double-blind peer review process.
  3. The author(s) should present an accurate account of the research performed and offer an objective discussion of its significance.
  4. CEERATJSD follows APA Style for referencing and citation.
  5. Authorship should be limited to those who have made some significant contribution to the conception, design, execution, or interpretation of the submitted study.
  6. The author(s) are required to submit a Similarity Index Report by using the service of Turnitin.org. It is required to ensure the originality of the work.
  7. The manuscript should offer new, original insights or interpretations that have not been published before or are not under consideration for publication in any other journal.
  8. Author(s) should declare all funding sources and any actual or potential conflicts, including any financial, personal, or other relationships with other people and organizations.
  9. Author(s) is/are required to sign an agreement on the originality of work and its copyrights with the journal.

Duties of Reviewers (Reviewers' Ethics)

Double-blind peer review assists the editor in making editorial decisions and through the editorial communications with the author, may also assist the author in improving the paper.

  1. Any selected referee who feels unqualified to review the research reported in a manuscript or knows that its prompt review will be impossible should notify the editor and excuse himself from the review process.
  2. Any manuscript received for review is treated as a confidential document.
  3. Double-blind peer reviews are conducted objectively. Referees should express their views clearly with supporting arguments.
  4. Reviewers should identify relevant published work that has not been cited by the authors.
  5. Unpublished material disclosed in a submitted manuscript must not be used in a reviewer’s own research without the express written consent of the author.

Duties of Publisher (Publisher Ethics)

  1. In cases of alleged or proven misconduct, fraudulent publication, or plagiarism, the publisher, in close collaboration with the editors, will take all appropriate measures to clarify the situation and to amend the article in question. This includes the prompt publication of an erratum, clarification, or, in the most severe case, the retraction of the affected work.
  2. The publisher is committed to the permanent availability and preservation of scholarly research and ensures accessibility by partnering with organizations and maintaining its own digital archive.
  3. If any inaccuracies, misleading text, or wrong explanations are found in the published article, that must be corrected promptly.
  4. All complaints will be seriously investigated by the editor, regardless of who files the complaint.

Duties of Editor (Editor Ethics)

  1. Editors will examine all the submitted manuscripts exclusively on the basis of their academic merit: significance, timeliness, relevance, originality, and clarity. They would not take into account the author’s race, gender, sexual orientation, ethnic origin, citizenship, religious beliefs or institutional affiliation.  The editors will guard the integrity of the published record by issuing corrections and retractions and pursuing suspected or alleged research and publication misconduct when needed.
  2. Editors and staff will not disclose any information about a submitted manuscript to anyone other than the corresponding author, reviewers, potential reviewers, other editorial advisers, and the publisher as necessary.
  3. Unpublished material disclosed in a submitted manuscript will not be used in any editor’s own research. The editors will ensure a fair and appropriate double-blind peer-review process: HEC Pakistan requires two international and one national review, which will be followed.
  4. Submissions from authors with which the editors have any conflict of interest will be assessed by a member of the Editorial Board. Submissions by members of the Editorial Board will be assigned to an Associate or Guest Editor to ensure a fair and appropriate process. The editors will require all contributors to disclose relevant competing interests and publish corrections if competing interests are revealed after publication.
  5. The editors ensure that all submitted manuscripts being considered for publication undergo double-blind peer review by at least two international reviewers and one national reviewer (Pakistan) as required by HEC Pakistan. The reviewers must be experts in the field. The Editor is responsible for deciding which of the manuscripts submitted to the journal will be published, based on the validation of the work in question, its importance to researchers and readers, the reviewers’ comments, and such legal requirements as are currently in force regarding libel, copyright infringement, and plagiarism. The Editor confers with associate editors and/or reviewers in making this decision.

Guest Editors’ Ethics

  1. Guest editors are responsible for defining the subject matter and role of every article in a thematic issue.
  2. Providing clear guidelines to authors regarding the topic and boundaries of their contributions and the overall design of the issue.
  3. Ensuring, in collaboration with the executive editorial board, that appropriate reviewers are selected for all the articles (whether they have been commissioned or submitted because of a call for papers).
  4. Establishing a timeline for draft paper submission, peer review, revision, and final paper submission with the executive editorial board, and ensuring that all deadlines are met.

3.8. Funding Statement

CEERAT Journal of society and Development (CEERATJSD)requires authors to specify any sources of funding (institutional, private, and corporate financial support) for the work reported in their paper. This information, in the form of the name of the funding organization/s and the grant number, should be included at the end of the article under the heading “Funding” and provided at the time of submitting the paper. If there was no funding, the following wording should be used: “This research received no specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors”. This information will be included in the published article.

3.9. Manuscript Template

Please see the publish papers for guidance

3.10. Publication Fee

CEERAT Journal of society and Development (CEERATJSD) currently does not charge any publication fee like Article Processing Charges (APC) for manuscript submission, processing, or publication. We believe in promoting open access to scientific research without imposing financial barriers on authors.

4.  Policies

4.1. Peer Review Policy

CEERATJSD strictly follows its policy and procedure of editorial and peer review, through which it is ensured that:

  • The content of the article is relevant to the aim/scope of CEERATJSD.
  • The article has produced innovative and quality research.
  • The format and layout of CEERATJSD are followed; and the style, grammar, and composition of language is correct.

CEERAT Journal of society and Development (CEERATJSD) employs a double-blind peer review process for all submitted manuscripts, meaning that both the reviewer and author identities are concealed from each other throughout the review process. A more in-depth description of CEERATJSD peer review policy 

Submission of Paper
The corresponding author can submit research work for potential publication in CEERAT Journal of society and Development (CEERATJSD)through the online journal submission system submissions of paper .

Editorial Office Assessment
The CEERATJSD editorial office checks the submitted manuscripts’ format and composition in line with the author’s guidelines and the journal’s scope. This stage of scrutiny does not assess the quality of research.

Chief Editor’s Appraisal
The chief editor apprises whether the research work is original, has potential for novelty, and is appropriately aligned with the journal’s scope. If the manuscript does fulfil the aforementioned criteria, it is liable to rejection at this stage without being considered for any further review.

Chief Editor’s Assignment to an Associate Editor
After appraising the manuscript, the chief editor assigns the task of further appraisal to associate editors through desk review/editing.

Desk Review
The associate editor scrutinizes the manuscript in light of the journal’s scope and content requirements and recommends potential improvements and incorporation into the manuscript.

Communicating Suggestions to Authors
The associate editor’s desk review suggestions for potential revisions and improvements of the manuscript are shared with authors for incorporation. After these necessary incorporations, the manuscript is forwarded to the experts’ review phase.

Invitation to Reviewers
The associate editor invites potential reviewers within specialized fields for manuscript review. The manuscript is then sent out to the reviewers based on their responses, with a request to complete the review within a maximum of 2 to 4 weeks. As per the journal’s policy, the manuscript is sent to two reviewers (Blind review).

Review Conducted
The potential and expert reviewers spare ample time to read the manuscript, reflected in how they highlighted both strengths and weaknesses of the research work. If they find major issues in the manuscript, reviewers have the freedom either to completely reject it or suggest major revisions. The reviewers submit their reviews to the journal’s editorial team with recommendations to accept (with/without minor or major revisions) or reject.

Journal Evaluates the Reviews
The journal’s editorial team considers and scrutinizes all the reviewers’ comments and decisions before reaching a final decision. In case of wider differences in reviewers’ comments, the editor might invite an additional reviewer (if deemed appropriate) to get further opinions before making the final decision.

Decision Communication
The editor communicates the decision with authors via email containing relevant reviewer’s comments and advises the authors to incorporate all the changes as per the reviewers’ suggestions.

Final Decision
The editorial team will look through the resubmitted manuscript to ensure that the author(s) have revised the manuscript in response to the reviewers’ comments. At this final decision stage, the author(s) may be required to make further revisions, or the manuscript might be rejected if the author(s) did not adequately carry out the revisions suggested by the reviewers.

Copyediting, Layout Editing, and Proofreading Stage
Once the manuscript is accepted by the editorial team, it will undergo copyediting, layout editing, and proofreading processes to ensure the linguistic quality of the manuscript. After the editing stage is finished, authors are requested to double-check the PDF file of the final version before online publication.

Appeals against Editorial Decisions
In case an author would like to challenge an editorial decision, he or she should contact the Editor-In-Chief of the journal. Upon receipt of the appeal, the Editor-In-Chief will review the manuscript and peer reviewers’ comments and then make a decision regarding the acceptance or rejection of the manuscript. If necessary, the Editor-In-Chief may choose to send the manuscript to new referees for peer review. The decision of the Editor-In-Chief is final in such cases. All submitted complaints will be acknowledged within two working days.

4.2. Archiving and Repository Policy

CEERATJSD digital archiving policy guarantees that published scholarly content remains readily available to the academic community in the face of accidental data loss in our archival records. This is made possible through the robust systems integrated into the OJS.

 

 

PKP Preservation Network (PN)

The PKP Preservation Network (PN) is a valuable service of the PKP community. It offers free preservation services for any journal managed and operated through the OJS. The PKP PN plugin for OJS 3 is easily accessible in the plugin gallery, and it's been activated for CEERATJSD, ensuring that the scholarly content is part of this comprehensive preservation network.

Self-archiving (Repository Policy)

At CEERATJSD, we encourage authors to take ownership of their work. Authors can deposit all versions of their manuscripts, including pre-prints, submitted manuscripts, accepted manuscripts, and published articles (version of record), in an institutional or subject repository with no embargo. This flexible self-archiving policy ensures the broadest possible dissemination of the published research. 

4.3. Plagiarism Policy

CEERAT Journal of society and Development (CEERATJSD)is open-access, and refereed journal which is published biannual. Currently, CEERATJSD is following the HEC (Pakistan) policies regarding Turnitin Originality Report and Plagiarism. As per the HEC policy, plagiarism is not accepted and zero tolerance policy on Plagiarism issue. CEERATJSD aims for original scripts with an overall similarity index of less than or equal to 19% and individual source 3% or less in the Turnitin Originality Report.
Authors are advised to avoid using words, graphs, figures, and or ideas of others without proper attribution. All sources, therefore, must be cited at the places where they have been referred to, limited reuse of wording is highly desirable, and proper attribution is required when quoted in the text. While submitting their work to this journal, declaration of the originality of work and whenever and wherever used in their work, proper citation to previous publication is mandatory for authors. In case of the detection of plagiarism and unoriginality during the peer review process, the manuscript is liable to rejection. In case of post-publication plagiarism detection, the publisher reserves the right to issue either directions for correction or to retract the manuscript.

4.4 Open Access Policy

CEERAT Journal of Society and Development (CEERATJSD) is an open-access journal and makes its contents available to users without any cost. No prior approval from the publisher of this journal is required if users wish to read, use, and download its contents for lawful and authorized purposes. However, it is mandatory for users to quote the materials with references when used in citations, as duly prescribed under predetermined terms and conditions specified in guidelines, code of conduct, and CC by NC. The authors are authorized of the copyright for their work and can use the same for legal purposes without any prior permission from the journal.

4.6. Correction Policy

Well-defined and precise knowledge sharing is the chief objective of CEERATJSD and facilitates the academic community via information distribution. Furthermore, to serve the academic community, Research Mosaic has a strong faith in intelligibility through delivering correct information and maintaining all essential records. The journal explains this procedure from initial submission till the final stage, and the publications are available in diverse volumes and issues. Once the manuscript is published, the editorial team displays the volume and issues of the journal on the journal website, which can be easily explored, read, downloaded, and shared through an open access policy.

CEERATJSD offers prospects to authors for getting their manuscripts proofread before the availability of the online version, which ensures the accuracy of the contents. Since issuing corrigenda and errata increases the likelihood that the journal content readers and the users would have difficulties, the contents are, therefore, made error-free to the possible extent. Further, in this connection, even after a manuscript is published, partial corrections might be made at the decision of the editorial team of CEERATJSD. Therefore, to improve the quality of published research work, the editorial team might opt for minor alterations and corrections at any stage, as they are vital to ascertain the integrity of the published materials to ensure quality.

The CEERATJSD takes serious note of the issues related to copyright infringement, plagiarism, and violation of other ethical codes in the publication process. In this respect, sometimes, whenever any violation of publication ethics and copyright infringement is exposed, the journal reserves the right to proceed with appropriate and necessary actions to correct the record on a priority basis, no matter whether the authors present either intentionally or unintentionally and communicate to the journal’s editorial team. Consequently, the materials that this journal has already published become the journal’s intellectual property and hold the right of replacing the accurate materials in the best interest of the journal and the academic community.

4.7.   Complaint and Misconduct Policy

Complaints Policy
CEERATJSD welcomes complaints as opportunities to improve and is committed to responding quickly and constructively.

What is a Complaint?
A complaint is more than a simple disagreement with a decision or publication. It occurs when someone believes there has been a failure in the journal’s process, such as:

  • Unacceptable delays
  • Rude or inappropriate responses
  • Serious misjudgments

Complaints must relate to matters under the editorial responsibility of CEERATJSD, such as content or editorial processes.

How to Submit a Complaint

  • All complaints will be acknowledged.
  • Complaints should be emailed directly to (editor@ceeratjsd.com) and  CC to (nazirkhan730@gmail.com) for more quick response.
  • The editorial team member who receives the complaint will handle it wherever possible. If they cannot, the complaint will be referred to the Editor-in-Chief.
  • If the complainant is still not satisfied, the issue can be escalated to the Editor-in-Chief, whose decision is final.
  • A final response will be provided within two weeks whenever possible. If more time is needed, an interim response will be sent every two weeks until the complaint is resolved.

Handling Misconduct
CEERATJSD promotes best practices among researchers, authors, reviewers, and editors and takes allegations of misconduct seriously.

  • The Editor can be contacted at editor@ceeratjsd.com regarding misconduct.
  • Misconduct may include issues that affect the reliability or attribution of published work, such as fabrication or plagiarism.
  • Evidence supporting allegations (e.g., overlapping publications or plagiarism) should be provided wherever possible.
  • Based on investigations, corrections or retractions may be issued to maintain the integrity of the journal.

Authors and reviewers are strongly advised to read and strictly follow the journal’s publication ethics guidelines, which are available on the journal website.

5.         Licensing Policy

All articles published in CEERATJSD are Open Access under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 (CC BY 4.0) International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). This license allows anyone to use, share, distribute, and reproduce the work in any medium, as long as the original authors and source are properly credited.

Users may freely read, download, copy, distribute, or display the articles while giving appropriate attribution to the authors as the original creators. Authors are encouraged to understand the different Creative Commons licenses to ensure clarity regarding the use of their work. Readers should always check the licensing information provided with each article to be aware of the terms and conditions of use.

6.         Submission Preparation Checklist

1.      Submission Preparation Checklist Submission Preparation Checklist

All submissions must meet the following requirements.

  • This submission meets the requirements outlined in the Author Guidelines.
  • This submission has not been previously published, nor is it before another journal for consideration.
  • All references have been checked for accuracy and completeness.
  • All tables and figures have been numbered and labeled.
  • Permission has been obtained to publish all photos, datasets and other material provided with this submission.

2.      Articles

Section default policy

Make a new submission to the Articles section.

3.      Privacy Statement 

The names and email addresses entered in this journal site will be used exclusively for the stated purposes of this journal and will not be made available for any other purpose or to any other party.