Ethical statement and good editorial practices

Ethical statement on publication and good editorial practices

Multiverso Journal, an independent informative body attached to the Fundación de Difusión Científica, is committed to the scientific community to guarantee the ethics and quality of the published articles. Our journal has as reference the Code of Conduct and Good Practices defined by the Publication Ethics Committee (COPE) (http://oaspa.org/membership/code-of-conduct/) for editors, authors and referees of scientific journals in general and voluntarily adheres to the Scopus framework: Publication Ethics and Malpractice Statement requirements. At the same time, it guarantees an adequate response to the needs of readers and authors, ensuring the quality of what is published, protecting and respecting the content of the articles, as well as their integrity.

 Responsibilities or behavior of:

 The editor or publisher

  • Take care of the impartiality both in the reception of the articles and in the failure of the evaluation.
  • Act at all times in accordance with the editorial criteria and the editorial line.
  • The academic review of articles is governed by the blind peer system, so the journal is committed to taking care of the anonymity of authors and reviewers.
  • Multiverso Journal adheres to the open access philosophy; therefore, its content does not have commercial purposes, which is guaranteed at all times by the director or director (editor or editor), the editorial committee and the advisory committee respectively.
  • Consequently, the editorial team is in a position to clarify doubts to authors and reviewers in the process of evaluation and editing in the heat of the development of their specific activities in accordance with the parameters of our editorial policy.
  • The editor-in-chief or publisher guarantees that they will disclose the result of the ruling process (arbitration) exclusively to the authors or author.
  • Plagiarism behaviors in any of its expressions or modalities that undermine intellectual property rights, individually or collectively, are not admitted by Political Issues; in this sense, the articles are evaluated with specialized software for the detection of duplicate content. Any case detected will imply the rejection of the article, which will be notified to the authors or author of the article, accompanied by a detailed report, and the possibility of submitting another manuscript to the journal will not be given again.
  • In the cases that are required, the magazine will publish the corresponding and necessary clarifications and corrections.

The authors or author

  • The authors must guarantee that the articles are the product of their original work as researchers and that the data presented has been obtained ethically, so they must send the letter of originality and guarantee that they do not infringe copyright.
  • The article may not be totally or partially submitted to another publication.
  • Authors may not apply for redundant publications, meaning when two or more documents share the same data, hypotheses, discussion points or conclusions.
  • Those co-authored works must have a justification that expresses the full consensus of adherence to the research guidelines of all the authors involved.
  • The authors must guarantee strict adherence and acceptance to the editorial criteria established by this journal.
  • It is the obligation of the authors to respect the authorship of each and every one of the sources that have been used in the preparation of their article; for this reason, you must provide the exact data of the bibliographic, newspaper, electronic or other type of references, as well as the data collection method and techniques that made your work possible. Likewise, you agree not to omit any significant material.
  • Address observations and editorial and academic opinions in a timely and clear manner. When for various reasons you do not agree with the criteria and observations made by the referees, always made with the aim of improving the article, you must justify your position in writing to the editor, who is the competent authority to say what is more convenient in each case for the interests of the journal, under the assumption that the reviewers are not always right.
  • Incurring in any violation of the previous points constitutes an unethical and unacceptable conduct; consequently, the proposed article will be removed and not considered for publication. Similarly, the author may not be considered for any activity related to the magazine.

 Reviewers

  • They must agree to maintain the confidentiality of the information related to the articles they evaluate.
  • They cannot make any type of diffusion or distribution of the information presented in the article they are evaluating until the moment it is published by the journal.
  • They undertake to carry out their opinion in an objective, impartial, responsible and rigorous manner.
  • Demonstrate willingness to clarify doubts and all issues related to compliance in each of the stages that comprise the arbitration or evaluation process.
  • When incurring in any violation of the previous points, the magazine reserves the right to revoke its membership in the portfolio of referees.

Retraction Policy

Multiverse Journal reserves the right to retract any article that is found to contain serious errors or that does not meet the ethical and scientific standards of the discipline. Retraction will be done in a transparent manner and authors and readers of the journal will be informed.

Conflict of interest policy

Authors, reviewers, and editors of this scientific journal must disclose any conflict of interest that may influence their judgment or the content of the submitted manuscript for consideration by our evaluation team (blind peer review). This process includes the following steps:

  1. Declaration by authors: When submitting a manuscript, authors must complete a form declaring any conflict of interest, which may include financial relationships, family ties, or academic rivalries. This declaration should be clear and specific so that reviewers and editors are adequately informed of the status of the article submitted for their consideration.
  2. Reviewers: External reviewers are also required to declare any conflict of interest before accepting to review a manuscript. If a reviewer has a conflict of any nature, he/she should excuse him/herself from participating in the review to avoid bias in the evaluation of the paper.
  3. Editors: Editors should be aware of conflicts of interest of authors and reviewers. If an editor has a conflict, responsibility for reviewing and deciding on the manuscript should be delegated to another editor who is not involved in the conflict.

Managing Conflicts of Interest

Managing conflicts of interest is crucial at Multiverse Journal to preserve the integrity of the publication process. Consequently, this journal guides its editorial actions by two specific guidelines to address these conflicts:

  1. a) Transparency: in appropriate cases, conflict of interest statements are published along with the accepted article. This allows readers to know the possible influences that could have affected the work presented.
  2. b) Editorial Board: In case of controversies related to conflicts of interest, the journal's Editorial Board is responsible for resolving these situations. This includes making decisions on the acceptance, correction, or retraction of articles, if it is determined that there was misconduct in the research, review or editorial handling of a given scientific article.
  3. c) Compliance with Regulations: This scientific journal voluntarily adheres to the guidelines established by organizations such as the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), which provides a clear theoretical framework for managing conflicts of interest and, at the same time, ensures that editorial decisions are based on scientific quality and not on personal or financial interests.

For these reasons, Multiverse Journal's conflict of interest policy is fundamental to the integrity of the scientific publication process. Through the disclosure and proper management of these conflicts, the journal has been able to maintain the confidence of the public and the scientific community in the validity of the published research.

APPEALS AND COMPLAINTS MECHANISM

Describes the proper procedure for authors to appeal editorial decisions or file complaints about the peer review process or ethical concerns.

At Multiverse Journal, the procedure for authors to appeal editorial decisions or file formal complaints about the peer review process or ethical concerns is essential to ensure transparency and fairness in this scientific publication. The following is a description of the proper process for our authors to follow when they feel that decisions in the review process for their work are unfair or flawed.

Procedure for Appealing Editorial Decisions

Authors who wish to appeal an editorial decision should follow these steps:

Draft a letter of appeal: The letter should be addressed to the journal editor, clearly stating the purpose of the appeal. It is important to include the title of the manuscript and the identification number of the manuscript to facilitate the review of the case.

Acknowledgment and context: If possible, it is suggested to begin the letter by expressing gratitude for the time and effort that the editor and reviewers have dedicated to the evaluation of the manuscript. This sets a respectful and professional tone.

Response to comments: Systematically address the specific points that led to the rejection decision. It is essential to provide detailed responses to the concerns raised by the reviewers and the editor, and to present additional evidence or arguments that reinforce the validity of the work that was criticized by our review team.

Suggestions for improvement: If appropriate, propose changes or additions to the manuscript that could address the criticisms and make the paper more suitable for the journal. This may include new data, analyses, or revisions to the study approach.

Clarification of misunderstandings: If it is felt that there were misunderstandings about the paper, it is important to clarify them in an objective and concise manner, providing additional context that may have been overlooked.

Submission of the letter: The appeal letter should be sent through the journal's manuscript management system and to the journal's official e-mail address (multiversojournal@gmail.com), making sure to follow any specific instructions the journal has for the appeal process.

Submitting Complaints about the Peer Review Process

If authors have concerns about the peer review process, they should:

Contact the editor: Send an email to the journal editor explaining the concerns clearly and concisely. This may include complaints about the quality of the review, the impartiality of the reviewers, or any irregularities observed in the review process.

Provide evidence: Include specific details and evidence to support the complaints. This may include examples of reviewer comments that are perceived to be biased or unjustified.

Request a review of the process: Ask the editor to review the review process, in part or in whole, and to consider re-evaluation of the manuscript by different reviewers if it is determined that there were flaws in the original review.

ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS

Similarly, if authors suspect ethical misconduct during the review process, they should:

Inform the editor: Communicate ethical concerns directly to the editor, specifying the nature of the suspected conduct (e.g., plagiarism, undisclosed conflicts of interest, etc.).

Follow COPE guidelines: It is recommended that authors familiarize themselves with the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) guidelines, which provide a framework for handling ethical concerns in publication.

Maintain objectivity: When presenting ethical complaints or concerns, it is crucial to maintain an objective and fact-based approach, avoiding unfounded accusations.

In summary, the appeals and complaints process in Multiverse Journal publications requires a structured and respectful approach. Authors should be clear and concise in their communications, providing solid evidence and arguments to support their requests. This not only helps to address their concerns, but also contributes to the continuous improvement of the high-quality review and publication process.

QUALITY CONTROL

Multiverso Journal in its editorial action implements a set of strict quality control measures to guarantee the integrity and accuracy of the published content. This includes:

Peer Review

Double-blind peer review process: Manuscripts are evaluated by at least two independent expert reviewers who are unaware of the identity of the authors and vice versa.

Rigorous evaluation criteria: Our reviewers evaluate the methodological validity, scientific novelty, clarity of presentation, and potential impact of the work submitted for consideration.

Plagiarism Detection

Use of plagiarism detection software: All manuscripts are subjected to plagiarism detection software (Turnitin) to identify any unauthorized copies of content.

Establishing similarity thresholds: The journal defines acceptable similarity thresholds and protocols for investigating suspected cases of plagiarism.

Fact Check

Data and source review: Reviewers verify that the data presented is accurate and that key claims are supported by references to reliable sources.

Confirmation of Ethical Approvals: For studies involving humans or animals, reviewers must confirm that appropriate ethical approvals have been obtained.

Editorial Process

Independent Editorial Review: After peer review, manuscripts are evaluated by an independent editor who verifies compliance with journal guidelines and the overall quality of the work.

Proofreading: Prior to publication, the authors and editors carefully review proofs to correct any typographical or formatting errors.

Continuous Improvement

Feedback from authors and reviewers: This journal systematically processes comments from authors and reviewers to identify opportunities for improvement in the editorial process.

Reviewer training: The journal offers ongoing training to its reviewers on best practices in peer review and detection of ethical or methodological issues.

Multiverso Journal understands that implementing these quality control measures requires additional effort on the part of authors, reviewers, and editors. However, this effort is essential to maintain high standards of integrity and accuracy in published research.

 

Multiverso Journal accepts for review and publication scientific articles in two (02) languages, English and Spanish. We are currently working on an audio file system for authors or readers with visual disabilities.

QUALITY CONTROL

Multiverso Journal in its editorial action implements a set of strict quality control measures to guarantee the integrity and accuracy of the published content. This includes:

Peer Review

Double-blind peer review process: Manuscripts are evaluated by at least two independent expert reviewers who are unaware of the identity of the authors and vice versa.

Rigorous evaluation criteria: Our reviewers evaluate the methodological validity, scientific novelty, clarity of presentation, and potential impact of the work submitted for consideration.

Plagiarism Detection

Use of plagiarism detection software: All manuscripts are subjected to plagiarism detection software (Turnitin) to identify any unauthorized copies of content.

Establishing similarity thresholds: The journal defines acceptable similarity thresholds and protocols for investigating suspected cases of plagiarism.

Fact Check

Data and source review: Reviewers verify that the data presented is accurate and that key claims are supported by references to reliable sources.

Confirmation of Ethical Approvals: For studies involving humans or animals, reviewers must confirm that appropriate ethical approvals have been obtained.

Editorial Process

Independent Editorial Review: After peer review, manuscripts are evaluated by an independent editor who verifies compliance with journal guidelines and the overall quality of the work.

Proofreading: Prior to publication, the authors and editors carefully review proofs to correct any typographical or formatting errors.

Continuous Improvement

Feedback from authors and reviewers: This journal systematically processes comments from authors and reviewers to identify opportunities for improvement in the editorial process.

Reviewer training: The journal offers ongoing training to its reviewers on best practices in peer review and detection of ethical or methodological issues.

Multiverso Journal understands that implementing these quality control measures requires additional effort on the part of authors, reviewers, and editors. However, this effort is essential to maintain high standards of integrity and accuracy in published research.

 

Guidelines for Submitting Supplemental Materials

Types of Materials: Authors should clearly identify the types of supplementary materials they wish to submit as a complement to their research papers, which may include:

  1. Datasets
  2. Videos
  3. Experimental protocols
  4. Additional Methods
  5. Supplementary figures and tables

Submission Format: Supplemental materials must be submitted in acceptable formats, such as PDFs for documents and tables, and specific formats such as CSV or Excel for datasets. Videos must be submitted in standard formats such as MP4 or AVI and must include captions or descriptions appropriate to their content.

File Size: Multiverso Journal limits the size for submitted files, ensuring that they do not exceed a reasonable size (10 MB for each file) for easy review and publication.

Clear Presentation: Supplementary materials should be presented in a clear and concise manner, following the style and terminology of the main manuscript. Authors must ensure that all elements are legible and understandable.

Numbering and References: Each supplementary material should be numbered and referenced appropriately in the text of the main manuscript. For example, a dataset can be referenced as "Watch Supplement S1" or "Check Video S2".

Position on Data Sharing and Openness

Open Data Policy: Multiverso Journal adopts a clear open data policy that encourages the availability of data to the international scientific community. This includes the obligation for authors to share relevant datasets in public repositories, allowing for verification and reproducibility of the results presented in their papers.

Repository in Public Repositories: Multiverso Journal encourages its authors to deposit their datasets in recognized and accessible data repositories, such as Dryad, Figshare or Zenodo. This not only increases the visibility of the research, but also makes it easier for other researchers to access the data.

Data Availability Statements: Multiverse Journal authors must include a data availability statement in the manuscript, stating whether data is available, in which repository it can be found, and any access restrictions. The statement should be clear and specific, avoiding vague terms such as "available upon request."

Data Sharing Incentives: Multiverso Journal may consider implementing incentives for authors who share their data, such as recognition in publication evaluations or benefits in funding applications.

Compliance and Oversight: Multiverso Journal establishes oversight mechanisms to ensure that authors comply with data sharing policies. This may include random reviews of data availability and the possibility of retracting articles if it is determined that the data is not accessible as promised.

Multiverse Journal establishes clear guidelines for the submission of supplementary materials and takes a proactive stance on data sharing and openness as essential elements to promote transparency and reproducibility in scientific research. These measures not only benefit the scientific community, but also strengthen public confidence in the research published in this high-impact journal.