Thank you for your interest in assisting the PanSIG Journal Editorial Team with our peer-review process. Please regularly check your spam folder for correspondence from us, especially during the review period of September/October. Adding our contact information to your address book can help prevent messages from going to spam.
When you submit a manuscript, we will contact you to fill out a form about your Special Interest Group (SIG) affiliation, if any, and your areas of interest in language studies. This information allows us to assign you a manuscript that aligns with your expertise. If you do not provide this information, we will assign a manuscript based on topic similarity to your own submission, if possible. Each manuscript will undergo a double review process, with assessments from both a subject-area expert and a general field reviewer.
Review Materials and Resources
Once assigned, we will send you a copy of the manuscript, along with review forms and resources such as a sample review and tutorial video to guide you. The editorial team is available throughout the review process to answer any questions or address concerns.
The PanSIG Journal follows a blind review process, so if you recognize a manuscript (perhaps from a conference presentation or personal knowledge), please inform the team within 48-72 hours so we can reassign it.
We generally request that reviews be completed within a month. To help keep the process on track, we will send you periodic reminders. Your contribution is highly valued, and all reviewers are acknowledged in the journal.
Publication Requirements
Final publication depends on the following criteria:
- Submission of the copyright agreement form.
- Review completion with clear, constructive feedback on strengths and areas for improvement within the stipulated time-frame.
- Peer-reviewing of the manuscript by at least two reviewers, resulting in acceptance.
- Timely revisions by the author(s) in response to reviewer and editor feedback.
For co-authored papers, if the first author is unavailable, the second or third author should be prepared to review a manuscript.
Reviewer Guidelines
The PanSIG Journal provides a platform for PanSIG presenters to share their work with a broader audience and supports JALT members’ professional development. As such, we encourage constructive feedback over evaluative comments. Focus on actionable suggestions that help the author improve their work, offering both positive feedback and areas for improvement. A balanced approach with specific suggestions is most helpful.
Remember, the author will revise their manuscript based on your review, so the more thorough your feedback, the more beneficial it will be. While recommending rejection is acceptable, please provide clear reasons, especially if the manuscript has serious issues, like an irreparable methodology flaw.
Evaluation Forms
The PanSIG Journal uses two review forms with a 3-point scale to evaluate manuscripts. The Practice Manuscript Review Form includes criteria such as rationale and topic relevance, while the Research Manuscript Review Form evaluates aspects like originality and literature review. Please structure your review according to the form’s criteria for consistency and clarity.
Mentorship for New Reviewers
If you are new to reviewing, let us know so we can connect you with a seasoned reviewer for guidance. Experienced reviewers interested in mentoring are encouraged to volunteer.