Reviewer Guidelines

Role of Reviewers

Design and Technology Education: An International Journal (DTEIJ) relies on the expertise and integrity of its reviewers to uphold the quality and rigour of published research. These guidelines outline expectations for peer reviewers and provide resources to support ethical and effective reviewing.

Reviewers play a critical role in:

  • Evaluating the scholarly merit, originality, and relevance of submissions.
  • Providing constructive feedback to help authors improve their work.
  • Supporting editorial decisions through fair and objective assessments.

Ethical Responsibilities

DTEIJ adheres to the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) guidelines. Reviewers are expected to:

  • Maintain Confidentiality: Treat manuscripts as confidential documents. Do not share or discuss them with others unless authorised by the editor.
  • Be Objective and Respectful: Provide balanced, evidence-based feedback. Avoid personal criticism.
  • Disclose Conflicts of Interest: Decline to review if there is any conflict due to personal, professional, or financial relationships.
  • Avoid Citation Manipulation: Do not request citations for personal gain or unrelated work.
  • Respect Diversity and Inclusion: Use inclusive language and avoid bias in feedback.

[Read the Publication Ethics and Malpractice Statement]

Timeliness and Communication

The Editorial Team request that reviewers:

  • Accept or decline review invitations promptly.
  • Complete reviews within the agreed timeframe.
  • Notify the editor immediately if delays are unavoidable.

Use of Generative AI

Reviewers may use generative AI tools (e.g., Copilot, ChatGPT) to assist in preparing review reports, provided:

  • Their use is explicitly disclosed to the editor.
  • The reviewer retains full responsibility for the content and judgments expressed.
  • No confidential manuscript content is input into AI tools that transmit data to third-party servers.

Free Reviewer Training

DTEIJ encourages reviewers to engage in ongoing professional development. Free training and guidance are available from:

Review Template

DTEIJ uses a structured review template to support consistency and clarity. Reviewers will receive this template with each invitation. It includes prompts for evaluating:

  • Relevance and originality
  • Methodological rigour
  • Clarity of writing
  • Ethical compliance
  • Contribution to the field

Feedback and Support

We welcome feedback from reviewers on how we can improve our processes and support. Reach out to the editorial team via the Contact page with any questions or suggestions.

Summary

  • Diversity and Inclusion: Reviewers must use inclusive language and respect all authors.
  • Objectivity and Confidentiality: Reviews should be constructive, objective, and confidential. Personal criticism is inappropriate.
  • Timeliness: Reviewers should respond promptly and complete reviews within the agreed timeframe.
  • Citation Ethics: Reviewers must not request citations for personal gain and should identify missing references where relevant.
  • Conflicts of Interest: Reviewers must disclose any conflicts and decline to review if necessary.