Special Issue and Guest Editor Policy

The Journal of Pedagogical Research (JPR) may publish special issues devoted to timely, significant, or emerging topics within the journal’s aims and scope. Special issues are subject to the same standards of editorial independence, research integrity, peer review, publication ethics, and transparency as regular issues of the journal.

1. Editorial Responsibility and Oversight

The Editor-in-Chief retains overall responsibility and authority for all content published in the Journal of Pedagogical Research, including all special issues and articles handled by Guest Editors.

Guest Editors may coordinate the scholarly development of a special issue, assist in identifying suitable reviewers, and make editorial recommendations. However, their role does not replace the responsibility or authority of the journal’s editorial leadership.

The Editor-in-Chief oversees the editorial process for every special issue and retains final authority over editorial decisions. The Editor-in-Chief may intervene in, reassign, or independently review the handling of any manuscript whenever necessary to protect editorial independence, research integrity, or compliance with journal policies.

2. Selection and Approval of Guest Editors

Guest Editors are appointed only after approval by the Editor-in-Chief.

Potential Guest Editors are evaluated on the basis of:

  • demonstrated scholarly expertise relevant to the proposed special issue;

  • an appropriate record of peer-reviewed research;

  • editorial and/or peer-review experience;

  • familiarity with publication ethics and responsible editorial practices;

  • ability to manage the proposed special issue in a timely and impartial manner; and

  • absence of conflicts of interest that could compromise the independence or integrity of the special issue.

The journal may appoint more than one Guest Editor where this would strengthen disciplinary, institutional, or geographical diversity.

Before appointment, Guest Editors must agree to follow all editorial, peer review, confidentiality, conflict-of-interest, research integrity, and publication ethics policies of JPR.

The Editor-in-Chief monitors the progress of each special issue and may replace or remove a Guest Editor if editorial standards, deadlines, ethical requirements, or journal policies are not adequately followed.

3. Peer Review of Special Issue Submissions

Manuscripts submitted to a special issue are subject to the same editorial screening and peer review standards as manuscripts submitted to regular issues of JPR.

All research manuscripts submitted to a special issue:

  • must be submitted through the journal’s official manuscript submission system;

  • undergo the journal’s standard initial editorial and ethical screening;

  • are subject to plagiarism and originality checks;

  • undergo double-blind peer review;

  • are evaluated by at least two independent reviewers with appropriate subject expertise; and

  • must satisfy the same criteria concerning originality, methodological rigor, scholarly significance, ethical compliance, and quality as regular submissions.

Submission to a special issue does not guarantee peer review, acceptance, or publication. Guest Editors may recommend editorial decisions, but all decisions remain subject to the oversight and authority of the Editor-in-Chief.

The journal does not lower or modify its peer review standards, acceptance criteria, or ethical requirements for special issues.

4. Conflicts of Interest

Guest Editors, members of the editorial team, reviewers, and authors must disclose any actual, potential, or perceived conflict of interest that could affect editorial decision-making.

A Guest Editor must not handle a manuscript where a conflict of interest exists. Such conflicts may include, but are not limited to:

  • recent or ongoing collaboration with an author;

  • institutional, supervisory, personal, family, or financial relationships with an author;

  • direct academic competition or other relationships that could reasonably be perceived as affecting impartiality; or

  • involvement in the research reported in the manuscript.

Where a Guest Editor has a conflict of interest, the manuscript will be reassigned to the Editor-in-Chief or to an independent member of the journal’s editorial team who has no relevant conflict.

The Editor-in-Chief may remove a Guest Editor from the handling of any manuscript whenever this is considered necessary to preserve editorial independence.

5. Manuscripts Authored by Guest Editors

Guest Editors may submit manuscripts for consideration in the special issue for which they serve as editors. However, such submissions receive no preferential treatment and are subject to the same editorial and peer review standards as all other submissions.

A Guest Editor who is an author or co-author of a submitted manuscript will have no involvement in:

  • the initial editorial assessment of the manuscript;

  • the selection or invitation of reviewers;

  • access to confidential reviewer information;

  • the evaluation of reviewer reports; or

  • the editorial decision concerning the manuscript.

Such manuscripts will be handled independently by the Editor-in-Chief or by an independent editor designated by the Editor-in-Chief who has no conflict of interest with the authors.

Articles authored or co-authored by Guest Editors must not constitute more than 25% of the research articles published in a special issue.

The journal may apply a lower proportion or decline Guest Editor submissions where necessary to protect editorial independence and avoid excessive editorial endogeny.

6. Editorial Independence

Acceptance or rejection decisions for special issue manuscripts are based exclusively on academic merit, relevance to the journal’s scope, methodological and scholarly quality, ethical compliance, and the independent peer review process.

Guest Editors must not guarantee publication to prospective authors or use invitations to imply that a manuscript will be accepted.

Commercial considerations, personal relationships, institutional affiliations, sponsorship, or the status or reputation of an author must not influence editorial decisions.

The Editor-in-Chief may reject a manuscript, require additional peer review, appoint additional reviewers, reassign editorial responsibility, or discontinue a special issue if concerns arise regarding academic quality, editorial independence, conflicts of interest, research integrity, or compliance with journal policies.

7. Complaints and Appeals

Complaints and appeals relating to manuscripts submitted to or published in special issues are handled according to the same standards and procedures that apply to regular journal content.

Complaints concerning the conduct or decision of a Guest Editor should be directed to the journal’s editorial office and will be considered by the Editor-in-Chief.

Where an appeal concerns an editorial decision made or recommended by a Guest Editor, the appeal will be assessed by the Editor-in-Chief or by an independent senior editor who was not involved in the original decision.

A Guest Editor who is the subject of a complaint or who has a conflict of interest in relation to an appeal will not participate in its investigation or resolution.

Complaints and appeals may be submitted to:

Editorial Contact: ijopr.editor@gmail.com

The journal will investigate complaints and appeals fairly, confidentially, and in accordance with its Ethics and Malpractice Statement and relevant Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) guidance.

8. Corrections, Retractions, and Post-Publication Issues

Articles published in special issues are subject to the same post-publication policies as all other content published by JPR.

Concerns identified after publication will be investigated by the Editor-in-Chief and the journal’s editorial team in accordance with the journal’s Ethics and Malpractice Statement and relevant COPE guidance.

Where appropriate, the journal may publish:

  • corrections or corrigenda;

  • expressions of concern;

  • retraction notices; or

  • other appropriate updates to the scholarly record.

Guest Editors may be consulted where their subject expertise is relevant, but decisions concerning corrections, retractions, expressions of concern, or other post-publication actions remain under the authority of the Editor-in-Chief.

If a post-publication concern involves a Guest Editor or an article authored by a Guest Editor, that Guest Editor will take no part in the investigation or decision-making process.

9. Relationship with Other Journal Policies

All special issues and Guest Editors are subject to the Journal of Pedagogical Research policies concerning:

  • Peer Review Process;

  • Ethics and Malpractice;

  • Conflicts of Interest;

  • Authorship;

  • Research Integrity;

  • Corrections and Retractions;

  • Open Access and Licensing; and

  • Article Processing Charges.

Unless a specific provision is stated in this Special Issue and Guest Editor Policy, the journal’s standard policies apply equally to regular and special issue content.

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