Editorial Policies

  1. Advertisement Policies
  2. COPE Recommendation for Plagiarism
  3. Editorial Policies
  4. Peer Review Process
  5. Creative Commons License
  6. Publication Ethics and Malpractice Statement
  7. Editorial Process
  8. COPE Recommendation for Conflict of Interest (specific to editors)
  9. Conflict of Interest and Financial Disclosures (specific to editors)
  10. Publisher Policies

COPE Recommendation for Plagiarism
Anthropology – Open Journal adheres to the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) guidelines for dealing with plagiarism. Plagiarism is strictly prohibited, and all submitted manuscripts undergo a thorough plagiarism check to ensure that the content is original. If plagiarism is detected, the journal follows COPE's recommendations for addressing such issues. The severity of the response depends on the extent of the plagiarism, and may range from rejecting the manuscript to notifying the author’s institution or other relevant bodies. In cases where plagiarism is suspected after publication, the journal will work closely with the author to assess the situation and may issue a correction, retraction, or other appropriate actions based on COPE guidelines. The journal also encourages authors to properly cite and reference the work of others, ensuring transparency in their research process. Editors and reviewers are trained to identify plagiarism and are expected to report any suspicious activity. This policy ensures that Anthropology – Open Journal maintains high academic and ethical standards while promoting trust in the published work.

Editorial Policies
The editorial policies of Anthropology – Open Journal aim to maintain the highest standards of academic integrity, transparency, and quality. Manuscripts submitted to the journal are reviewed according to their scientific merit, originality, and relevance to the field of anthropology. The journal operates under a double-blind peer review system, where both authors and reviewers remain anonymous to each other. The editorial team ensures that every manuscript is evaluated fairly and without bias. All editorial decisions are based solely on the quality of the research and its contribution to the field, not on the identity of the authors. The journal is committed to ensuring that all published articles are methodologically sound and ethically conducted. Editorial board members are selected based on their expertise in specific subfields of anthropology, ensuring that every manuscript is reviewed by an expert in the topic at hand. The editorial board regularly reviews the journal’s policies to keep pace with evolving academic standards, and any changes to editorial procedures are communicated clearly to authors and reviewers. The journal is also committed to upholding diversity and inclusivity, welcoming contributions from a broad range of perspectives.

Peer Review Process
The peer review process at Anthropology – Open Journal follows a rigorous and transparent procedure aimed at ensuring the academic quality and ethical integrity of published work. All manuscripts submitted to the journal undergo a double-blind peer review, where both the authors and reviewers are anonymous. This helps eliminate bias and fosters fair evaluations. The journal editors assign each manuscript to experts in the relevant field, who assess the quality of the research, the validity of the methodology, the originality of the findings, and the clarity of the writing. Reviewers provide constructive feedback, offering suggestions for improvement and highlighting any potential weaknesses. Authors are required to respond to reviewer comments and make revisions where necessary. Once revisions are made, the manuscript undergoes further review to ensure that the changes have been properly addressed. The peer review process typically takes 4–6 weeks, but this may vary depending on the complexity of the manuscript and the availability of reviewers. The journal ensures that all peer reviewers are qualified, experienced, and impartial. This process enhances the quality of the journal and ensures that published research adheres to the highest academic standards.

Creative Commons License
Anthropology – Open Journal is an open-access journal and operates under a Creative Commons license to promote the free sharing of knowledge and to ensure that all published articles are accessible to the global research community. The journal uses the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC 4.0), which allows users to download, share, and build upon the work, provided that proper attribution is given to the original authors and the work is not used for commercial purposes. This license also enables others to remix, transform, and build upon the material for non-commercial purposes, as long as they credit the original source. The Creative Commons license ensures that the journal's research is freely accessible, fostering greater visibility, academic collaboration, and innovation. Authors retain the copyright of their work while granting the journal the right to publish and distribute their content under this license. This approach aligns with the journal’s commitment to promoting open access and the dissemination of high-quality anthropological research worldwide.

Publication Ethics and Malpractice Statement
Anthropology – Open Journal is committed to the highest standards of ethical publishing. The journal adheres to the guidelines set forth by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) to prevent publication malpractice and to ensure the integrity of the research it publishes. Authors must adhere to ethical research practices, including obtaining informed consent for research involving human subjects, following appropriate animal welfare protocols, and avoiding fabrication or falsification of data. All manuscripts are subject to plagiarism checks, and any work found to involve unethical conduct will be promptly rejected. In cases of suspected misconduct after publication, such as duplicate submission, data manipulation, or unethical authorship practices, the journal will investigate thoroughly and take appropriate actions, including issuing corrections, retractions, or other sanctions in line with COPE recommendations. Reviewers and editors are expected to uphold these ethical standards, maintaining confidentiality, objectivity, and fairness throughout the review process. The journal’s publication ethics statement is reviewed regularly to align with evolving ethical standards in research publishing.

Editorial Process
The editorial process of Anthropology – Open Journal is designed to ensure the publication of high-quality, original research in the field of anthropology. Upon submission, the manuscript is first assessed by the editorial team for its relevance to the journal’s scope and basic formatting. If the manuscript meets these initial requirements, it is sent for double-blind peer review, where experts in the field assess the quality, originality, and scientific rigor of the research. Based on reviewer feedback, the editorial team makes one of the following decisions: accept, minor revisions, major revisions, or reject. Authors are provided with reviewer comments and are asked to revise their manuscript accordingly. The revised manuscript undergoes a second round of review to ensure that the issues raised in the initial review have been adequately addressed. Once accepted, the manuscript enters the production process, where it is copyedited, typeset, and formatted for publication. Throughout the process, the editorial team ensures that all procedures are transparent, fair, and conducted with the utmost academic integrity. The editorial process is designed to ensure that the journal maintains high standards of scholarly publication and that all authors receive fair and constructive feedback.

COPE Recommendation for Conflict of Interest (specific to editors)
Anthropology – Open Journal follows the COPE (Committee on Publication Ethics) guidelines regarding conflict of interest for editors. Editors are required to disclose any potential conflicts of interest that may arise in their decision-making process. A conflict of interest may occur when an editor has personal, professional, or financial relationships that could influence their judgment. These may include, but are not limited to, relationships with authors, financial interests in the outcome of the manuscript, or previous collaborations. Editors must recuse themselves from the review and decision-making process if they have any conflict of interest with a manuscript. If a conflict is suspected, the editorial team will investigate the situation and may assign the manuscript to another editor. The journal also encourages transparency, and editors are required to declare any potential conflicts at the time of their appointment to the editorial board. The goal is to ensure that all editorial decisions are based on the merit of the manuscript and not influenced by any external factors. Following COPE recommendations helps maintain the credibility and integrity of the journal’s editorial process.

Conflict of Interest and Financial Disclosures (specific to editors)
In line with COPE guidelines, Anthropology – Open Journal requires editors to disclose any potential conflicts of interest or financial relationships that could influence their editorial decisions. Editors should disclose all relevant financial relationships, such as receiving funding from organizations whose research aligns with the journal’s scope, or any financial ties to companies or institutions that could affect the impartiality of the editorial process. Additionally, editors should declare personal or professional relationships with authors, which might pose a conflict of interest. If an editor has a conflict, they must recuse themselves from handling manuscripts that may be affected by such conflicts. This includes disclosing any prior collaborations, ongoing research projects, or personal interests that could compromise objectivity. The journal ensures that all editors understand the importance of impartiality and transparency, and that any conflicts are managed in a way that protects the integrity of the peer review and publication process. By adhering to these standards, the journal seeks to maintain trust among authors, reviewers, and readers, ensuring the highest level of scholarly credibility and ethical publishing practices.

Publisher Policies
Anthropology – Open Journal is published by a reputable academic publisher committed to maintaining ethical standards in research and publishing. The publisher upholds principles of transparency, accessibility, and academic integrity. All published content is made freely available under an open-access model, in line with the journal’s commitment to disseminating research widely and equitably. The publisher also ensures compliance with copyright laws, managing the distribution and use of content in accordance with Creative Commons licensing. Ethical publishing practices are central to the publisher’s operations, which follow international standards for peer review, plagiarism detection, and conflict-of-interest disclosures. The publisher actively supports the journal’s editorial team, providing resources to facilitate the smooth operation of the editorial and review processes. Furthermore, the publisher is dedicated to maintaining the privacy and confidentiality of authors, reviewers, and editorial staff. Regular audits of the publication process are conducted to ensure adherence to ethical guidelines. The publisher also addresses complaints or concerns raised by authors or readers regarding unethical practices, and works with the editorial team to resolve any issues promptly. Ultimately, the publisher’s policies are designed to support the journal’s mission of promoting high-quality anthropological research and maintaining the trust of the academic community.