Peer Review Process

Every manuscript submitted to Surgical Research (SR) passes through a structured review workflow, from initial submission to final publication decision, consistent with COPE's core practices for peer-reviewed journals.

Step 1: Manuscript Submission

Authors submit manuscripts through the journal's online submission system, following the requirements outlined in the Author Guidelines.

Step 2: Editorial Screening

Upon receipt, the Editor-in-Chief or an assigned Associate Editor conducts an initial screening to confirm the manuscript falls within the journal's Aim & Scope, meets basic formatting requirements, and shows no immediate red flags such as suspected plagiarism (see Plagiarism Policy) or incomplete ethical documentation (see Ethical Approvals & Human/Animal Rights).

Step 3: Reviewer Assignment

Manuscripts that pass editorial screening are assigned to a minimum of two independent peer reviewers with relevant subject-matter expertise, selected according to the standards outlined in the journal's Reviewer Guidelines.

Step 4: Independent Review

Each reviewer independently evaluates the manuscript against the criteria set out in the Peer Review Policy and submits detailed written feedback using the journal's Reviewer Evaluation Form, including a recommendation of Accept, Minor Revision, Major Revision, or Reject.

Step 5: Editorial Decision

The Editor-in-Chief or Associate Editor considers all reviewer feedback and renders a decision, consistent with the journal's Editorial Process. Where reviewer recommendations diverge significantly, the editor may seek an additional reviewer opinion or make an independent editorial judgment.

Step 6: Author Revision

If revisions are requested, authors are given a defined period to submit a revised manuscript along with a point-by-point response to reviewer comments. Revised manuscripts may undergo an additional round of review at the editor's discretion.

Step 7: Final Decision

Once all review rounds are complete, the Editor-in-Chief issues a final decision. Rejected manuscripts are returned to the author with reviewer feedback where appropriate; accepted manuscripts proceed to production.

Step 8: Publication

Accepted manuscripts are prepared for publication, assigned a DOI through the journal's Crossref membership, and published in the current issue, in line with the journal's Open Access Policy.