- Guide for Authors
The Guide for Authors and the Publication Ethics and Malpractice Statement (PEMS) support combined efforts by authors, editors, and reviewers to produce a responsible research publication.
All authors must know and keep in mind the Guide for Authors and the Publication Ethics and Malpractice Statement.
Guidelines for the submission of book/chapter and manuscript preparation and format are to be found on the Editorial Guidelines webpage: https://www.ilsileno.it/philosophiesofcommunication/editorial-guidelines/
1.1 Fees or charges for authors
No fees or charges are required for manuscript processing and/or publishing materials.
Publication fees: none.
Submission fees: none.
“Philosophies of Communication” is a peer-reviewed and Open Access book series and operates in not-for-profit mode.
1.2 Review policy
Authors are obliged, for all materials submitted, to participate in a double-blind peer review process and to follow publication conventions.
All authors are obliged to make the requested changes and correct mistakes. When changes are asked for, the authors have a certain timeline for submitting their modifications. In each case, for the collective volumes, authors and reviewers must follow the schedule provided in the relative Call for Book Chapters; instead, for monographic volumes, the authors and reviewers will come to a common understanding of the deadline (two/three months from the review notification), based on the nature and quantity of the requested changes.
1.3 Copyright, access, and licensing
The intellectual property and copyright on the original content of all scientific contributions shall remain with the authors.
In confirming the open access publication of their manuscripts, all authors agree to the Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International license (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0).
1.4 Data Access and Retention
Authors may be asked to provide the research data on which their manuscript is based for editorial review and/or to comply with the open data requirements of the book series. Research data refers to the results of observations or experimentation that validate research findings. Authors should be prepared to provide public access to such data, if practicable. Authors and researchers are asked to anonymize confidential data and personal information so that they may be accessed.
When submitting, authors are encouraged to join a data statement to their manuscript. In the statement, they can identify the data they used in the manuscript and indicate its availability, for example in a data repository. Authors should be prepared to maintain research data for a reasonable number of years after publication.
1.5 Archiving
Authors are allowed to self-archive published manuscripts in institutional or thematic repositories recognized in their areas.
For example:
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-02152344/document; https://www.preventionweb.net/publications/view/63328
Furthermore, all the volumes published by the owner “Il Sileno Edizioni” can also be downloaded from the official website of the publisher: https://www.ilsileno.it/edizioni/ebooks/
- Publication Ethics and Malpractice Statement (PEMS)
The Guide for Authors and PEMS support combined efforts by the editors, authors, members of the editorial board and scientific committee, and reviewers to produce a responsible research publication.
2.1. Editors
Editors are the stewards of the book series. They usually take over their series from the previous editor(s) and always want to hand over the series in good shape.
Most editors provide direction for the series and build a strong management team.
They must consider and balance the interests of many constituents, including readers, authors, staff, owner, editorial board members, advertisers and the media.
(1) Editors’ decisions to accept or reject a chapter/book for publication should be based only on the manuscript’s importance, originality, and clarity, and the study’s relevance to the remit of the book series.
(2) Studies that challenge previous work published in the book series should be given an especially sympathetic hearing.
(3) Studies reporting negative results should not be excluded.
(4) All original studies should be peer reviewed before publication, taking into full account possible bias due to related or conflicting interests.
2.2. Editorial Board
The members of the Editorial Board are appointed by the Editors of the series. The Editorial Board takes care of all the relationships with the authors during the editing and implementation phases of the work. Members have the moral responsibility of supporting researchers to publish their works.
2.3. International Scientific Board
The Scientific Board of “Philosophies of Communication” series is responsible for the proper conduct of the series system and ensures the level of scientific quality of the series.
Scientific Board members are advised to check their availability for reviewing, acting as editor by checking their own schedule. Scientific Board members of “Philosophies of Communication” should adhere to the publication policy of the series system without fail.
2.4 Responsible research publication: authors’ responsibilities
The research being reported in the chapters/books must be conducted in an ethical and responsible manner and must comply with all relevant legislation.
Authors must be aware of and refrain from engaging in scientific misconduct and by breaching publishing ethics.
Hereafter is a list of best ethical practices and common types of misconduct as found is COPE’s Responsible Research Publication: International Standards for Authors.
- Authors should present their results clearly, honestly, and without fabrication, falsification, or inappropriate data manipulation. The authors shall guarantee the originality of their material.
- Authors should strive to describe their methods clearly and unambiguously so that their findings can be confirmed by others.
- Authors should provide appropriate authorship and acknowledgement. Authors must refrain from deliberately misrepresenting a scientist’s relationship with published work. All authors must have significantly contributed to the research. Contributors who have made less substantial contributions to the research or to the publication can be acknowledged, but should not be identified as authors.
- Authors must tell the book series when they have a direct or indirect conflict of interest with editors or members of the Editorial board or International scientific committee.
- All authors must submit a list of references and financial support if so requested by the editorial board. All sources of research funding, including direct and indirect financial support, should be disclosed.
- No significant part of the chapter/book shall have been previously published either as an article or as a chapter/book, or be under consideration for publication elsewhere.
- If the authors intend to reproduce their chapter/book in other publications or for any other purpose and by any means, they must obtain the written authorization of the editorial board.
- Authors shall refrain from engaging in ’salami publication’, meaning the segmentation of research that would turn one meaningful paper into several different papers.
- Authors are obliged, for all materials submitted, to participate in a peer review process and to follow publication conventions.
For further information please consult COPE’s guidelines: Responsible Research Publication: International Standards for Authors, https://publicationethics.org/files/International%20standards_authors_for%20website_11_Nov_2011.pdf
2.5 Responsible research publication: editors’ responsibilities
2.5.1 Publication decision
This book series employs a double-blind review process. All contributions will be initially assessed by the editor. The editor is solely and independently responsible for selecting, processing, and deciding which of the book proposals submitted to the series meet the editorial goals and could thus be published. Each book or chapter proposal considered suitable is sent to two/three independent peer reviewers who are experts in their field and able to assess the specific qualities of the work. The editor is responsible for the final decision regarding whether or not the book (or the relative chapter if the volume is collective) is accepted or rejected.
Specifically, for collective volumes, the first selection is made with the abstracts received for each Call for Book Chapters. The second selection is made after receiving the full chapters. Each chapter, without any reference to the names of the authors, therefore anonymous, is sent to two independent peer reviewers. If the opinions of the two reviewers are conflicting, a third reviewer would be contacted. The final decision belongs to the concerned editor.
The decision to publish a chapter/book will always be measured in accordance to its importance to researchers, practitioners, and potential readers. Editors should make unbiased decisions independent from commercial considerations.
The editor’s decisions and actions are constrained by ethical and legal requirements such as its own PEMS and all relevant legislation.
Editors who make final decisions about manuscripts should withdraw from editorial decisions if they have conflicts of interest or relationships that pose potential problems concerning manuscripts under consideration. The responsibility of the final decision regarding publication will be attributed to an editor who does not have any conflicts of interest.
2.5.2 Conflict of interest
The chief editor, members of the editorial board and scientific committee, and reviewers shall withdraw in any case of conflict of interest concerning an author or authors, or the content of a manuscript to be evaluated.
The book series “Philosophies of Communication” will avoid all conflict of interest between authors, reviewers, and members of the editorial board and international scientific committee.
2.5.3 Peer review
Each chapter/book submitted is the responsibility of the Editor-In-Chief, the Associate Editors or one member of the editorial board, who undertakes to have it evaluated by two/three peers who are experts in the field and who evaluate it anonymously.
Reviewed manuscripts are treated confidentially by editorial board members, members of the international scientific committee, and reviewers.
2.5.4 Identifying and preventing misconduct
In no case shall the book series and members of the editorial board and international scientific committee encourage misconduct of any kind or knowingly allow such misconduct to take place.
Members of the editorial board and international scientific committee shall try to prevent misconduct by informing authors and reviewers about the ethical conduct required of them.
Members of the editorial board, scientific committee, and reviewers are asked to be aware of all types of misconduct in order to identify manuscripts where research misconduct of any kind has or seems to have occurred and deal with the allegations accordingly.
2.5.5 Guidelines in case of retraction or corrections
- Editors’ responsibilities
In case of misconduct, the book series editor is responsible for resolving the issue. He or she can work in conjunction with the other co-editors, book editors, members of the editorial board and scientific committee, peer reviewers, and experts in the field.
- a) Documentation
The issue will be documented accordingly
All factual questions should be documented: who, what, when, where, why.
All relevant documents should be kept, in particular the manuscript(s) concerned.
- b) Due process for authors
The book series editor shall contact the author or publication involved, either the author submitting to “Philosophies of Communication” or another publication or author. The author is thus given the opportunity to respond to or comment on the complaint, allegation, or dispute.
- c) Appropriate corrections
In the event that misconduct has or seems to have occurred, or in the case of needed corrections, the editorial board deals with the different cases by following the appropriate COPE recommendations. Great care will be taken to distinguish cases of honest human error from deliberate intent to defraud.
COPE states that:
Book series editors should consider retracting a publication if they have clear evidence that the findings are unreliable, either as a result of misconduct (e.g., data fabrication) or honest error (e.g., miscalculation or experimental error). Retraction is also appropriate in cases of redundant publication, plagiarism, and unethical research.
Book series editors should consider issuing an expression of concern if: 1) they have reason to believe that there has been research or publication misconduct by the authors but have insufficient evidence, 2) there is evidence that the findings are unreliable but the authors’ institution will not investigate the case, 3) they believe that an investigation into alleged misconduct related to the publication either has not been, or would not be, fair, impartial or conclusive, 4) or an investigation is underway but a judgement will not be available for a considerable time.
Book series editors should consider issuing a correction if a small portion of an otherwise reliable manuscript proves to be misleading (especially because of honest error), or the author / contributor list is incorrect (i.e., a deserving author has been omitted or somebody who does not meet authorship criteria has been included).
Source: COPE Retraction Guidelines, https://publicationethics.org/files/retraction%20guidelines.pdf
To summarize, the editorial board will consider retracting a publication in case of misconduct, issuing an expression of concern in case of inconclusive proof of misconduct; or issuing a request for the correction of a misleading segment.
“Philosophies of Communication” book series has taken as its model the best ethical practices as found in COPE’s Responsible Research Publication: International Standards for Editors, https://publicationethics.org/files/International%20standard_editors_for%20website_11_Nov_2011.pdf
2.5.6 Data access and retention
Where appropriate, editors encourage authors to share the data that supports research publications. Research data refers to the results of observations or experimentation that validate research findings. Editors encourage authors to state the availability of their data in a data statement attached to the submitted chapter/book. With the data statement, authors can be transparent about the data they used in the chapter/book.
2.6 Responsible research publication: reviewers’ responsibilities
All reviewers must know and keep in mind the Guide for Authors, Publication Ethics and Malpractice Statement (PEMS).
The book series requires potential reviewers to have scientific expertise or significant work experience in a relevant field. They must have recently conducted research and/or work and have acquired recognized expertise by their peers. Potential reviewers should provide personal and professional information which is accurate and which gives a fair representation of their expertise.
All reviewers must likewise withdraw if they know they are unqualified to evaluate a manuscript, if they feel their evaluation of the material will not be objective, or if they understand themselves to be in a conflict of interest.
Reviewed manuscripts are treated confidentially by reviewers and members of the editorial board and international scientific committee.
Reviewers should point out relevant published work which has not yet been cited in the reviewed material. If necessary, the editor may issue a correction request to this effect.
Reviewers are asked to identify papers where research misconduct has or seems to have occurred and inform the editorial board, which will deal with each case accordingly.
“Philosophies of Communication” has taken as its model the best ethical practices as found in COPE’s Ethical Guidelines for Peer Reviewers, https://publicationethics.org/files/Ethical_Guidelines_For_Peer_Reviewers_2.pdf
2.7 Copyright, content originality, plagiarism, and reproduction
The intellectual property and copyright on the original content of all scientific contributions shall remain with the authors.
The authors shall guarantee the originality of their material.
Plagiarism and false or intentionally misleading declarations constitute behaviour that is at odds with the ethics of scientific publication; as such, they are deemed unacceptable.
No significant part of the chapter/book shall have been previously published either as an article or as a chapter, or be under consideration for publication elsewhere.
If the authors intend to reproduce their manuscript in other publications or for any other purpose and by any means, they must obtain the written authorization of the editorial board.
Reproduction of extracts of publications is possible provided that the authors cite their source and have obtained explicit permission from the rights holders, which permission shall not be unduly withheld. Reference must be given to the title of the article, the journal, the author(s), date and place of publication. The book series reserves the right to apply reproduction rights.
2.8 Access and licensing
Volumes are published in open access. There are no associated subscriptions or pay-per-view fees.
All “Philosophies of Communication” material is made available under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International license (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0).
2.9 Multiple, redundant, simultaneous, or repeat publications
The authors shall not submit a chapter/book already published elsewhere, or a new chapter/book founded entirely on work already published. Likewise, the authors shall not make multiple submissions.
Furthermore, the book series reserves for itself the right to publish in-house publications and scientific contributions that have already been published and are still relevant.
The complete reproduction of series’ manuscripts in other publications or for any other purpose and by any means requires the written authorization of the Editor.
2.10 Conflict of interest
We try to ensure that any “Philosophies of Communicatione” book series publication is free from undue influence. Authors submitting a book or a chapter to “Philosophies of Communication” series, editors, book editors and reviewers of “Philosophies of Communication” publications, are required to declare any potential conflicts of interest that could interfere with the objectivity or integrity of a publication. Conflicts of interest are situations that could be perceived to exert an undue influence on the presentation, review or publication of a piece of work.
These may be financial, non-financial, professional, contractual or personal in nature. We also expect that anyone who suspects an undisclosed conflict of interest regarding a work published or under consideration by “Philosophies of Communication” book series should inform the relevant editor or email ilsilenoedizioni[@]gmail.com.
2.11 Confidentiality policy
The names of authors, reviewers, and collaborators along with the names of their organizations and institutional affiliations, which the book series may record in the course of its operations, shall remain confidential and shall not be used for any commercial or public ends beyond the signature of the chapters/books published. However, this information may sometimes be required by government grant-giving bodies. The anonymity of the peer review selection shall be maintained when transmitting this information. A list of the names of authors, reviewers, and collaborators and the names of their organizations and institutional affiliations shall be sent with no explicit links between those named.
The book series may use these lists for its own purposes of soliciting papers, collaboration, or other contributions, notably through occasional e-mails. Similarly, it will flag forthcoming issues. Anyone who wishes to stop receiving these e-mails may simply ask to be removed from the list.
2.12 Ownership and management
“Il Sileno Edizioni” publisher (www.ilsileno.it) is the owner of the book series “Philosophies of Communication”.
2.13 Publishing schedule
Two collective volumes are published each year, in the months of March/April and November/December, after a process that lasts one year, starting from the diffusion of the relative Call for Book Chapters in the same periods.
The monographic volumes are published without a frequency, but after having examined the proposals that are submitted during the year at the e-mail philosophiesofcommunication[@]gmail.com.
