Publication and Ethics

The Journal of Computer Adaptive Testing in Africa (JoCATiA) publishes high-quality open access, peer-reviewed electronic journals designed to improve the science and practice of computerised adaptive testing (CAT), aimed at advancing the frontiers of computerised testing in Africa to the second generation of computer-based assessment and beyond. JoCATiA is designed to provide a platform for the researchers, academicians, professionals, practitioners, and students to impart and share knowledge in the form of high-quality empirical and theoretical research papers, simulation studies, and meta-analysis. This statement is based on COPE’s Best Practice Guidelines for Journal Editors.

Peer Review Process

JoCATiA follows a double-blind peer review policy. This means that the identities of both the author and reviewer remain anonymous to each other. Articles are subjected to a rigorous peer review process after the appropriate editorial members have decided on the quality and relevance of the article to the journal. At this stage, the editor may reject or accept the article. If accepted by the editor, the article will be sent to two carefully selected peer reviewers with expertise in the article's subject area. The two reviewers are expected to give reports on the article, upon which the assigned editor will decide based on the reviewers' recommendations.

If revisions are required, authors will be notified and informed accordingly. Authors will be requested to resubmit the revised version of the article within a certain period. If the revision is minor, the editor will make the final decision, and in the case of a major revision, the article will be reevaluated by the same reviewers, and their recommendations will inform the final decision. Finally, an accepted article will be sent for copyediting. The copy-edited version will be shared with the corresponding author using the journal's online system for possible proofreading, corrections of technical issues, and returning the copy to the editor.

Ethical Guidelines for Journal Publication

Fair play

An editor at any time evaluate manuscripts for their intellectual content without regard to race, gender, sexual orientation, religious belief, ethnic origin, citizenship, or political philosophy of the authors.

Confidentiality

The editor and any editorial staff must not disclose any information about a submitted manuscript to anyone other than the corresponding author, reviewers, potential reviewers, other editorial advisers, and the publisher, as appropriate.

Disclosure and conflicts of interest

Unpublished materials disclosed in a submitted manuscript must not be used in an editor's own research without the express written consent of the author.