Reviewers Guidelines

Questions for guiding the reviewer in assessment of the paper submitted for publication consideration in the Tanzanian Economic Review Journal

Guide questions for reviewers

Normally the following guide questions are sent to each reviewer and they put verdict at the end of the review report. Please provide examples and evidence for responses as deemed necessary, do not simply answer yes or no.

  1. Topic and content:
    1. Is the topic relevant for the journal?
    2. Is the topic relevant for the current issues in the general trend of economic paradigms for the developing countries?
    3. Is the data used timely and appropriate?
    4. Is the content important to the field?
    5. Is the work original? (If not, please give references)
  1. Title:
    1. Is the title well written, and clearly reflects the content of the manuscript?
  1. Abstract:
    1. To what extent does the abstract reflect aspects of the study: background, objectives, methods, results and conclusions?
    2. Is the Abstract set to the required limit of not more 200 words?
    3. Is the abstract capturing everything about the study?
    4. Is the abstract succinctly designed to explain about the study?
  1. Introduction / Background:

    1. Is the study rationale adequately described?

  1. Objectives:
    1. Are the study objectives clearly stated and defined?
    2. Are the objectives researchable?
  1. Methodology:
    1. To what extent is the study design appropriate and adequate for the objectives?
    2. Is the sample size appropriate and adequately justified?
    3. Is the sampling technique appropriate and adequately described?
    4. How well are the methods and instruments of data collection described?
    5. Are the methods of data analysis appropriate?
    6. How well are analytical techniques described to minimize bias and errors and to produce good results?
  1. Ethical Consideration:
    1. If there are issues related to ethics, were they adequately described? (for human studies, has ethical approval been obtained?)
  1. Analysis and results:
    1. Are the methods of data analysis adequately applied?
    2. Do the results answer the research question(s)?
    3. Are the results credible?
    4. Are the statistical significances well documented (e.g. as confidence intervals or P-value)?
    5. Are the findings presented logically with suitable displays and explanations?
  1. Discussion:
    1. How well are the key findings stated?
    2. To what extent there are differences or similarities with other studies been discussed and reasons for these given?
    3. Are the findings discussed in the light of previous evidence?
    4. Are the implications of these findings clearly explained?
    5. Is the interpretation warranted by and sufficiently derived from and focused on the data and results?
  1. Writing:
    1. Is the paper clearly written?
    2. Is the paper presented logically (e.g. correct information in each section, logical flow of arguments)?
    3. Are there problems with the grammar / spelling / punctuation / language?
  1. Conclusion(s):
    1. Do the results justify the conclusion(s)?
  1. References:
    1. Are the references appropriate and relevant?
    2. Are they up to date?
    3. Are there any obvious, important references that should have been included and have not been?
    4. Do the references follow the recommended style?
    5. Are there any errors?
  1. Verdict

Please make a decision (in the system) on the suitability of the paper for publication as guided below.

1

Publish the paper as it is

 

2

Publish the paper subject to minor changes as shown in tracked/comments changes

 

3

Publish the paper subject to major changes (e.g. update of literature, change of methodology, collect more data/information, etc.)

 

4

Outright reject the paper