Desk Rejection Policy

Al-Rafidain Dental Journal performs an initial editorial assessment of all submissions to ensure they meet basic criteria for peer review. Manuscripts failing to meet these standards may be rejected without external review (desk rejection). This process ensures timely decisions and maintains the integrity of the peer review system.

Reasons for Desk Rejection

Manuscripts may be rejected at the editorial screening stage for reasons including:

Out of Scope: Topic does not align with the journal’s aims.

Ethical Concerns: Evidence of plagiarism, self-plagiarism, data manipulation, or ethical violations.

Poor Manuscript Quality:

Excessive language or grammar issues

Weak structure or organization

Missing or incomplete sections (e.g., Methods, Results)

Lack of Novelty or Contribution: The study does not provide new insights or a significant field contribution

Non-Compliance with Guidelines:

Formatting does not meet journal requirements

Missing mandatory elements (e.g., ethical approval, conflict of interest, author contributions)

Flawed Study Design or Methodology: Fundamental weaknesses that compromise scientific validity

High Similarity Index: Similarity exceeding journal thresholds (e.g., >20%)

Editorial Process and Responsibility

Desk rejections are at the editorial team’s discretion, based on academic merit, quality, and relevance

Editors follow COPE guidelines to ensure fairness, objectivity, and transparency

Decisions are unbiased and independent of the authors’ identity, nationality, or affiliation

Feedback to Authors

Authors of desk-rejected manuscripts receive a brief explanation of the primary reason(s) for rejection

Authors are encouraged to revise and submit elsewhere if appropriate

Appeals

Authors may appeal a desk rejection by submitting a clear justification to the editorial office