Reviewers play a vital role in maintaining the quality, credibility, and integrity of the Journal of Computer and Data Science (JCODA). Through peer review, they assist editors in making informed editorial decisions and help authors improve the quality, clarity, and scientific value of their manuscripts.

The peer-review process supports editors in evaluating the scientific merit, originality, and relevance of submitted manuscripts. Reviewers are expected to provide objective, constructive, and evidence-based recommendations that assist editors in making publication decisions.

Reviewers should evaluate manuscripts based on the following criteria:

Reviewers are expected to contribute to an efficient and timely publication process by:

• Responding promptly to review invitations.
• Informing the editor if they cannot complete the review within the requested timeframe.
• Declining assignments when they lack sufficient expertise to evaluate the manuscript adequately.

Manuscripts received for review must be treated as confidential documents. Reviewers must not:

• Share manuscripts with others without editorial permission.
• Discuss manuscript content with unauthorized individuals.
• Use unpublished information for personal research, professional advantage, or any other unauthorized purpose.

Reviews should be conducted objectively, fairly, professionally, and respectfully. Reviewers are expected to:

• Provide clear, constructive, and evidence-based comments.
• Focus on scientific content rather than personal criticism.
• Explain recommendations and concerns in sufficient detail.
• Avoid offensive, defamatory, discriminatory, or otherwise inappropriate language.

Reviewers should identify relevant published work that has not been cited by the authors and help improve the completeness and accuracy of the scholarly record.

• Recommend important references when appropriate and scientifically justified.
• Notify editors of substantial similarity to other known publications.
• Report suspected plagiarism, duplicate publication, or other publication ethics concerns.

Reviewers should decline review assignments when actual or potential conflicts of interest could compromise, or reasonably appear to compromise, their impartiality. Such conflicts may arise from:

• Personal relationships with authors.
• Recent or ongoing academic collaborations with authors.
• Financial interests related to the research.
• Institutional affiliations that may compromise impartiality.
• Any other circumstance that could influence independent judgment.

Reviewers should assist the journal in identifying potential research integrity and publication ethics issues, including:

Concerns regarding research integrity should be reported confidentially to the editor, with sufficient explanation to support appropriate follow-up.

Reviewers must not upload confidential manuscript content to public AI systems or third-party tools if doing so could compromise confidentiality, copyright, intellectual property rights, or data protection requirements. Reviewers should follow the journal's applicable AI policy and any relevant institutional requirements.

Reviewers may recommend one of the following editorial outcomes:

Reviewer recommendations are advisory. The final publication decision remains the responsibility of the Editor-in-Chief or the editor authorized to make the decision under the journal's editorial procedures.

By accepting a review assignment, reviewers agree to support the commitment of Journal of Computer and Data Science (JCODA) to academic excellence, ethical publishing, scientific integrity, and the advancement of knowledge in computer science, information technology, and data science through a rigorous, fair, confidential, and constructive peer-review process.