International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR)

International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR)
Call for Papers | Fully Refereed | Open Access | Double Blind Peer Reviewed

ISSN: 2319-7064

Reader's Choice Award

How the monthly award works, how the winner is selected, and how authors can promote their research responsibly.

The Reader's Choice Award recognises the paper that earns the strongest eligible reader response within its monthly International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR) edition. Every published paper in the edition is considered under the same time window and ranking method.

Authors do not submit a separate award application. The system evaluates eligible activity automatically after the award window closes.

How the Award Process Works

Publish

The paper is assigned to an IJSR monthly edition and becomes eligible for that edition’s award.

Engage

Eligible engagement is recorded during the publication month and the whole of the following month.

Calculate

After the eligibility window closes, papers in the same edition are compared under the applicable award method.

Announce

The highest-ranked eligible paper is declared the winner at 12:00 AM IST on the first day of the second following month.

Notify

The corresponding author is informed by email and receives links to the winning article, reader responses and certificate page.

Example: A paper published in the August 2026 edition can earn eligible engagement through 30 September 2026. The winner is determined on 1 October 2026 at 12:00 AM IST.

How the Winner Is Calculated

January–August 2026 editions: winners use the established rating-led method. Papers are ranked first by average approved rating, then by the number of unique approved raters, followed by total rating points. Paper ID provides the final consistent tie-break if all earlier measures are equal.

From the September 2026 edition onward, the system uses a transparent 100-point score. Four primary measures receive equal weight, while abstract views receive the smallest weight.

23.75Average Rating
23.75Unique Approved Ratings
23.75Eligible PDF Downloads
23.75Verified Shares
5.00Valid Abstract Views
Total Award Score = Rating Quality + Rating Participation + PDF Downloads + Verified Shares + Abstract Views

Average rating is measured against the maximum rating of 10. Volume measures use logarithmic normalisation against the highest eligible count within the same edition, preventing one unusually viral paper from overwhelming the comparison.

What Counts Towards the Award

Approved RatingsRatings must be from 1 to 10, approved, submitted during the eligibility period, and connected to a valid reader email.
One Reader, One RatingOnly the latest approved rating from each normalised email address is used for that paper.
Tracked EngagementEligible shares, PDF downloads and abstract views must be recorded by the International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR) tracking system during the award period.
Genuine ActivityBot activity and engagement that does not satisfy the system’s validity rules are excluded.
Same-Edition ComparisonEach paper competes only with other eligible papers published in the same monthly edition.
Active PublicationThe winning Paper ID must still exist in the International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR) publication index when the result is displayed.

How Authors Can Improve Their Winning Probability

1

Share the Official Abstract Link

Always promote the International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR) abstract-page URL containing your Paper ID. This gives readers one reliable destination for the abstract, PDF, rating form and sharing tools.

2

Use the Built-in Share Buttons

Use Facebook, X, LinkedIn, WhatsApp, Email, More Apps or Copy Link on the abstract page so eligible share activity can be recorded correctly.

3

Reach Relevant Readers

Share with colleagues, researchers, professional groups, alumni networks, institutions and subject communities that are genuinely interested in the research.

4

Invite Honest Ratings

Ask genuine readers to read the paper and submit their own fair rating and constructive comment. Do not tell readers which score to give.

5

Encourage Full-Paper Reading

Give readers a clear reason to open the abstract and download the PDF. A short explanation of the paper’s practical value is more effective than repeated promotional messages.

6

Promote Throughout the Window

Begin after publication and continue naturally through the following month. A steady campaign generally reaches more genuine readers than one large burst.

7

Use Clear Promotion Text

Mention the research problem, its main contribution and who may benefit from reading it. Keep the message accurate and avoid exaggerated claims.

8

Keep Contact Details Current

The winner notification is sent to the email stored for the paper. Ensure that the corresponding author can receive messages at that address.

Ethical Promotion and Activities to Avoid

Recommended

  • Invite independent readers who are interested in the subject.
  • Use the official abstract link and International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR) sharing controls.
  • Encourage readers to form their own opinion before rating.
  • Share through professional, institutional and academic communities.
  • Use different promotion messages suited to each audience.

Not Permitted or Not Useful

  • Author self-rating or coordinated rating manipulation.
  • Duplicate accounts, purchased ratings or incentives for high scores.
  • Bots, automated traffic, click exchanges or repeated artificial downloads.
  • Spam posting, misleading claims or unrelated mass promotion.
  • Unverifiable sharing claims intended only to inflate award activity.

A do-follow or no-follow backlink may be useful for discovery, but backlink type does not independently add award points. Only the eligible engagement measures stated above affect the award score.

How Fairness Is Protected

  • All eligible papers in the same edition are evaluated over the same closing date.
  • Duplicate reader ratings are reduced to one latest approved rating per valid email.
  • Invalid ratings, bots and ineligible tracked activity do not contribute.
  • High activity counts are normalised within the edition rather than compared as unrestricted raw totals.
  • For the 100-point method, ties are resolved by award score, average rating, unique ratings, PDF downloads, verified shares and finally Paper ID.
  • If a winner is removed from the journal, the highest-ranked remaining eligible paper is selected as the replacement.

What the Winner Receives

  • Recognition on the official Reader's Choice Award winners page.
  • A clearly highlighted award status on the paper’s abstract page.
  • An official winner notification sent to the paper’s registered email address.
  • Access to the Reader's Choice Award certificate page.
  • A permanent reader-response page showing the qualifying ratings and comments available for publication.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the winner announced?

The winner is determined at 12:00 AM IST on the first day of the second month following publication. For example, the August edition remains open through September and its winner is determined on 1 October.

Can an author rate their own paper?

No. An author’s own rating is not treated as an approved independent reader rating. Authors should invite genuine readers to provide honest feedback.

Do repeated clicks, views or ratings from one person help?

No. Duplicate ratings are reduced to one latest approved rating per valid email address, while bots and invalid activity are excluded from tracked engagement. Repeated or artificial activity may be disregarded.

Are all social shares counted?

Only eligible, verifiable share activity recorded through the International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR) sharing system can contribute. A copied claim, screenshot or unverifiable private post does not automatically receive award credit.

What happens if a winning paper is removed?

A displayed winner must continue to exist in the journal's publication record. If the paper is removed, the award system selects the highest-ranked remaining eligible paper for that edition.

How is the winner informed?

The system sends an official email to the address in journal records. Authors should therefore keep their corresponding email address accurate and accessible.

Build Genuine Reader Engagement

The most effective approach is simple: help the right readers discover the paper, encourage them to read it fully, and invite honest independent feedback.

View Award Winners Visit IJSR

IJSR may disregard suspicious or invalid engagement and may refine verification controls to protect the integrity of the award.

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