This single consolidated Policies page sets out ScholarFront’s policies that apply across all journals we publish. It is the authoritative reference for authors, editors, reviewers, indexers and readers. The page contains the following sections: Author Instructions; Peer Review & Editorial Policy; Ethics & Integrity Policy; APCs & Waiver Policy; Copyright & Licensing; Indexing & Archiving; Open Access Policy. Each section below is written to be copy-paste ready for Elementor and consistent with ScholarFront’s other pages (DOIs via Zenodo; archiving in Internet Archive & SSRN; CC BY 4.0 licensing).

1. Author Instructions

Purpose

These Author Instructions describe the standard submission, manuscript preparation and post-acceptance requirements that apply across ScholarFront journals. Individual journals may add discipline-specific requirements; authors must also consult the target journal’s page.

General requirements

• Language: Manuscripts must be submitted in English unless a journal explicitly permits other languages. Authors whose first language is not English are encouraged to use professional language editing before submission.
• Originality: Manuscripts must be original, not under consideration elsewhere, and must not be previously published in the same form. Preprints are permitted (see Preprints & Prior Publication).
• Authorship: All listed authors must meet authorship criteria described in the Authorship section below. The corresponding author must confirm author approval on submission.
• ORCID: Authors are strongly encouraged to provide ORCID iDs for all authors.

File formats and components

• Acceptable manuscript formats: .docx, .pdf, or LaTeX .zip (include compiled PDF).
• Figures & images: Submit as separate files. Preferred formats: .tiff, .png, .jpg, .svg. Minimum 300 dpi for raster images used in final publication.
• Tables: Submit as editable tables in the main manuscript or as separate files.
• Supplementary material: Upload as separate files (PDF, Excel, CSV, code files). Supplementary material is published as provided and must be clearly labelled.
• File naming: Use a simple consistent scheme (e.g., Surname_Year_Manuscript.docx).

Manuscript structure (recommended)

• Title page (separate): Title; full author names; affiliations; corresponding author contact (email + ORCID); short running title.
• Abstract: 150–300 words (structured or unstructured depending on journal).
• Keywords: 3–8 keywords.
• Main text: Introduction, Methods, Results, Discussion, Conclusions (or discipline-appropriate equivalents).
• Acknowledgements: Funding statements, contributor acknowledgements, and any permissions.
• Data Availability Statement: Where data, code, and materials are deposited (DOI/URL) or a reason why data cannot be shared.
• Conflicts of Interest: Declaration for each author (if none, state “The authors declare no conflicts of interest”).
• References: Use the referencing style specified by the journal (if none specified, authors may use APA 7th for humanities/social sciences or Vancouver for biomedical). Include DOIs where available.

Reporting guidelines & standards

Authors should follow recognized reporting standards appropriate to their study design (e.g., CONSORT for randomized trials, PRISMA for systematic reviews, STROBE for observational studies, ARRIVE for animal studies, CARE for case reports). Include completed checklists as supplementary files when applicable.

Data, code and reproducibility

• Data availability: Authors must include a Data Availability Statement. Depositing data and code in a public repository (Zenodo recommended) is encouraged and will increase discoverability. Zenodo DOIs should be supplied where available.
• Reproducibility materials: Methods and code that enable reproduction should be provided as supplementary material or via a repository link.

Ethical approvals & consent

• Human research: Provide Ethics Committee / IRB name and approval number and confirm informed consent.
• Clinical trials: Must be registered in a recognized registry; registration number must be provided.
• Animal research: State compliance with relevant institutional and national care guidelines and provide approval details where applicable.

Authorship & contributor roles

• Authorship criteria: All listed authors must have made substantial contributions to conception/design, data collection/analysis, drafting/revising, and final approval.
• CRediT taxonomy: ScholarFront recommends (and journals may require) a short CRediT statement describing author contributions (e.g., Conceptualization; Data Curation; Formal analysis; Writing — original draft; Writing — review & editing).
• Changes in authorship: Requests to add, remove or reorder authors after submission require a written statement signed by all authors and will be considered by the editors.

Plagiarism, overlapping publication & prior publication

• All submissions are screened for similarity. Unattributed large overlaps will result in rejection.
• Preprints: Posting to non-commercial preprint servers is allowed but must be disclosed at submission with the preprint DOI/URL and cited in the manuscript.
• Redundant publication: Submissions that substantially duplicate previously published work must cite and explain the relationship; redundant publication without disclosure is prohibited.

Cover letter

Authors must include a brief cover letter stating the significance of the work, fit with the chosen journal, and any related prior publication or preprint details. Use the template on the Submission page if desired.

2. Peer Review & Editorial Policy

Editorial independence & governance

• ScholarFront maintains editorial independence. Editors make decisions based on scholarly merit, relevance, and ethical compliance; decisions are not influenced by commercial or business interests.
• Editorial board: Each journal has an Editor-in-Chief and an editorial board responsible for strategic direction and quality control.

Peer review models

• Review model (single-blind, double-blind, or open review) is declared on each journal’s front page. ScholarFront supports transparency in review and permits open peer review where journals adopt it.

Reviewer selection & expectations

• Editors select qualified, independent reviewers with relevant subject expertise. Reviewer suggestions by authors are considered but not mandated. Conflicted reviewers (personal, financial, or institutional) are excluded.
• Reviewer responsibilities: provide constructive, timely, confidential and unbiased reports; declare conflicts of interest; maintain manuscript confidentiality. Reviewers should recommend acceptance, revision (minor or major) or rejection along with written rationale.

Handling & timelines

• Desk (pre-check) screening: Typically completed within 1–3 weeks.
• Peer review: Timelines vary by discipline; average expected times are published on each journal page. Editors aim to expedite decisions while ensuring fair review.
• Revision cycles: Editors make decisions using reviewer input. Revisions are expected within the timeframe specified; extensions may be granted upon request.

Conflicts of interest

• Editors, reviewers and authors must disclose relevant conflicts of interest. Editors with conflicts will recuse themselves and transfer handling to an alternate editor.

Confidentiality & data protection

• The review process is confidential. Submitted material must not be shared outside editors, reviewers and production staff without permission. ScholarFront complies with applicable data protection laws when handling personal data.

Appeals & complaints

• Authors may appeal editorial decisions by submitting a reasoned appeal to editor@scholarfront.com. Appeals are handled by a senior editor or an independent committee.
• Complaints about editorial or reviewer conduct should be sent to contact@scholarfront.com and will be investigated following the Ethics & Integrity Policy.

3. Ethics & Integrity Policy

Core principles

ScholarFront follows established international norms for research and publication ethics (e.g., COPE best practices). Our policies promote honesty, transparency, accountability and fairness.

Misconduct categories

• Plagiarism and self-plagiarism
• Data fabrication or falsification
• Image manipulation that misleads readers
• Undisclosed conflicts of interest
• Authorship disputes and ghost/gift authorship
• Duplicate/ redundant publication and salami slicing

Detection & screening

• All submissions undergo automated similarity checks and manual screening. Editors may request raw data, image originals, or other materials to verify integrity.

Investigation procedure

• Allegations of misconduct are handled confidentially and promptly. Steps include:
  1. Initial assessment by the Editor-in-Chief or designated ethics officer.
  2. Request for explanation from the corresponding author and relevant co-authors.
  3. If necessary, independent assessment (external expert/ethics committee).
  4. Institutional referral: If serious and unresolved, the case may be referred to the authors’ institutions or funders.
  5. Outcome & notice: If misconduct is confirmed, appropriate actions (correction, expression of concern, or retraction) are taken and a notice is published. All parties are informed.

Typical acknowledgement of receipt of an allegation will be made within 7 working days and an initial assessment will be completed as quickly as possible (times vary by case complexity). ScholarFront will aim to complete straightforward cases within 4–8 weeks; complex cases may take longer.

Corrections, expressions of concern & retractions

• Correction (Erratum/ Corrigendum): For honest errors that do not invalidate conclusions. A correction notice is published and linked to the original article.
• Expression of Concern: When an unresolved issue may affect the integrity of an article and requires investigation.
• Retraction: For seriously flawed or unethical work that invalidates findings. Retractions state reasons and are linked to the original article which remains accessible and clearly marked as retracted.

Templates (copy-paste ready)

Correction notice (example):

Title: Correction: [Original article title]
Body: After publication it was noted that [brief description of error]. This has been corrected in the online version. The authors apologise for the error.

Retraction notice (example):

Title: Retraction: [Original article title]
Body: This article has been retracted by the Editors / Authors due to [reason: e.g., data fabrication / ethical breach]. The retraction follows an investigation by [institution/journal]. The authors [did/did not] agree to this retraction.

Appeals against misconduct findings

Authors may appeal outcomes by contacting editor@scholarfront.com and providing new evidence or clarifications. Appeals are reviewed independently.

4. APCs & Waiver Policy

Overview

Some ScholarFront journals operate on an Article Processing Charge (APC) model to cover editorial, production and archiving costs. APCs are set at the journal level and are published clearly on each journal’s page.

Transparency & independence

• Editorial decisions are independent of APC payment. APCs are invoiced after acceptance and do not influence peer review or editorial decisions.
• Costs covered by APCs include: copyediting, typesetting, DOI registration (Zenodo/DataCite), online hosting, and archiving (Internet Archive & SSRN).

APC payment process

• Invoice: Authors receive an APC invoice after acceptance with payment instructions and deadlines.
• Payment methods: Bank transfer and other payment options will be provided; tax invoices/receipts are issued upon payment.
• Failure to pay: Non-payment may delay publication; extensions or waivers can be requested.

Waivers & discounts

ScholarFront is committed to equitable access:

Automatic full or partial waivers may be granted for:

• Authors from low-income countries (as defined by recognized lists) — check journal waiver criteria.
• Case-by-case considerations for early-career researchers, researchers without funding, or in exceptional circumstances.

How to request a waiver

• Authors can request a waiver at submission (form field on the submission form) or contact editor@scholarfront.com. Provide a short justification and any supporting institutional details.
• Waiver decisions are made by the editorial office and finance team and do not affect editorial assessment.

Discounts & institutional agreements

• ScholarFront may offer discounts for institutional memberships, consortium agreements, or bulk publishing arrangements. Contact contact@scholarfront.com for institutional enquiries.

5. Copyright & Licensing

Licensing model

• All ScholarFront journal articles are published under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) license unless a journal specifies an alternative CC license and clearly notifies authors prior to submission. CC BY 4.0 permits sharing, adaptation and reuse with appropriate credit.

Copyright ownership

• Authors retain copyright to their work and grant ScholarFront the right to publish and disseminate the article under CC BY 4.0. Authors must ensure they have the rights to all included material.

Third-party material

• Material from other sources (figures, tables, lengthy quotations) requires written permission from the copyright holder and evidence should be uploaded at submission. Scholarly fair use exceptions must still be documented and limited.

Reuse, text and data mining (TDM)

• CC BY 4.0 explicitly allows text and data mining and machine-readable uses provided attribution is given. ScholarFront encourages TDM and requests that re-users cite the original article and DOI.

Author rights & archiving

• Authors are permitted to deposit preprints and accepted manuscripts in repositories (see Open Access Policy). Final published versions should be referenced with DOI and citation.

6. Indexing & Archiving

DOI assignment & metadata

• Every published article receives a DOI via Zenodo (DataCite). Metadata (title, authors, affiliations, abstract, keywords, funding, license, references, dates, DOI) is structured and machine-readable (schema.org/JSON-LD) on article landing pages to facilitate harvesting by indexers and discovery services.

Archiving & preservation

• ScholarFront deposits content and metadata in long-term preservation services: Internet Archive and SSRN. Additional repository deposits (institutional or subject repositories) may be performed with author permission or as required by funders.

Indexing & inclusion criteria

• ScholarFront actively submits journals and metadata to indexing services and discovery platforms. Inclusion criteria vary by index and typically involve consistent publishing record, editorial standards, metadata quality and ethical practices. Indexing status for each journal is displayed on that journal’s page.

Machine-readable feeds & API support

• ScholarFront supports machine-accessible metadata feeds (e.g., OAI-PMH or JSON/XML feeds as available). Indexers and aggregators should contact contact@scholarfront.com to request feeds, bulk metadata or harvesting arrangements.

Corrections to metadata

• If indexing services identify metadata errors, contact editor@scholarfront.com with details so we can correct records and re-deposit corrected metadata.

7. Open Access (OA) Policy

Immediate open access

• ScholarFront practices immediate open access: all published articles are made freely available on the journal website at the time of publication under CC BY 4.0.

Self-archiving / Green OA

• Authors may deposit preprints, accepted manuscripts (author accepted manuscript — AAM) and the published version in institutional or subject repositories. Authors should include the DOI and a link to the final published article and indicate the version deposited. No embargo period is required for AAM deposit unless a journal specifies otherwise.

Preprints

• Submission of work previously posted on non-commercial preprint servers is allowed and should be disclosed at submission. The preprint must be cited.

Funders’ OA mandates

• ScholarFront supports compliance with funder OA mandates. Authors should notify the editorial office of specific funder requirements during submission so the journal can assist with compliance documentation.

Article-level metrics & altmetrics

• ScholarFront supports transparent article-level metrics (views, downloads, citations, altmetrics where available). Journals may display metrics on article pages.

8. Transparency & Reporting of Policies

• ScholarFront will publish and maintain these consolidated policies on the Policies page. Individual journals may add further discipline-specific or procedural details but must adhere to these publisher-level policies.
• Any substantial changes to publisher-wide policies will be published with a clear effective date and communicated to editorial boards and authors.

9. Contact for policy questions & reports

• General policy questions: contact@scholarfront.com
• Editorial policy / appeals: editor@scholarfront.com
• Ethics concerns / reports of misconduct: ethics@scholarfront.com (create this inbox and route to the ethics officer)
• Indexing & metadata requests: contact@scholarfront.com

Include journal name, article DOI or submission ID (if applicable), and a concise statement of the question or concern.

10. Short FAQ — Policies

Q — Where can I find author-specific formatting rules?
A — See the consolidated Author Instructions on this Policies page and the target journal’s page for any journal-specific rules.

Q — Are submissions checked for plagiarism?
A — Yes. All submissions are screened for similarity and overlap.

Q — How are APC waivers applied for?
A — Request a waiver at submission via the waiver field or contact editor@scholarfront.com with justification. Waiver decisions do not influence editorial outcomes.

Q — How do I report suspected research misconduct?
A — Email ethics@scholarfront.com with details; you will receive an acknowledgement and the case will be assessed.