INFORMATION FOR REVIEWERS
The Journal of Student Physical Therapy Research (JSPTR) is an open access, peer-reviewed on-line journal that encompasses all aspects of clinical and basic research studies related to physical therapy. The JSPTR invites student authors to contribute manuscripts relevant to theory and practice of physical therapy.
Peer Review Process
In the peer-review process, submitted manuscripts that are deemed suitable for peer review will be assigned to a Review Pod. A Review Pod will be located at an APTA accredited physical therapy program. Review Pods are constructed of at least one Faculty Advisor and at least three Student Reviewers.
When a submitted manuscript is received by the co-editors, a Review Pod will be selected and invited to review the manuscript via email. Review Pods may accept by replying to the email, or reply to say that they are unable to review at that time. One member of the pod will be selected to be the Pod Leader and will be the contact person for the co-editor. Once the Review Pods receives the manuscript and review packet materials, including review guidelines and all necessary documents, Student Reviewers will have up to three weeks to evaluate the manuscript and complete one review packet for submission to the JSPTR via email. The Pod Leader will have the responsibility of compiling the work done by the pod and of sending this to the co-editor once complete.
Content of Review
Reviewers will be asked to critically evaluate manuscripts and provide recommendations for the authors in several key areas.
In addition to the critical evaluation, Reviewers are asked to provide their recommendation for publication in one of the following categories:
Accepted for Publication
Minor Revisions and Re-Submit
Major Revisions and Re-Submit to Pod
Rejected for Publication
If major revisions are recommended by the review pod, they will receive the manuscript a second time after the author has been given the opportunity to make changes. The process remains the same for the second review.
Unbiased Review
If Reviewers have a conflict of interest or have any reason to believe they will be unable to provide an unbiased review please notify the JSPTR. Student Reviewers are unaware of the author’s identity and institutional affiliation. In addition, the identity of the Student Reviewers is withheld from the authors to allow for candid evaluations of manuscripts.
Editorial Policies
The following policies apply to manuscripts submitted for review and publication:
1. The recommendations of associate editors, editorial review board members, and reviewers concerning the status of manuscripts under review are advisory to the Editor-in-Chief.
2. The final decision concerning the publication of a manuscript is solely the responsibility of the Editor-in-Chief.
3. Manuscripts are treated as works in progress and are viewed as new manuscripts each time a revision is submitted; each time a manuscript is reviewed, new issues may be raised for the authors to address.
4. Authors should expect to make multiple revisions of their manuscript before formal acceptance of the manuscript for publication.
5. Manuscripts submitted for review are a form of privileged communications between the authors and the Journal and the authors and the reviewers. Reviewers may share the paper with other professionals if the disclosure is intended to enhance the review.
6. Authors are not allowed to make changes during the proof stage of publication, except to correct inaccuracies.
7. The Editor-in-Chief may refuse to publish a manuscript if the author requests substantial revisions of the manuscript content after the paper have been through the review process and accepted for publication.
8. The Editor-in-Chief may solicit additional reviews to supplement the opinion of the assigned associate editors and reviewers. | 
