Author Policies
- Sample Paper
- Article Processing Charge
- Author’s Agreement Form
- English Language Editing
- Complaints Policy
- Open Access Policy
- Plagiarism Policy
- Copyright Policy
- Rights and Grants to the Author
- Licensing Policy
- Participant/Patient Privacy and Informed Consent
- Data Sharing Policy
- Submission of Manuscript
- Manuscript Preparation
- Check List
- APC Waiver Policy
- Withdrawal Policy
- Human and Animal Rights Policy
- Errata, Retractions, and Corrigenda Policy
- Digital Preservation
1. Sample Paper
A sample paper provides authors with an example of how to properly structure and format a manuscript for submission. It includes an example article that follows the journal’s guidelines for manuscript preparation. This resource is helpful for authors to ensure that their submissions align with the journal's requirements for style, structure, and presentation. The sample paper also serves as a guide for proper citation practices, figure and table formatting, and the inclusion of supplementary materials. It helps authors understand the expectations for a successful submission and improves the efficiency of the review process.
2. Article Processing Charge
The Article Processing Charge (APC) is a fee required to publish a paper in an open-access journal. This charge helps cover the costs of the publishing process, including peer review, editing, and online hosting. The APC may vary depending on the journal and may be waived or discounted for authors from low-income countries or those facing financial hardship. The APC is an important part of the open-access model because it allows the journal to remain free for readers, ensuring that the research is widely accessible. Authors should be aware of the APC and any waiver policies before submitting their manuscripts.
3. Author’s Agreement Form
The author’s agreement form is a legal document that authors sign when submitting a manuscript for publication. It outlines the terms under which the work will be published, including copyright ownership, licensing agreements, and the responsibilities of the author and publisher. The form typically covers the author’s agreement to submit original work, comply with ethical standards, and provide necessary documentation (e.g., conflict of interest, data availability statements). The agreement also specifies the author’s understanding of the journal’s policies on copyright, licensing, and the rights to use the published material.
4. English Language Editing
The English language editing policy ensures that manuscripts meet the journal's standards of language and clarity. Authors whose first language is not English are encouraged to use professional language editing services to improve the quality of their submission. This may involve correcting grammatical errors, refining sentence structure, and ensuring that the manuscript adheres to academic conventions. Some journals provide a list of recommended editing services, while others offer in-house editing. This policy helps ensure that research is presented clearly, facilitating the peer-review process and improving the manuscript’s chances of acceptance.
5. Complaints Policy for Data Science Journal
The complaints policy provides a process for addressing any grievances or concerns that authors, reviewers, or readers may have regarding the journal’s operations. Complaints may relate to issues such as the peer-review process, editorial decisions, or concerns about unethical behavior. The policy outlines how to submit a formal complaint, the steps the journal will take to investigate the issue, and the potential outcomes. The goal is to resolve conflicts in a fair and transparent manner, ensuring that the journal maintains its credibility and upholds high ethical standards in the publication process
6. Open Access Policy
The Open Access (OA) policy of a data science journal ensures that all published research is freely available to the public without subscription or paywall restrictions. This enhances the global dissemination of knowledge and allows researchers, practitioners, and the general public to access the latest findings in data science. Authors retain copyright over their work and grant the journal a license to distribute it under an open-access model. The journal typically follows a Creative Commons license (e.g., CC BY) which allows others to share, reuse, and build upon the work, provided appropriate attribution is given. The goal is to foster an open scientific environment where knowledge is shared widely, accelerating innovation and the practical application of data science techniques. Open access is particularly important in fields like data science, where rapid advancements and collaborative work are key to progress.
7. Plagiarism Policy
The plagiarism policy of a data science journal is designed to ensure the integrity of published research. It mandates that all submitted manuscripts must be the original work of the authors and free from plagiarism, which includes copying text, data, or ideas without proper attribution. The journal employs plagiarism detection tools (e.g., Turnitin or iThenticate) to screen submissions and identify any potential instances of plagiarism. Authors found to have plagiarized work may face rejection of their manuscript or retraction of their published article. The policy encourages authors to properly cite all sources, whether from published research, datasets, or code, to maintain transparency and academic honesty. In cases of self-plagiarism, where an author reuses their own previously published work without acknowledgment, similar consequences may apply. The aim of this policy is to uphold high ethical standards and promote original contributions to the field of data science.
8. Copyright Policy
The copyright policy governs the ownership of the intellectual property of articles published in the journal. Under this policy, authors typically retain copyright over their work but grant the journal a license to publish and distribute the article. In many cases, the journal adopts a Creative Commons license, such as CC BY, allowing others to share and remix the work as long as the original author is credited. This ensures the work can be reused in research, teaching, and other scholarly activities while respecting the author's rights. Authors are also encouraged to deposit their work in institutional repositories and personal websites, as long as proper citation is maintained. This policy is crucial for a data science journal to balance open access with the protection of the author's intellectual property, promoting both academic sharing and the recognition of authorship.
9. Rights and Grants to the Author
This policy outlines the rights retained by authors once their work is published in the journal. Authors typically retain the rights to reuse their published work for academic purposes, such as in subsequent research, thesis, or book chapters. They may also retain the right to share their work with colleagues or upload it to personal websites or institutional repositories. However, by submitting to the journal, authors grant the journal a non-exclusive license to distribute and make the work publicly available under its open-access model. In addition, authors may grant the journal permission to reproduce figures, tables, and other content in promotional materials, or to license the work to third parties for derivative purposes. This policy seeks to clarify authors’ rights and the permissions granted to the publisher to maximize the impact and dissemination of the article while respecting the authors' original contributions.
10. Licensing Policy
The licensing policy explains the terms under which the publisher licenses articles for publication. In the case of open-access journals, authors often agree to a Creative Commons (CC) license, such as CC BY, which allows others to freely share, adapt, and reuse the work, provided appropriate attribution is given to the author. This open licensing ensures that the data science research is widely disseminated and can be built upon by others in the field. The policy specifies the terms of use for the article, including whether commercial use is permitted and whether derivative works can be created. Licensing policies are designed to foster an open environment for academic collaboration while ensuring authors receive proper credit for their work. Authors are encouraged to carefully consider the license that best suits their needs for reuse and sharing.
11. Participant/Patient Privacy and Informed Consent
The participant and patient privacy policy ensures that data collected from human subjects in data science research adheres to strict confidentiality and privacy guidelines. Authors must obtain informed consent from all participants, informing them of the study's purpose, procedures, and any potential risks. This policy also emphasizes the importance of anonymizing personal data or using pseudonyms to protect participants' identities. For studies involving sensitive health data, compliance with privacy regulations like HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) or GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) is required. This policy is crucial to protect the rights of participants and maintain ethical standards in research.
12. Data Sharing Policy
The data sharing policy encourages authors to make their research data publicly available, either by submitting datasets to trusted repositories or through supplementary materials attached to the published article. This promotes transparency, reproducibility, and collaboration in data science research. The policy provides guidelines for authors on how to securely share data, including any necessary steps to ensure privacy, consent, or intellectual property protection. Authors are encouraged to make data available under open licenses (e.g., Creative Commons), but they may be allowed to withhold data if there are ethical or legal reasons to do so. The aim is to facilitate the reuse of data by other researchers while maintaining ethical standards.
13. Submission of Manuscript
The manuscript submission policy outlines the process by which authors submit their work for publication in the journal. Authors are required to submit their manuscript electronically via an online submission system and adhere to specific formatting guidelines. The policy also provides instructions on submitting supplementary materials, such as datasets, code, or appendices. A declaration of originality and the absence of conflicts of interest must be included with each submission. Submissions undergo a rigorous peer-review process to ensure that they meet the journal’s academic standards. Authors are encouraged to carefully review the submission guidelines before submitting their manuscript to avoid delays in the review process.
14. Manuscript Preparation
The manuscript preparation policy provides detailed instructions on how to structure and format a manuscript for submission to the journal. Authors are typically required to format their manuscripts according to specific guidelines regarding font size, citation style, figure and table placement, and referencing conventions. This policy ensures that submissions are uniform, facilitating the review process. It also includes advice on preparing supplementary materials, such as code, data, and appendices, to ensure that they are presented clearly and effectively. By adhering to these guidelines, authors improve the likelihood of their manuscripts being accepted for review and publication.
15. Check List
A submission checklist is a tool designed to help authors ensure that their manuscript meets all the necessary requirements for submission. The checklist may include tasks such as ensuring that the manuscript follows the journal's formatting guidelines, including all required sections (e.g., abstract, keywords, references), and confirming that all supplementary materials are properly uploaded. Authors must also declare that their work adheres to ethical standards and that no plagiarism has occurred. The checklist serves as a final review before submission, reducing the risk of errors or omissions that could delay the review or publication process.
16. APC Waiver Policy
The Article Processing Charge (APC) waiver policy addresses financial barriers to publication for authors who cannot afford the APC typically required for open-access publication. This policy is particularly important for authors from low-income countries or early-career researchers with limited institutional support. The journal may offer waivers or reductions in the APC for eligible authors, ensuring that their research can still be published without financial hardship. Applicants are usually required to provide proof of their financial situation, such as institutional affiliation or country of origin, to qualify for the waiver. The goal is to maintain equity in the scientific community by providing opportunities for all researchers, regardless of their financial resources, to share their work in a high-quality, open-access venue. This policy ensures that important data science research is not hindered by economic constraints.
17. Withdrawal Policy
The withdrawal policy outlines the conditions under which authors can retract or withdraw a manuscript after submission but before publication. Authors may withdraw their manuscript due to issues such as finding a significant error in the data, changing their research direction, or after discovering a competing publication. The policy specifies that withdrawal should be communicated clearly to the journal’s editorial office, and if a manuscript has already undergone peer review, authors must ensure that reviewers and editors are informed. In cases of withdrawal after acceptance but before publication, the author may be required to explain their reasons. The policy ensures that the integrity of the journal is maintained by preventing manuscripts that are withdrawn from being cited or misrepresented. A formal retraction process is in place for articles that are published and later withdrawn.
18. Human and Animal Rights Policy
The human and animal rights policy ensures that all research published in the journal complies with ethical standards regarding the treatment of human participants and animals. Research involving human participants must adhere to the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki, and authors must obtain written informed consent from participants. For animal studies, authors must ensure that experiments are designed with animal welfare in mind, following guidelines such as those established by the International Council for Laboratory Animal Science (ICLAS). Ethical review and approval from an institutional review board (IRB) or ethics committee is often required for studies involving human or animal subjects. The policy safeguards the well-being of participants and ensures that published research is ethically sound, promoting trust and credibility in the data science field.
19. Errata, Retractions, and Corrigenda Policy
This policy establishes the procedures for addressing errors in published articles, including the issuance of errata, corrigenda, and retractions. Errata are issued for minor errors, such as typographical mistakes, while corrigenda are issued for more substantive but non-fatal errors, such as data inconsistencies. A retraction is issued for articles that contain significant issues, such as scientific misconduct, data manipulation, or ethical violations. This policy ensures that the scientific record is corrected and that authors are held accountable for the integrity of their work. The journal is committed to transparency, and retractions or corrections are prominently displayed alongside the original article to maintain trust in the publication process.
20. Digital Preservation
The digital preservation policy ensures the long-term availability of articles published in the journal. Digital preservation practices include archiving content in multiple locations to prevent loss due to server failure or technological obsolescence. The journal may partner with trusted digital repositories such as Portico or LOCKSS (Lots of Copies Keep Stuff Safe) to ensure that articles are accessible for years to come. The policy includes guidelines for maintaining metadata, ensuring that files are accessible in a variety of formats, and regularly updating archiving systems. This approach ensures that the journal’s content remains available to future generations of researchers, even as digital formats evolve.
