Reviewer Guidelines

Lentera Ilmu: Jurnal Kependidikan, Riset, dan Teoritis Published by Sekolah Tinggi Ilmu Tarbiyah Padang Lawas (STIT PL) Gunung Tua, Padang Lawas Utara, Sumatera Utara, Indonesia.

These guidelines are intended to assist reviewers in evaluating submitted manuscripts. Reviewers are expected to provide constructive feedback, suggestions for improvement, and an objective assessment of the quality and suitability of the manuscript for publication.

Roles and Responsibilities of Reviewers

Reviewers are responsible for assessing and evaluating manuscripts within their area of expertise, offering constructive comments, and ensuring the quality and eligibility of articles for publication. In carrying out these roles, reviewers must:

1. Evaluate the originality, relevance, and scientific contribution of the article.
2. Provide clear and constructive feedback to help authors improve their manuscripts.
3. Maintain confidentiality of all information contained in the manuscript.

Before Accepting a Review Assignment

Before agreeing to review, reviewers should ensure:

1. Relevance of Expertise
   • Is the manuscript’s topic aligned with your expertise in education, research, or theory?
   • If not, promptly inform the editor and suggest an alternative reviewer.
2. Time Availability
   • Reviews must be completed within 14 days of receiving the request.
   • If additional time is needed, immediately notify the editor.
3. Conflict of Interest
   • Disclose to the editor any potential conflict of interest, whether due to personal relationships, institutional affiliation, or professional interests.

Manuscript Evaluation Criteria

1. Title and Abstract
   • Is the title clear and representative of the manuscript’s content?
   • Does the abstract concisely summarize the objective, methods, results, and conclusions?
2. Introduction
   • Is the research background and problem statement clearly described?
   • Are the research objectives specifically stated?
   • Is the literature review relevant and up-to-date?
3. Methodology (for research manuscripts)
   • Are the research methods appropriate to the objectives?
   • Are data collection and analysis techniques explained in sufficient detail?
   • Are the research instruments valid and reliable?
4. Theoretical Review (for non-empirical manuscripts)
   • Is the argumentation logically structured and supported by relevant literature?
   • Does the paper contribute new insights to the development of theory or concepts in education?
5. Results and Discussion
   • Are the results clearly and systematically presented?
   • Does the analysis support the conclusions drawn?
   • Does the discussion connect findings to previous research and relevant theories?
6. Conclusion
   • Do the conclusions address the research objectives?
   • Are practical implications or recommendations for future research provided?
7. References and Citations
   • Are references relevant, up-to-date (preferably within the last 5–10 years), and formatted according to the journal’s citation style?

Writing Style

1. Use standard, clear, and coherent Indonesian or English.
2. Follow the official journal template for article structure.
3. Present tables, figures, and graphs in a clear and readable format.

Reviewer Ethics

1. Confidentiality — Do not share or discuss the manuscript with others without the editor’s permission.
2. Objectivity — Assess based on scientific merit, free from personal bias.
3. Clarity of Suggestions — Provide clear, polite comments and distinguish between notes for the editor and notes for the author.
4. Reporting Misconduct — Immediately inform the editor if plagiarism, duplicate publication, or questionable data is detected.

Reviewer Recommendations

After evaluating the manuscript, the reviewer should recommend one of the following:

1. Accept without revision
2. Accept with minor revisions
3. Accept with major revisions
4. Reject

Technical Instructions for Completing the Review Form

1. Use the official review form provided by Lentera Ilmu.
2. Provide constructive and specific comments.
3. Highlight sections that require improvement.