Ethics

Editors are accountable for the materials published in our journals. All Editors of Rivera Publications are asked to follow a set of guidelines established by the publisher in order to ensure transparent and rigorous review and publication of quality research.

Below are some of the ethical guidelines for Editors:

• Encourage robust peer-review for maintaining publication and ethical standards
  
• Discourage research and publication misconduct
  
• Ensure that all submitted manuscripts (research/reviews) are reviewed in an unbiased manner by field experts
  
• Accept/reject a paper solely on the basis of quality and originality
  
• Ensure confidentiality of the paper submitted to the journal
  
• Check that any published paper should not violate research ethics concerning the use of humans and animals
  
• Ensure that the decision (accept/reject) is not influenced by author’s caste, religion, nationality or origin
  
• Handle the issues of misconduct and take proper actions as per the publishing policy
  
• Revise journal’s policies at times after consulting journal editorial board members
  

Guidelines for Editors

Editors are responsible for ensuring a fair and unbiased peer-review process prior to the publication of research work. Some of the responsibilities of Rivera Editors include:

• Maintain integrity of research record
  
• Ensure fair and unbiased review before recommending publication decision
  
• Take responsibility of the published content
  
• Preserve editorial confidentiality: author’s material and reviewer’s identity
  
• Conflict of interests and handling issue of ethical misconduct
  

The publication of an article in a peer-reviewed journal is the result of the combined efforts of Editor, Reviewers, and the Publisher. It reflects the trust of the readers on the Editors, Authors, and the Publisher. We seek the generous support of our Editors for maintaining the highest standards of peer review and publication of quality  manuscripts.

Special Issue Proposal

Special Issue essentially focuses on a particular area of research. Articles under a special issue together advance a novel debate or idea of relevance for that particular topic.

A special issue often benefits a journal in the following ways:

Role of Guest Editor/s

Specialists in a particular field are usually approached to serve as guest editor for a special issue. However, guest editors are encouraged to understand the commitment they are making to the journal; they must be able to spare the required time for the project.

Guest Editors are crucial and play a pivotal role in publishing a Special Issue. Following are some of the responsibilities of Guest Editor/s:

Acquiring Content

When selecting a paper for special issue, guest editor/s should consider the following points:

• is the paper appropriate or in line with the special issue's scope
  
• is the paper likely to be of significant interest to the readers
  
• how significant and relevant the paper will be by the time it is published or the issue is released
  

Peer Review

Guest Editor is responsible for ensuring that the peer review is rigorous and transparent. Thus, guest editor should select referees that have expertise in the field. Also, guest editor must review reviewers' disclosures of potential conflict of interest before inviting them to referee a paper in order to ensure unbiased peer review.

Note: All articles submitted go through double-blind peer review. At least two reviewers should referee a paper; however, Guest Editor can seek additional opinion/s if required.

Confidentiality and Conflict of Interest

Guest Editor should protect the confidentiality of all materials associated with the journal, including manuscripts, communication with reviewers, etc. For details, please visit Editor Ethics.

Guidelines for Special Issue Proposals

Proposals by interested Guest Editor/s must include the following:

• details of the Guest Editor: name, affiliation, and short bio (250 words);
  
• small write-up or introductory essay by the Guest Editor/s (1000-1200 words);
  
• abstracts (750 words) of proposed papers, including paper’s  title and submitting author details such as name and affiliation; and
  
• time line in tabular form outlining the following:
• expected completion date of each paper
• proposed names of arms-length peer reviewers
• deadlines for receipt by the Guest Editor/s of authors’ revised text; and
• expected date of submission of the complete set of papers

For details, please contact the editorial office at proposals@riverapublications.com