Ethics policy and editorial best practices

ETHICAL POLICIES

 Since 1982, the Revista Costarricense de Psicología (Costa Rican Journal of Psychology) is the official open-access scientific publication of the Costa Rican Psychologists´ Association (Colegio Profesional de Psicólogos de Costa Rica). The objectives of the Journal are to disseminate theoretical, technical and practical knowledge relevant to Psychology and related sciences. The Journal publishes topics pertinent to the current scientific-academic discussions, and in accord with international research and scientific standards.

The Journal (under double blind peer review) seeks to validate and preserve historical “moments” of scientific research, which must be precise, correct and verifiable. As such, during the entire publication process, the Journal embraces and aligns to national and international ethical standards and recommendations.

For the Journal to accomplish these objectives, all participants, at all stages of the publication process (the editorial, committees and boards, authors, reviewers, the publishing institution, etc.) are asked to commit to and to follow defined procedures, and to assume important responsibilities in terms of their ethical conduct.

This policy of ethics and editorial best practices was prepared based on the guidelines of the American Psychological Association, as well as the policies of the Committee of Publication Ethics (COPE) without having a direct affiliation. At the national level, it is also governed by Costa Rican guidelines on the Código de Ética y Dentológico of the College of Professionals in Psychology of Costa Rica.

UNETHICAL BEHAVIOR

Pointing out unethical behavior

Any person at any time may point out any unethical behavior to the Journal or to the Psychologists´ Association.

For the Journal to initiate an investigation, the source will be asked to provide sufficient information and evidence regarding the unethical behavior or misconduct. The Journal will take seriously and treat equally any allegations until a satisfactory decision, resolution and conclusion is reached for all involved.

Follow-up on unethical behavior

The editorial board makes the initial decision regarding the need for a formal investigation and, if appropriate, consults with the publishing institution (Colegio de Profesionales en Psicología de Costa Rica). In the process of gathering evidence about the conflict, all parties involved commit to avoiding the disclosure of allegations beyond the people who need to know about them.

Minor misconduct

The journal may treat minor misconduct without the need to consult more widely, if all parts involved are given the opportunity to respond to any allegations in the process.

Major misconduct

In the event of a serious misconduct allegation, the Journal may opt to involve the relevant authorities, officials or institutions related to the parts involved. The Journal, by examining the available evidence, and if appropriate, in consultation with the Psychologists´ Association, may take the decision to involve any other authority or to comment or consult the conduct with a limited number of experts available.

Consequences of unethical behavior

Because of a consequence of a misconduct presented, and according to the gravity of the behavior, the Journal shall decide on the severity of its actions and may choose one or several of the following:

In the case of a misunderstanding or a poorly applied standard, the Journal may seek information and educate the involved parts about what was expected from them or send correspondence in a firmer tone to advise about future behavior.

In more severe cases, the journal may send a formal letter to an authority, a working department or a financial entity regarding the accused party specifying the misconduct.

In cases of major severity, the Journal may publish a formal note or an editorial dealing with misconduct or unethical behavior, revoke formally a publication in the journal or impose an embargo on contributions from the parts involved for a specified time. The Journal may report the case or the result of its investigation of the misconduct to a professional organization or superior authority for future actions or investigations.

 

ETHICAL EXPECTATIONS

 

EDITORIAL BOARD

Editorial Board’s Responsibilities

The Journal expects the members of the Editorial Board to acquire the necessary knowledge in regard of its publication policies, norms and requirements, and to participate as higher-level advisors and referees having assumed a position of neutrality, objectivity, and elevated scientific-ethical expectations.

As part of the formulation of developmental strategies, the Board commits to supervise the Journal to be an open forum of high scientific and technical quality, which always favors ethical and respectful proceedings.

It is the Board´s duty to stimulate, promote and recognize the diffusion, interchange and visibility of the Journal and its collaborators based on scientific-ethical merits, which supposes active participation and punctual attendance at sessions and response to communications, and includes oversight for transparent proceedings and nominations based on scientific-ethical merits.

In accord with international standards, Editorial Board members, due to the functions inherent to their charge, are excluded from applying as authors of the Journal.

 

SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE

 Scientific Committee’s Responsibilities

The ethical responsibilities of the Scientific Committee are to advise on emergent scientific-ethical tasks, to give counsel regarding the definition of parameters of scientific quality, to assist actively in policy formulation and to participate as referees of the highest scientific-ethical quality. This includes inviting national and international members, recognized by the academic community as high-level scientists of superior ethical standards, and promoting the diffusion of the Journal in national and international scientific-academic media of renowned ethical proceedings.

 

REVIEWER

Reviewer’s Responsibilities

The reviewers, as contributors to the process of decision-making and for having a substantial influence on the publication´s quality, commit to timely reviews and communications, the highest scientific-ethical criteria and the objectivity of their review. This includes ensuring the confidentiality of all information entrusted, to respect authors’ copyright (to not copy, use or retain information) and to alert about any content published previously or any material similar to the material submitted for review.

The reviewer commits to evaluating each paper according to its scientific merit and its appropriateness to the Editorial´s strategies and policies, which includes familiarization with the Journal’s editorial policies, norms and publication requirements. The reviewer also commits to being aware of and declaring any conflict of interest in the author-reviewer relationship (financial, institutional, personal, etc.) and, if necessary, withdraw his/her services for the paper in question.

The reviewer commits to revise the paper from his/her field in an integral manner (content, form, composition, structure of the abstract, keywords, suitability of the language used, references, tables, graphics, statistics, etc.), and on recognizing his/her own limitations in a specific scientific proceeding or method, to recommend another reviewer specialized in, e.g., statistics, for the paper that so requires.

Furthermore, the reviewer will propose through a written and structured analysis the measures and modifications necessary, and in accord with the Editorial´s norms and policies, to further the attainment of ethical standards by the papers and to comply with the editorial process, respect the review deadline and notify with anticipation in the event of possible delays.

 

AUTHORS

 Author´'s Responsibilities

Authorship involves the responsibility of keeping a record with submission data and the papers in process. This includes reading carefully and adhering to the Editorial´s standards and policies. E.g., to the commitments signed in the Affidavit, that the paper is unedited and original, that all sources reproduced are referenced properly, and confirming that the paper is not considered for review in any other publication, whatsoever the media; additionally this will state and specify all contributions on authorship involved in the paper.

The author will assure that any study with human beings or animals was carried out according to international, national, local and institutional laws and requirements (e.g., Nuremberg Declaration, 1947, Geneva Declaration, 1948, and Helsinki Declaration, 1964 and their amendments), and to confirm, as appropriate, that the necessary approvals were sought and obtained.

To protect a human subject´s privacy, the author must obtain written permission through a detailed informed consent, which states and specifies the subject´s consent to participate in the research and publication of the anonymous data.

Authors, furthermore, commit to abstain from any conflict of interest, e.g., to avoid any real o apparent activity, which could be construed, attributed or seen as an improper influence in relation to their function in the publication process, for example, pressuring members of the Board of Directors of the Psychologists´ Association or members of the Journal’s boards or committees to publish a paper.

Furthermore, authors commit to inform the editorial when a significant error in their paper or publication is identified and to cooperate with the Editorial to publish an erratum, addendum, and corrigendum or to withdraw their article if necessary.

Publishing Institution´´´  s Responsibilities

The Publishing Institution´s Responsibilities
(Costa Rican Psychologists´   Association)

The Costa Rican Psychologists´ Association subscribes to the above or similar principles, adopts these formally or may produce its own in attention to the Journal.