About the Journal

Ethical Statement

Memoria di Shakespeare. A Journal of Shakespearean Studies

Ethical statement

Memoria di Shakespeare. A Journal of Shakespearean Studies is published once a year on the OJS platform (Open Journals System) of Sapienza University of Rome, with the support of the Department of European, American and Intercultural Studies of Sapienza University of Rome, of the Scuola Normale Superiore (Pisa), and of the Department of Literature and Philosophy of the University of Cassino and Southern Lazio.

The journal aspires to an international readership and contributing audience, as testified by its advisory board. The journal is committed to sustaining and disseminating contributions to Shakespearean scholarship of the highest quality in accordance with rigorous methodological and scientific criteria. The journal is not for profit: it is hosted on the open access OJS system of Sapienza University of Rome and committed to the ideals of free and shared dissemination of research. 

The general editor (Rosy Colombo, Sapienza University of Rome), in collaboration with the editorial board (Nadia Fusini, Scuola Normale Superiore, Donatella Montini, Sapienza University of Rome, Iolanda Plescia, Sapienza University of Rome, Maria Valentini, University of Cassino and Southern Lazio) devises an editorial plan around thematic issues, supervises the work of the editorial staff, and takes full responsibility for the transparency of the publishing and double blind peer review process.

This ethical statement outlines the responsibilities and duties of the journal’s editorial board and staff as well as of its contributing authors.

Authors

Since the journal adopts an open access policy, authors accept to publish their contribution with a Creative Commons licence (Creative Commons Attribution - Non commercial - No derivs 4.0 International). Contributors commit to offering original research, citing every source used in their articles, refusing to engage in any form of plagiarism, including paraphrasing without attribution.

In general, authors must send original contributions that have not appeared elsewhere, nor are under peer review for other publications at the same time. Exceptionally, and in the case of scholars of outstanding reputation and track record, the journal may publish a reprint of a previously appeared article, with the author’s and publisher’s permission, and acknowledgment of the original source.

Authors must submit their manuscripts in complete good faith as to the correctness of the factual information they contain. In the event that a significant error is later discovered, by themselves or by third parties, they must inform the journal’s board immediately and are required to retract or correct their piece.

Responsibilities of the general editor, editorial and advisory board, issue editors

The editor of each issue, in agreement with the general editor and the editorial and advisory board, undertakes a preliminary evaluation of the intended contributions and proceeds to request an evaluation from two external referees in accordance with the double blind peer review process. The editor communicates the outcome of the peer review process to the authors, in terms of acceptance, acceptance on condition of revision, rejection. In the event that the two referees disagree as to the suitability of the piece under consideration, the editor may request a third evaluation from another external referee. The final decision in the case of discordant evaluations rests with the general editor, who must comply with the editorial and ethical standards of the journal.

The peer review process must be conducted with fair play, and each contribution evaluated without regard to the author’s race, gender, sexual orientation, religious belief, citizenship or political philosophy. The only criteria for exclusion of a contribution are those responding to scientific methodology and integrity.

The editorial board must ensure the anonymity of the peer review process and deals with any information in a confidential way, disclosing it to the author only.  

The journal’s boards and staff must treat unpublished materials with the utmost confidentiality and must not publish research without the authors’ consent. For this the general editor takes full responsibility.

The journal must take all reasonable measures to resolve cases of scientific and professional conflict of interest, in full compliance with copyright laws. In the case of copyright held by third parties, the journal acquires written consent by author and publisher and fully acknowledges original sources.

Peer reviewers

 Peer reviewers are anonymous experts of scholarly reputation, and are external to the editorial and advisory boards. They must fully cooperate with the general editor and editors of individual issues during the peer review process. They must act in accordance with the time schedule of the editorial plan and treat all materials received in a private and confidential manner. 

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