Editorial and submissions evaluation process

RIIIT INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION is a peer-reviewed, non-commercial, open-access academic journal committed to scientific quality, academic integrity, and editorial transparency. This scientific, technological, and humanities journal is edited by the Office of Research and Graduate Studies of the Autonomous University of Coahuila. It establishes an academic evaluation process aimed at ensuring quality, scientific integrity, and compliance with ethical principles in the communication of knowledge.

All manuscripts received are subject to a structured, confidential, and transparent editorial process aimed at ensuring the academic quality of the published works and compliance with the ethical principles established by the journal.

1. Receipt of Articles

Manuscripts are received and managed in accordance with the editorial procedures established by the journal, ensuring traceability, confidentiality, and monitoring of each stage of the editorial process.

Authors must submit their manuscripts to the journal’s official email address: publicaciones@riiit.com.mx

To initiate the editorial process, the submission must include:

• The complete manuscript in Word format, prepared in accordance with the journal’s guidelines.
• A statement addressed to the journal’s Editorial Committee, in accordance with the established format: Rights Assignment Authorization Letter.
• A similarity analysis report.

At this stage, the manuscript is checked to ensure that it complies with the guidelines established by the journal:

• Type of text: research article, review article, case report, technical note, or academic essay.
• Structure: title, abstract, keywords, introduction, materials and methods, or methodology for review articles, results, discussion, or development for review articles, conclusions, and references.
• Length: 10 to 20 pages.
• Manuscript format: Times New Roman, double spacing, standard margins.
• Citation style: author-year system based preferably on APA style.
• Reference style: preferably APA format.
• Inclusion of complete metadata: authors, affiliation, ORCID, and corresponding author.

2. Initial Review by the Editorial Team

The Editorial Committee conducts a preliminary evaluation of the manuscript, considering:

  1. Thematic relevance within the journal’s subject areas.
  2. Originality and academic relevance.
  3. Compliance with editorial standards.

Manuscripts that do not meet these criteria may be rejected at this stage or returned for preliminary adjustments.

All information is treated as confidential.

3. Verification of Originality and Academic Integrity

All manuscripts are submitted to similarity detection tools as part of the journal’s scientific integrity policies.

The identification of plagiarism, unjustified self-plagiarism, duplicate publication, fabrication, or manipulation of information constitutes grounds for editorial rejection. When reasonable doubts exist regarding the originality of the work, the journal may request clarifications or additional documentation.

Authors must also declare the use of artificial intelligence tools and indicate their role in the preparation of the manuscript. The use of artificial intelligence tools may not replace the intellectual responsibility of the authors regarding the content of the manuscript.

4. Ethical and Legal Statements

To continue in the editorial process, in the letter addressed to the Editorial Committee, authors must state the following: declaration of originality; declaration of absence of conflicts of interest; declaration of authorship and contribution; compliance with ethical research principles; use of artificial intelligence tools, when applicable; and a proposal of potential external reviewers affiliated with institutions other than those of the authors.

Only those who have made a significant contribution to the development of the work shall be recognized as authors. Generative artificial intelligence tools may not be recognized as authors of manuscripts.

5. Editorial Assignment

Manuscripts that pass the preliminary review are assigned to the corresponding Area Editor, according to the subject matter of the work. Editorial assignment ensures the specialized evaluation of manuscripts and the proper monitoring of the peer review process.

6. Peer Review

Manuscripts are sent for evaluation to at least three specialists external to the institutional affiliation of the participating authors. The journal uses a double-blind peer review system, which means that authors do not know the identity of the reviewers, and reviewers do not know the identity of the authors. The reports issued by reviewers are confidential and are used exclusively for editorial purposes.

Reviewers are selected based on their academic experience, scientific output, and absence of conflicts of interest. In the case of contradictory evaluations, a third review is requested after the corrections from the first evaluation stage have been made.

7. Evaluation Criteria

Reviewers consider the following aspects:

  • Originality and scientific contribution
  • Scientific or humanistic relevance
  • Methodological rigor
  • Clarity of exposition and argumentation
  • Currency and relevance of references
  • Structural coherence
  • Academic and social relevance

8. Editorial Process Timelines

The editorial process considers the following approximate timeframes:

• Initial editorial review: 3–8 weeks
• Peer review: 3–8 weeks
• Corrections by authors: 1–8 weeks

These timeframes may vary depending on the availability of reviewers.

9. Editorial Decisions

Based on the reviewers’ reports, the manuscript may be:

  1. Accepted without modifications
  2. Accepted with minor modifications
  3. Accepted with major modifications
  4. Submitted to a second round of evaluation
  5. Rejected

In the case of modifications, authors must submit the corrected version using the journal’s template, with track changes, as well as a response letter addressing the reviewers’ comments.

The final decision rests with the Editorial Committee.

10. Editing and Publication

Accepted manuscripts enter the stages of copyediting, editorial layout, and preparation for publication.

The journal informs authors in a timely manner of the final acceptance and the issue in which the article will be published.

11. Corrections and Retractions

The journal establishes mechanisms for issuing corrections, clarifications, expressions of concern, or retractions when there are elements that may affect the reliability or integrity of published works.

Any post-publication modification shall be duly recorded.

12. Open Access Policy

RIIIT INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION is an open-access journal, which guarantees free access to its contents and promotes scientific knowledge without economic restrictions for readers or authors.

The journal does not charge fees for the receipt, processing, evaluation, or publication of manuscripts.

13. Commitment to Editorial Quality

RIIIT INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION promotes scientific integrity, editorial transparency, specialized peer review, open science, and the responsible circulation of scientific, social, environmental, and humanistic knowledge for the benefit of the academic community and society.

14. Privacy and Confidentiality

The personal information provided by authors, reviewers, and members of the editorial team shall be used exclusively for the editorial management of RIIIT INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION. Manuscripts, reviewers’ reports, and editorial communications shall be treated under strict confidentiality standards and shall be accessible only to those involved in the corresponding editorial process. The processing of personal data is carried out in accordance with the current regulations of the Autonomous University of Coahuila and the applicable provisions on personal data protection.