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Editorial Policy

Table of Contents

Peer Review Process

The Albanian Journal of Roma Studies employs a rigorous double-blind peer review process to ensure the quality and integrity of published research. All submissions undergo initial screening by the editorial team before being sent for peer review.

Review Process Steps

  1. Initial Assessment: The editorial team evaluates submissions for scope, formatting, and basic quality standards.
  2. Peer Review Assignment: Suitable manuscripts are assigned to at least two independent experts in the relevant field.
  3. Double-Blind Review: Both reviewers and authors remain anonymous throughout the process.
  4. Editorial Decision: Based on reviewer feedback, the editor makes one of four decisions: Accept, Minor Revisions, Major Revisions, or Reject.
  5. Revision Process: Authors have the opportunity to address reviewer comments and resubmit their manuscripts.
  6. Final Decision: The editor makes the final publication decision after reviewing revisions.

Reviewer Selection

Reviewers are selected based on their expertise in the subject matter, publication record, and previous reviewing experience. We maintain a diverse panel of reviewers representing various geographical regions and methodological approaches.

Timeline

The peer review process typically takes 4-8 weeks from submission to initial decision. Authors will be notified if there are any delays in the process.

Publication Ethics

The Albanian Journal of Roma Studies is committed to upholding the highest standards of publication ethics. We follow the guidelines established by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).

Responsibilities of Editors

  • Make fair and unbiased decisions independent of commercial or personal interests
  • Ensure confidentiality of submitted manuscripts
  • Disclose any conflicts of interest
  • Provide authors with clear feedback and explanations for editorial decisions
  • Handle allegations of misconduct promptly and appropriately

Responsibilities of Authors

  • Ensure the work is original and properly cited
  • Disclose any conflicts of interest
  • Obtain necessary permissions for reproduced content
  • Confirm that all co-authors have approved the final version of the manuscript
  • Promptly notify the journal of any significant errors in published work

Responsibilities of Reviewers

  • Provide objective, constructive, and timely reviews
  • Maintain confidentiality of the review process
  • Disclose any conflicts of interest
  • Alert editors to any ethical concerns or suspected plagiarism

Authorship Criteria

To be listed as an author, individuals must meet all of the following criteria:

  • Substantial contributions to the conception or design of the work; or the acquisition, analysis, or interpretation of data
  • Drafting the work or revising it critically for important intellectual content
  • Final approval of the version to be published
  • Agreement to be accountable for all aspects of the work

All contributors who do not meet the criteria for authorship should be listed in the acknowledgments section.

Changes to Authorship

Any changes to authorship (additions, deletions, or order changes) must be approved in writing by all authors, including those being added or removed.

Conflicts of Interest

All authors, reviewers, and editors must disclose any conflicts of interest that could influence their judgment of the work.

Examples of Conflicts of Interest

  • Financial relationships (employment, consultancies, stock ownership, honoraria)
  • Personal relationships
  • Academic competition
  • Intellectual passion

Conflicts of interest do not necessarily disqualify individuals from participation in the publication process but must be transparently disclosed.

Plagiarism Policy

The Albanian Journal of Roma Studies has a zero-tolerance policy for plagiarism. All submitted manuscripts are screened using plagiarism detection software.

Definition of Plagiarism

Plagiarism includes, but is not limited to:

  • Direct copying of text without quotation marks and proper citation
  • Paraphrasing substantial portions of text without acknowledgment
  • Using ideas, data, or methods without permission or proper attribution
  • Self-plagiarism (reusing one's own previously published work without acknowledgment)

Handling Plagiarism

Manuscripts found to contain plagiarism will be immediately rejected. In cases of published articles with plagiarism, the journal will follow COPE guidelines for retraction.

Data Sharing Policy

The Albanian Journal of Roma Studies encourages authors to share the data, code, and materials underlying their research where ethically and legally possible.

Data Availability Statement

All articles must include a data availability statement describing where supporting data can be accessed or explaining why data are not available.

Data Repositories

Authors are encouraged to deposit data in recognized data repositories and include the relevant accession numbers or DOIs in their manuscripts.

Appeals and Complaints

Authors may appeal editorial decisions by submitting a formal letter to the editor-in-chief. Appeals will be considered only in cases where there is evidence of a significant error in the review process.

Complaint Procedure

Complaints about the journal's editorial processes or published content should be directed to the editor-in-chief. All complaints will be investigated promptly and fairly according to COPE guidelines.

Archiving Policy

The Albanian Journal of Roma Studies is committed to the long-term preservation of its content. The journal's content is archived in the following ways:

  • Regular backups of all content on secure servers
  • Deposit in LOCKSS and CLOCKSS archival systems
  • Participation in Portico digital preservation service

In the event that the journal ceases publication, arrangements have been made to ensure continued access to all published content.

Contact

For questions about our editorial policies, please contact the editorial office at editorial@ajrs.irca.al.