Journal Policy

Authors’ Instructions

The Journal of the Chartered Institute of Statisticians of Nigeria (JCISON) welcomes the submission of high-quality manuscripts in theoretical and applied statistics. Authors are encouraged to follow the guidelines below to ensure a smooth review and publication process.

1. Authorship and Membership

Manuscripts may be submitted by both members and non-members of the Chartered Institute of Statisticians of Nigeria (CISON).
Non-members whose manuscripts are accepted for publication may register as members of the Institute or pay page-charges before publication.
All authors must ensure that the manuscript represents original work and that all co-authors have approved the final version.

2. Originality and Ethical Standards

The Journal of the Chartered Institute of Statisticians of Nigeria (JCISON) upholds the highest standards of academic integrity and publication ethics. Thus:

Manuscripts must be original and should not have been submitted to, or published in, another journal or conference proceedings.
Simultaneous submission to multiple outlets constitutes a breach of publication ethics and will lead to manuscript rejection.
Submitted manuscript must be subjected to plagiarism and similarity screening using recognised plagiarism detection software.
Manuscripts will only be considered for review if the overall cumulative similarity index does not exceed 15%. In addition, similarity to any single source must not exceed 1%, except for properly cited references, methodological statements, or standard phrases.
All forms of plagiarism—including self-plagiarism, verbatim copying without attribution, paraphrasing without acknowledgement, or inappropriate reuse of previously published work—are strictly prohibited.
Authors are fully responsible for ensuring that their manuscripts are original, appropriately referenced, and free of ethical breaches before submission.
The Editorial Board reserves the right to request revisions to reduce similarity levels or to withdraw an accepted paper if plagiarism is discovered at any stage before publication.
Where research involves human participants, data, or sensitive materials, authors must indicate adherence to ethical standards and institutional guidelines.

3. Manuscript Format and Style

Submissions may be prepared in Microsoft Word or LaTeX.
Use double spacing, with 1-inch (2.54 cm) margins on all sides of A4-sized paper.
The standard typeface is Times New Roman, size 12.
All mathematical equations must be clearly formatted using Equation Editor in MS Word or LaTeX environments.
Formulas should be numbered sequentially, either by section (e.g., [2.1], [2.2]) or consecutively throughout the manuscript (e.g., [1], [2]). Equation numbers must be enclosed in brackets and aligned to the right-hand margin.

4. Title and Author Information

The manuscript title should be concise, informative, and reflective of the paper’s core theme.
The names and institutional affiliation of Author(s) should be listed below the title.
On a separate page, include the full name(s), institutional address(es), and email address of every author, with the Corresponding Author clearly identified.

5. Abstract and Keywords

Each manuscript must include an abstract of not more than 250 words on the first page.
The abstract should be a single paragraph, written in clear language, and must not contain mathematical expressions, figures, or tables.
The abstract should summarise the purpose, methodology, key findings, and implications of the study.
Authors should provide 4–6 keywords immediately after the abstract to facilitate indexing and searchability.

6. Length of Manuscript

Research articles should not exceed 8,000 words (including references, tables, and figures).
Short communications, case studies, or technical notes should not exceed 3,000 words.
Review articles may be longer, subject to editorial discretion.

7. Tables, Figures, and Illustrations

All tables and figures must be numbered consecutively and appropriately titled.
Figures should be of high resolution (minimum 300 dpi) and in editable formats (e.g., Excel, TIFF, or EPS).
The title of a table is placed above the table and written in a concise, descriptive manner. Notes and explanations (if any) should be placed immediately below the table, not within the body.
The title or caption should be placed below the figure or chart, and it should succinctly describe the content.
Authors must ensure that tables and figures are self-explanatory and referenced in the main text.

8. References

References must be complete, accurate, and consistently formatted.
Use APA (7th edition) or the referencing style approved by JCISON.

Examples of APA Referencing (7th Edition)

a) Journal Article

Smith, J. A., & Johnson, R. T. (2022). Statistical modelling for emerging economies: Challenges and opportunities. Journal of Applied Statistics, 49(3), 451–467. https://doi.org/10.1080/02664763.2022.1234567

b) Textbook

Miller, P. D., Brown, T. R., & Okafor, C. U. (2020). Foundations of econometrics (3rd ed.). Routledge.

c) Conference Proceedings

Adeyemi, K. O., & Mensah, A. F. (2021). Big data applications in African financial systems. In L. Zhang & M. Wang (Eds.), Proceedings of the International Conference on Data Science and Policy Analytics (pp. 112–124). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-12345-6_10

d) PhD Thesis / Dissertation

Nguyen, L. T., & Bello, A. (2019). Statistical approaches to financial stability analysis in developing economies (Doctoral dissertation). University of Oxford. https://ora.ox.ac.uk/objects/uuid:1234abcd

e) Monograph

Garcia, M. R., & Patel, S. K. (2018). Measuring productivity in global supply chains: A statistical approach. World Bank Publications.

9. Submission Procedure

Manuscripts should be submitted electronically to the official editorial email: associate-editor@cison.gov.org and copy editorinchief@cison.gov.org and managing-editor@cison.gov.org
All submissions must go with an email stating the manuscript’s contribution and confirming that the work is original.

10. Review and Publication Process

Each manuscript undergoes a double-blind review process by two independent reviewers. For a manuscript to proceed to the Editorial Committee, at least one reviewer must recommend it for publication with only minor revisions.
The corresponding author will be formally notified of the outcome of the review. Where revisions are required, the revised manuscript must be submitted within seven (7) days.
In cases where a reviewer recommends major revisions, the revised manuscript will be resubmitted to the same reviewer for re-evaluation before a final decision is made.
Recommended manuscripts for publication are further scrutinised by the Editorial Committee, which takes the final decision before publication.
The Editorial Committee reserves the right to reject any manuscript originally recommended for publication if significant non-compliance with the journal’s standards or guidelines is identified.
The review process typically takes 12–16 weeks, after which authors will be notified of the decision (acceptance, revision, or rejection).
The galley proof and copyright transfer agreement will be sent electronically to the corresponding author of each accepted manuscript. Authors are required to review and return the corrected proofs promptly. Failure to submit corrections within the stipulated timeframe may result in the article being published as originally submitted or, in certain cases, treated as a new submission.

11, Desk Rejection Policy

The Editorial Committee reserves the right to issue a desk rejection without external review if a manuscript is found to be: (i) Substantially substandard in terms of quality, originality, or relevance; (ii) In breach of the journal’s plagiarism threshold; (iii) Poorly written or not aligned with JCISON’s scope and formatting guidelines.

Authors found to have engaged in academic dishonesty may face suspension from future submissions, notification of their affiliated institutions, or other appropriate actions in line with best publishing practices.

12. Copyright and Licensing

The Journal of the Chartered Institute of Statisticians of Nigeria (JCISON), published by the Chartered Institute of Statisticians of Nigeria, requires a formal transfer of copyright from the author(s) for every manuscript accepted for publication. By signing the Copyright Transfer Statement, the author(s) agree to transfer to the Chartered Institute of Statisticians of Nigeria the exclusive rights to reproduce, publish, distribute, and archive the work in all forms and media, including but not limited to:

Print (e.g., reprints, photographic reproductions, and microforms);
Digital formats (e.g., electronic publication, online databases, and institutional repositories);
Translations and adaptations;
Any other reproduction or distribution method of a similar nature, whether now known or developed in the future.

This transfer ensures that JCISON retains full rights to disseminate the work globally while maintaining proper attribution to the author(s). Authors, however, retain the right to:

Use the content in their teaching, presentations, or academic work;
Deposit the pre-publication or post-publication version in their personal or institutional repositories (with proper citation of the published version);
Request permission for any subsequent reuse not covered under fair academic use.

The copyright transfer becomes effective only upon acceptance of the manuscript for publication.

13. Disclaimer

The views expressed in the article published in JCISON are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the position of the CISON or its Governing Council. While efforts are made to ensure the accuracy of submitted manuscripts, CISON bears no responsibility for errors, omissions, or interpretations. Authors are solely responsible for the accuracy, originality, and ethical standards of their work.

A Brief History of the JCISON

The Nigerian Statistical Association (NSA), established in 1976, has played a pioneering role in advancing statistical practice, research, and policy application in Nigeria. As the official publisher of the Journal of the Nigerian Statistical Association (JNSA), the NSA provided a respected platform for the dissemination of scholarly research in statistics, econometrics, data science, and related fields. Over the years, the JNSA grew steadily in stature and credibility, publishing 35 volumes by 2023 and becoming a vital reference point for academics, policymakers, and practitioners across Africa and beyond.

In recognition of the growing importance of statistics to national development, and to further strengthen the institutional framework for professional statisticians in Nigeria, the Chartered Institute of Statisticians of Nigeria (CISON) was formally established in 2023 under the CISON Establishment Act of 2022. This transition represented a historic milestone, consolidating decades of professional practice under a statutory charter that elevated the discipline to global best-practice standards.

As part of this institutional evolution, the Journal of the Chartered Institute of Statisticians of Nigeria (JCISON) was launched as the official continuation of the JNSA. To ensure continuity and preserve the journal’s academic legacy, JCISON adopted the volume numbering sequence of the JNSA, beginning with Volume 36 in 2024. This seamless transition underscores the journal’s longstanding tradition of scholarly excellence while positioning it for greater international visibility and impact.

JCISON is an annual publication, and all submitted manuscripts undergo a rigorous double-blind peer review process conducted by two independent reviewers to ensure impartiality and minimise bias.

Today, JCISON serves as a leading peer-reviewed platform for publishing high-quality research in statistics, data science, and quantitative applications across economics, finance, health, agriculture, social sciences, and technology. It is committed to upholding the highest standards of academic publishing, including rigorous peer review, ethical compliance, and international accessibility.

Indexing and Visibility

The Journal of the Chartered Institute of Statisticians of Nigeria (JCISON) is a proud member of the CrossRef community, ensuring that all published articles are assigned Digital Object Identifiers (DOIs) for permanent citation, global discoverability, and seamless integration into international research databases.

In addition, JCISON is indexed in Google Scholar and visible on platforms such as ResearchGate, thereby enhancing the accessibility of its published content to a broad international audience of researchers, practitioners, and policymakers. Through these platforms, the journal contributes to the global exchange of knowledge and increases the impact and citation of authors’ work.

Looking ahead, JCISON is committed to expanding its international visibility by pursuing inclusion in major abstracting and indexing databases such as Scopus, Web of Science, DOAJ (Directory of Open Access Journals), and EconLit. This strategic move reflects the journal’s vision to strengthen its reputation as a leading peer-reviewed outlet for cutting-edge statistical research in Nigeria, Africa, and the global scholarly community.

By aligning with international publishing standards, JCISON positions itself as a trusted platform that not only disseminates high-quality research but also amplifies the global voice of statisticians and data scientists from Nigeria and beyond.

Publishing Ethics and Open Access Policy

Journal of the Chartered Institute of Statisticians of Nigeria (JCISON)

1. Editorial Responsibility and Integrity

The Editorial Board is responsible for ensuring that all submitted manuscripts are evaluated fairly, based solely on their scholarly merit, originality, and relevance to the scope of the journal.
Decisions on acceptance, revision, or rejection are made without discrimination on the grounds of gender, ethnicity, religion, citizenship, political belief, or institutional affiliation.
Editors are obligated to maintain confidentiality, avoid conflicts of interest, and ensure that peer review is conducted impartially and professionally.

2. Authors’ Responsibilities

Authors submitting to JCISON are required to:

Ensure that their manuscripts represent original work, free from fabrication, falsification, or plagiarism.
Properly acknowledge all sources, ideas, and data drawn from previous work through accurate referencing.
Confirm that the manuscript has not been submitted to or published in any other journal, conference proceedings, or similar outlet.
Provide details of any potential conflicts of interest (financial or personal) that may influence the interpretation of their work.
Ensure that all listed authors have significantly contributed to the research and approved the final version of the manuscript.
Make available raw data or supplementary material when requested, to promote reproducibility and verification of results.

3. Reviewers’ Responsibilities

Peer reviewers play a critical role in safeguarding academic quality. They are expected to:

Conduct reviews objectively, constructively, and within the agreed timeframe.
Maintain strict confidentiality regarding the manuscript and associated materials.
Identify potential ethical concerns (e.g., plagiarism, data manipulation, duplicate submission) and report them promptly to the editors.
Declare any conflicts of interest that might compromise impartiality.

4. Plagiarism, Redundancy, and Misconduct

JCISON has a zero-tolerance policy for plagiarism. Manuscripts must pass plagiarism screening using recognized software tools. A similarity index of not more than 15% cumulative and no more than 1% per source is required.
Any form of redundant publication, duplicate submission, or data fabrication/falsification constitutes research misconduct and may result in desk rejection, article retraction, and notification to the authors’ institution or relevant bodies.
Allegations of misconduct are handled in accordance with COPE guidelines, ensuring fairness, transparency, and due process.

5. Open Access Policy

JCISON operates under a Diamond Open Access model, ensuring that all published articles are freely available online without subscription or paywall barriers.
Authors retain copyright but are required to sign a Copyright Transfer and Licensing Agreement granting the Chartered Institute of Statisticians of Nigeria the right to disseminate and archive their work.
Articles are published under the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY 4.0) License, allowing others to share, adapt, and build upon the work, provided appropriate credit is given to the original author(s).
There are no article processing charges (APCs) or submission fees, ensuring inclusivity for both local and international scholars.

6. Archiving and Digital Preservation

To ensure long-term accessibility, JCISON:

Deposits all published articles with CrossRef for DOI assignment and reference linking.
Is indexed in Google Scholar, ResearchGate, and actively pursuing inclusion in Scopus, Web of Science, DOAJ, and EconLit.
Maintains digital archives through the Institute’s institutional repository and trusted third-party preservation services.

7. Ethical Compliance in Research

Where applicable, authors must provide evidence of compliance with:

Ethical approval for studies involving human participants or animals, in line with international research standards.
Informed consent for studies involving human subjects.
Data protection and privacy laws, ensuring that confidential information is handled responsibly.

8. Retraction and Corrections Policy

Articles may be retracted in cases of proven misconduct, major errors, or ethical breaches.
Corrections or errata may be issued where minor mistakes are identified post-publication.
Retraction notices will remain permanently linked to the original article to maintain transparency in the academic record.

9. Commitment to Global Standards

Through its adherence to rigorous ethical publishing practices, JCISON seeks to:

Promote Nigerian and African scholarship in the global academic community.
Provide a credible and respected platform for statisticians, data scientists, economists, and policymakers worldwide.
Uphold trust in statistical science as a driver of evidence-based policy and innovation.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) in Publishing

The Journal of the Chartered Institute of Statisticians of Nigeria (JCISON) is deeply committed to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in academic publishing. We recognise that diversity in scholarship, representation, and perspectives strengthens the quality, integrity, and global impact of scientific research.

Our DEI policy aligns with the principles of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and international best practices in scholarly publishing.

1. Editorial Board Diversity

The Editorial Board is composed of scholars from diverse geographic regions, disciplines, genders, and institutional backgrounds to ensure balanced perspectives.
JCISON actively seeks to include early-career researchers, women, and underrepresented groups in its editorial and advisory boards.
Rotation and expansion of board membership are periodically implemented to maintain inclusivity and broaden participation.

2. Equitable Peer Review

Peer review is conducted double-blind to minimise bias based on gender, race, institutional affiliation, or nationality.
Reviewers are selected to reflect diverse expertise and backgrounds, avoiding concentration from a single region or institution.
Training and guidance are provided to reviewers to uphold fairness, inclusivity, and sensitivity to diverse scholarly traditions.

3. Inclusive Authorship and Research Representation

JCISON encourages submissions from scholars in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) and provides editorial support to help improve language and structure without compromising content.
Authors are expected to consider gender balance, cultural sensitivity, and inclusivity when presenting data, analyses, and interpretations.
We strongly encourage the reporting of sex-disaggregated data, inclusive methodologies, and equitable research practices where relevant.

4. Accessibility and Open Science

As a Diamond Open Access journal, JCISON ensures that research outputs are freely accessible to readers worldwide, without financial or institutional barriers.
Authors are not charged article processing fees, making the journal accessible to researchers regardless of funding availability.
To enhance accessibility, the journal promotes the use of clear, inclusive, and non-discriminatory language in all published works.

5. Anti-Discrimination and Harassment Policy

JCISON maintains a zero-tolerance policy against discrimination, harassment, or exclusion on the basis of gender, race, ethnicity, disability, religion, socioeconomic status, or sexual orientation.
Allegations of discriminatory conduct in editorial or peer-review processes will be investigated promptly and fairly, with corrective measures taken where necessary.

6. Capacity Building and Mentorship

The journal is committed to supporting early-career researchers by providing constructive peer review and mentorship opportunities.
Special issues and thematic calls will occasionally be dedicated to emerging scholars, African statisticians, and interdisciplinary collaborations to foster inclusivity in global scholarship.

7. Monitoring and Accountability

The Editorial Committee will periodically review DEI performance indicators, such as:
- Gender and geographic diversity of editorial board members.
- Representation of authorship across regions and institutions.
- Inclusivity of peer-review assignments.
Annual DEI reports will be prepared and used to strengthen practices and identify areas for improvement.

8. Global Commitment

Through these DEI policies, JCISON aspires to:

Create a welcoming platform for statisticians, data scientists, and researchers worldwide.
Ensure that the voices of underrepresented communities are amplified in global statistical and data science discourse.
Contribute to a more equitable academic publishing ecosystem, aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 5 (Gender Equality), and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities).

Reviewers’ Responsibilities

Our peer reviewers are integral to ensuring the academic rigour, ethical standards, and overall quality of articles published in the Journal of the Chartered Institute of Statisticians of Nigeria (JCISON). Their contributions safeguard the integrity of scholarly communication and strengthen the trust of the academic community. Our independent reviewers are therefore expected to uphold the following responsibilities:

A. Professional Conduct

Conduct reviews with objectivity, fairness, and professionalism, avoiding any personal bias.
Provide feedback that is constructive, respectful, and aimed at improving the manuscript, regardless of its final outcome.
Deliver reviews within the agreed timeframe to avoid unnecessary delays in the publication process. If unable to meet the deadline, reviewers should promptly inform the editorial office.

B. Confidentiality and Integrity

Treat all manuscripts as confidential documents and refrain from sharing, discussing, or using any part of the manuscript for personal or professional advantage prior to publication.
Avoid contacting authors directly regarding the manuscript. All communication must occur through the journal’s editorial system.
Protect sensitive information contained in the manuscript, particularly data that may have policy, commercial, or intellectual property implications.

C. Ethical Vigilance

Identify and report any potential ethical concerns, including but not limited to:
- Plagiarism or self-plagiarism (redundant publication).
- Fabrication, falsification, or manipulation of data, figures, or citations.
- Duplicate submission of the same work to multiple journals.
- Improper author attribution or potential ghost/gift authorship.
Suggest possible corrective actions or bring concerns directly to the editorial office for formal investigation.

D. Conflict of Interest (COI)

Declare any real, potential, or perceived conflicts of interest that may compromise impartiality. Examples include:
- Recent collaborations with the authors.
- Financial, professional, or personal relationships that could influence judgment.
- Direct competition in the same research area.
If a conflict exists, reviewers should decline the review to maintain transparency and fairness.

E. Quality and Depth of Review

Provide reviews that are evidence-based, precise, and thorough, covering:
- Originality and novelty of the research.
- Relevance and significance to statistical and related fields.
- Appropriateness of methodology and analytical rigor.
- Clarity, coherence, and quality of presentation.
- Contribution to existing knowledge and policy relevance.
Offer specific recommendations for improvement, including suggestions for additional analysis, clarifications, or references where necessary.
Clearly justify recommendations (accept, revise, or reject) to aid editors in making informed decisions.

F. Collegiality and Developmental Role

Recognize that peer review is also a mentorship process, particularly for early-career scholars or authors from regions with limited access to research support.
Offer feedback that not only evaluates but also guides authors toward improving the scientific quality and clarity of their work.
Where English or language use is a barrier, focus on the intellectual content rather than penalizing linguistic imperfections.

G. Accountability and Continuous Improvement

Acknowledge the shared responsibility in maintaining high standards of statistical research and publication ethics.
Stay updated with best practices in peer review through COPE, Committee of International Statistical Institutes, and other scholarly bodies.
Participate in reviewer recognition initiatives of JCISON, which may include annual acknowledgements, certificates, or reviewer credits on platforms such as Publons or ORCID integration.

Editors’ Code of Conduct

Editors of the Journal of the Chartered Institute of Statisticians of Nigeria (JCISON) are entrusted with the responsibility of maintaining the highest standards of academic integrity, ethical rigour, and scholarly excellence. They serve as stewards of the journal’s reputation and credibility in the global research community. To this end, editors are expected to adhere to the following principles and responsibilities:

A. Editorial Independence and Fairness

Exercise complete editorial independence in making decisions, free from institutional, political, or commercial pressures.
Ensure that all manuscripts are evaluated solely based on scholarly merit, originality, methodological rigour, relevance, and clarity, without regard to race, gender, institutional affiliation, nationality, religious or political beliefs of the authors.
Avoid any actions that could be perceived as favouritism, discrimination, or conflict of interest in the editorial process.

B. Ethical Oversight

Uphold the journal’s commitment to ethical publishing practices, ensuring compliance with international standards such as COPE guidelines.
Address cases of plagiarism, data fabrication, falsification, duplicate publication, or other forms of research misconduct with diligence and transparency.
If misconduct is suspected, initiate a formal investigation in collaboration with the publisher and, where necessary, the authors’ institutions.
Publish corrections, retractions, or expressions of concern promptly and transparently, where warranted.

C. Peer Review Management

Oversee the peer review process to ensure fairness, anonymity (where applicable), and timely feedback.
Assign manuscripts to reviewers with appropriate expertise, while ensuring diversity of perspectives and avoidance of conflicts of interest.
Guarantee that at least two independent reviews are secured before making editorial decisions.
Monitor the quality of peer reviews, providing feedback to reviewers where necessary to uphold standards.

D. Confidentiality

Treat all submitted manuscripts as confidential material and ensure that no information about a manuscript is disclosed to anyone outside the editorial process (e.g., reviewers, editorial board, and publisher staff).
Prevent the misuse of unpublished data or findings contained in submitted manuscripts for personal advantage or competitive gain.

E. Decision-Making and Transparency

Provide authors with clear, evidence-based justifications for editorial decisions (acceptance, revision, or rejection).
Where major revisions are requested, ensure that authors are given reasonable time to respond and revise.
Maintain transparency in editorial policies and ensure they are publicly accessible to all stakeholders (authors, reviewers, and readers).
Refrain from reversing acceptance decisions unless serious ethical or procedural concerns arise.

F. Conflict of Interest (COI) Management

Disclose any personal, professional, or financial conflicts of interest that may influence editorial judgment.
Refrain from handling manuscripts authored by themselves, close colleagues, or individuals with whom they have current collaborations or competitive relationships.
Delegate such manuscripts to another qualified member of the Editorial Board.

G. Quality Assurance and Journal Development

Ensure that every published manuscript contributes meaningfully to the advancement of knowledge in statistics, data science, and related interdisciplinary fields.
Continuously monitor and improve the journal’s editorial standards, peer review efficiency, and publication timeliness.
Support initiatives for enhancing the global visibility and impact of JCISON, including indexing, abstracting, and digital preservation strategies.
Foster inclusivity by encouraging submissions from underrepresented regions, early-career researchers, and diverse methodological traditions.

H. Author Support and Engagement

Provide clear guidance to authors regarding submission requirements, ethical obligations, and manuscript preparation.
Respect the intellectual independence of authors, ensuring that editorial interventions enhance clarity and quality without imposing undue influence.
Offer constructive feedback aimed at capacity building and mentorship, particularly for authors from developing research contexts.

I. Accountability and Continuous Learning

Acknowledge that editors are accountable to the academic community, the Chartered Institute of Statisticians of Nigeria (CISON), and international readership.
Regularly engage in training and continuous professional development in scholarly publishing ethics, peer review, and editorial management.
Participate in cross-journal networks, such as COPE and CrossRef forums, to align JCISON’s practices with global best standards.

JCISON Manuscript Evaluation Form

Journal of the Chartered Institute of Statisticians of Nigeria (JCISON)
Confidential Reviewer’s Report

Manuscript Information

Manuscript ID: ........................................................................................................
Title of Manuscript: ................................................................................................
………………………………………………………………………………………
Date Received for Review: .....................................................................................
Reviewer’s Expertise/Field: ...................................................................................
Date of Review Submission: ...................................................................................

Section A: General Evaluation Criteria

Criteria	Description	Rating (1–5/N/A)	Comments
Originality & Novelty	Does the manuscript present new, innovative, or significant contributions to the field?
Relevance & Significance	Is the topic relevant to statisticians, policymakers, or academics? Does it address contemporary issues?
Clarity of Objectives	Are the research objectives clearly defined and aligned with the study?
Literature Review	Is the literature review adequate, up-to-date, and well synthesised?
Methodology	Are methods appropriate, rigorous, and clearly explained?
Data & Analysis	Is data quality sufficient? Are statistical methods properly applied?
Results Presentation	Are findings clearly presented with adequate tables, figures, and charts?
Interpretation & Discussion	Are results interpreted accurately and compared with relevant literature?
Conclusions & Implications	Are conclusions supported by results? Do they highlight theoretical, practical, or policy implications?
Ethical Compliance	Does the study meet ethical standards (plagiarism, data integrity, consent, acknowledgements)?
Language & Style	Is the manuscript well written, grammatically correct, and logically structured?
Referencing	Are references comprehensive, accurate, and formatted according to APA (7th edition)?
Overall Contribution	Does the paper make a substantial contribution to the field?

Section B: Specific Review Comments

Strengths of the Manuscript:

Weaknesses / Areas for Improvement:

Detailed Comments to Authors (constructive feedback):

Confidential Comments to the Editor (if any):

Section C: Recommendation

☐ Accept as is (no changes required)
☐ Minor Revision (small changes required before acceptance)
☐ Major Revision (significant changes required; re-review needed)
☐ Reject (unsuitable for publication in JCISON)

Reviewer’s Name: ...............................................................................................................

Bank Name:………………………………………………………………………………..

Account Number:………………………………………………………………………….

Phone No.:………………………………………………………………………………….
Date: .....................................................................................................................................