Editorial Process
Editorial Process
- Review Stage
- Publication Stage
- Editorial Process Duration
- Acceptance / Rejection Rate of Submissions
The editorial process of Revista Agulhas Negras (RAN) Journal consists of two independent stages: Review and Publication, described below.
- REVIEW STAGE
The review stage of manuscripts submitted to RAN consists of three procedures designed to ensure the scientific quality of published content:
I. Preliminary review (Desk Review), carried out by the Editors and, when necessary, by the Editorial Board;
II. Double-blind peer review, conducted by experts holding doctoral degrees in the relevant thematic area (reviewers/referees);
III. Final decision by the Editors.
Despite the diversity of disciplinary approaches in manuscripts submitted to RAN, all undergo the same publication process, and reviewers apply the same conditions and parameters in their evaluations.
a) Preliminary Review (Desk Review)
All manuscripts submitted to RAN undergo an initial review by the Editors and, when necessary, by the Editorial Board. At this stage, the following aspects are evaluated: thematic relevance, adherence to the journal’s scope, manuscript length, compliance with citation format according to ABNT standards, and compliance with all RAN author guidelines.
The authenticity of the manuscript is also verified through Similarity Check, developed by iThenticate (Crossref), to prevent plagiarism, self-plagiarism, or duplicate publication.
RAN does not accept manuscripts that have already been published, are under review, or are in the process of publication in other journals or in any other printed or electronic medium. Likewise, chapters of theses or dissertations submitted verbatim (ipsis litteris) are not accepted. The use of previously published data is not permitted unless new analyses, different methodological approaches, or integration with new data are presented.
Manuscripts approved in this first stage are forwarded to at least two reviewers, who may be members of the permanent Editorial Committee (national or international) or independent ad hoc reviewers.
If the manuscript fails to comply with author guidelines or RAN’s editorial policy, it will be returned to the author with a justification for rejection.
b) Peer Review (Reviewers/Referees)
Manuscripts undergo a double-blind peer review process, managed via the RAN OJS platform. Reviewers assess, at a minimum, the following aspects:
- Title, Abstract, and Keywords;
- Introduction/Context;
- Clarity in presenting the main objective of the paper;
- Review of current and/or relevant literature;
- Appropriateness of methodology;
- Results and/or analyses relevant to the theme;
- Conclusions;
- Citations and References — ABNT;
- Clarity and writing style;
- Compliance with ethical standards;
- Originality and contribution to knowledge;
- Relevance to the field of Military/Defense Sciences/Defense.
After considering these and other aspects, reviewers provide a final report and recommendations using the evaluation form.
At least 90% of RAN’s reviewers are external (national and international) with no affiliation to the Academia Militar Agulhas Negras (AMAN) or Escola Preparatória de Cadetes do Exército (EsPCEx).
The vast majority of manuscripts are reviewed by independent ad hoc reviewers, unaffiliated with AMAN or EsPCEx.
At the end of each issue, RAN publishes an acknowledgment page in recognition to the ad hoc reviewers who contributed to that Number, as a fair appreciation for their important and voluntary role in the continuous improvement of published content.
c) Final Decision by the Editors
The Editors of RAN are responsible for consolidating reviewers’ reports and making the final decision regarding manuscripts. In cases of disagreement between reviewers, the manuscript is sent to a third reviewer, who provides an independent report without knowledge of the previous ones. The opinion of the third reviewer is not considered decisive; the final decision rests with the Editors, in consultation with the Editorial Board.
RAN recognizes six possible outcomes of the peer review process:
i. Accept for publication: the manuscript fully meets RAN’s academic and stylistic requirements, with no need for modification;
ii. See comments: the manuscript meets almost all requirements and requires only minor revisions, without the need for re-review;
iii. Mandatory corrections: the manuscript meets most requirements but requires more significant revisions. Reviewers’ comments and necessary changes are sent to authors for revision and resubmission. If no response is received, the submission will be considered withdrawn and archived;
iv. Resubmit for new review: the manuscript meets some requirements but requires substantial revisions and a new review round. Whenever possible, the revised version is sent to the same initial reviewers;
v. Submit to another journal: the manuscript does not meet RAN’s requirements or falls outside its scope but has academic value. Reviewers’ comments are forwarded to the authors;
vi. Reject: the manuscript does not meet academic and/or stylistic requirements and is rejected with no possibility of resubmission. Reviewers’ comments are forwarded to the authors.
- PUBLICATION STAGE
Manuscripts accepted in the Review stage proceed to publication, which consists of two procedures:
a) Editing: Editors adapt the manuscript to the required format and style for publication in RAN’s OJS system, if necessary, and verify/correct all submission metadata;
b) Language Review: Manuscripts are sent to the Language Review Committee for orthographic and grammatical review in the language chosen by the author: Portuguese, English, or Spanish.
RAN reserves the right to review manuscripts at any stage, including those already approved, to ensure quality, focus, and scope.
- EDITORIAL PROCESS DURATION
The average timelines established by RAN for the editorial process are as follows:
Between receipt of the manuscript and preliminary review: 8 business days;
Between preliminary review and peer review results: 30 business days;
Between peer review results and final editorial decision: 10 business days;
Between final decision and publication (if accepted): 5 business days.
Since peer review is an unpaid task, the process may take longer than the times indicated above.
Manuscripts completing both stages are published individually in the “online first” modality at any time, prior to the release of the complete semiannual issue. At all times, authors may track the progress of their submission through the OJS platform.
- ACCEPTANCE / REJECTION RATE OF SUBMISSIONS
RAN’s rejection rate is closely aligned with the global average rejection rate of indexed journals, which is approximately 70%. On average, 72% of manuscripts submitted to RAN have been rejected for publication. This figure includes rejections during both the Desk Review and post–peer review stages.
