Editorial Policies

Editorial policies for human biology journals are a set of guidelines and principles that govern the publication process, the ethical conduct of research, and the expectations of authors, reviewers, and editors. These policies are designed to maintain the quality, integrity, and credibility of the journal. Here are some common editorial policies for human biology journals:

  1. Scope and Focus:

    • Define the scope and focus of the journal, outlining the specific areas of human biology that the journal covers.

  2. Peer Review:

    • Specify the journal's peer review process, including the criteria for selecting peer reviewers, the review timeline, and the types of recommendations (accept, revise, reject) that reviewers can make.

  3. Author Guidelines:

    • Provide detailed author guidelines that outline the manuscript preparation and submission process, including manuscript structure, reference style, and formatting requirements.

  4. Ethical Guidelines:

    • Clearly state the journal's expectations regarding ethical research conduct, including issues such as informed consent, privacy, handling of human biological samples, and plagiarism.

  5. Conflict of Interest:

    • Require authors to disclose any conflicts of interest in their submissions, and specify the circumstances under which these should be disclosed.

  6. Data Sharing:

    • Encourage or require authors to share their data with the community, in accordance with ethical and privacy considerations.

  7. Informed Consent:

    • Specify the importance of obtaining informed consent from human research participants and the need to include appropriate statements in the manuscript.

  8. Plagiarism and Copyright:

    • Clearly outline the journal's policies on plagiarism and copyright infringement, emphasizing the need for authors to provide proper citations and secure permissions for any copyrighted material.

  9. Reviewer Guidelines:

    • Provide guidance to reviewers on their responsibilities, such as confidentiality, ethical considerations, and the review criteria for assessing manuscripts.

  10. Editorial Decision:

    • Describe the criteria and processes for making editorial decisions, including acceptance, revisions, and rejections, and ensure that these decisions are based on scientific merit.

  11. Retraction and Corrections:

    • Outline the process for issuing retractions or corrections in case of errors, ethical misconduct, or other issues with published papers.

  12. Open Access and Archiving:

    • Specify the journal's policies regarding open access, including whether articles are freely accessible or behind a paywall, and discuss archiving options.

  13. Authorship and Contributorship:

    • Define criteria for authorship and contributor ship, emphasizing that all authors should have made substantial contributions to the research and manuscript preparation.

  14. Reviewer and Author Confidentiality:

    • Maintain the confidentiality of reviewers and authors, except in cases where reviewers opt to be identified.

  15. Appeals Process:

    • Describe any formal appeals process for authors who believe their manuscripts were unfairly rejected.

  16. Pluralism and Inclusivity:

    • Emphasize the importance of promoting diversity and inclusivity in the journal, both in terms of research subjects and the composition of editorial boards and reviewers.

  17. Post-Publication Concerns:

    • Explain how the journal handles post-publication concerns, including potential corrections, retractions, and investigations into ethical misconduct.

Editorial policies provide a framework for ensuring the highest standards in research, publication, and ethical conduct in human biology journals. Authors, reviewers, and editors are expected to adhere to these policies to maintain the quality and integrity of the journal and the field of human biology. Specific journal policies may vary, so it's essential to consult the guidelines of the particular journal you are submitting to or reviewing for.