Journal of Contemporary Approaches in Psychology and Psychotherapy (JCAPP)
ISSN: 3044-8646
ISSN-L: 3044-8646
Journal DOI: 10.57017/jcapp
Journal DOI URL: https://doi.org/10.57017/jcapp
Editor in Chief:
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Vicenzo Maria ROMEO
University of Palermo & School of Specialization in Psychoanalytic and Groupanalytic Psychotherapy (SPPGP), Italy
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Vicenzo Maria ROMEO University of Palermo & School of Specialization in Psychoanalytic and Groupanalytic Psychotherapy (SPPGP), Italy
E-mail: journals@ritha.eu
Weblink: https://www.ritha.eu/journals/JCAPP
Aims and Scope:
Journal of Contemporary Approaches in Psychology and Psychotherapy (JCAPP) aims to foster interdisciplinary dialogue and collaboration among academics, researchers, practitioners, and educators fostering the dissemination of knowledge that promotes mental health and advances in the field of psychology and psychotherapy. The journal welcomes original research, theoretical perspectives, empirical studies and clinical case studies that offer insights into contemporary approaches in psychology and psychotherapy. Through rigorous peer review and scholarly discourse, JCAPP aims to foster dialogue, innovation, and excellence in contemporary psychological research and clinical practice.
Journal of Contemporary Approaches in Psychology and Psychotherapy serves a diverse audience interested in the latest developments in psychology and psychotherapy. Our readership includes academic researchers and scholars, such as university professors, lecturers, and students at all levels, who are keen to stay updated on cutting-edge research, theoretical advancements, and practical applications. Clinical psychologists and psychotherapists also form a significant part of our audience, as they apply contemporary psychological theories and therapeutic techniques in their practice to enhance patient outcomes. Policy makers and mental health administrators involved in the formulation and implementation of mental health policies find valuable insights in our journal. Educational institutions and research centers, including libraries and academic institutions, rely on our Journal for current and comprehensive research to support their education, training, and studies in psychology and psychotherapy. Additionally, students and early-career practitioners benefit from the credible sources and research provided by Journal, aiding their education and professional development. Furthermore, general readers with an interest in mental health and therapeutic practices appreciate our accessible and insightful articles.
Topics of interest include, but are not limited to:
§ Contemporary theoretical frameworks and models in psychology and psychotherapy;
§ Emerging trends in psychotherapeutic practice and research;
§ Innovative research methodologies and techniques;
§ Applications of psychology in diverse settings, such as clinical, educational, organizational, and community contexts;
§ Advances in evidence-based practices and interventions;
§ Interdisciplinary collaborations integrating psychology with other fields such as neuroscience, sociology, education, and technology;
§ Integrative and multidisciplinary perspectives on mental health and well-being.
Frequency: JCAPP publishes one issue per year and follows a continuous publication model. Under this model, accepted articles are promptly published online after the peer review and production processes are completed. We believe this approach benefits both authors and readers offering greater accessibility and timely dissemination of research.
RITHA Publishing archives the contents of this journal through its partnership with PORTICO - a digital long-term preservation service for scholarly books, journals, and collections through our partnership.
For publishing inquiries, please feel free to contact the editorial office at journals@ritha.eu.
⦁ Founding Editor:
- business information technologies, virtual organisation, digital transformation, knowledge management, collaborative technologies
⦁ Editor in Chief:
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Vicenzo Maria ROMEO University of Palermo & School of Specialization in Psychoanalytic and Groupanalytic Psychotherapy (SPPGP), Italypsychiatry; psychoanalysis; clinical psychology; forensic psychology
⦁ International Advisory Board:
- clinical psychology; psychotherapy; mental health
- psychology; psychotherapy
- psychology; psychotherapy
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Veronika DUCI University of Tirana, Faculty of Social Sciences, Department of Social Work and Social Policy, Albaniapsychology; psychotherapy
- clinical psychology
- health psychology; public health; psychotherapy
- cognitive economy
- psychology; psychotherapy
- integrative hypnotherapy
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Mehmet SUNGUR Istanbul Kent University & Turkish Association for Cognitive Behaviour Psychotherapy (TACBP), Turkeycognitive behavior therapy
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Izela TAHSINI University of Tirana, Faculty of Social Sciences, Department of Social Work and Social Policy & Albanian Association for Psychotherapy, Albaniasocial work; psychotherapy and mental health; child protection and development; gender issues
- psychology; psychotherapy
- psychology; psychotherapy
- psychology
Journal Governance Policy
1. Introduction
This Governance Policy outlines the roles, responsibilities, and procedures for key positions within the journal, ensuring effective management, quality control, and adherence to ethical guidelines.
2. Governance Structure (Roles and Responsibilities/Duties)
2.1. Founding Editor
§ Role: The Founding Editor (FE) is responsible for laying the foundations and developing the journal, as well as securing and managing the financial resources needed to support its operations, growth, and strategic initiatives. The FE’s leadership is important in maintaining the journal’s credibility, ensuring its relevance, and guiding its long-term success within academic communities.
§ Responsibilities:
- Identify and pursue opportunities from institutions, government bodies, foundations, and private sector sponsors.
- Prepare grant applications and proposals to secure financial support for the journal’s projects and initiatives.
- Collaborate with the editorial board and publisher to align publication efforts with the journal’s goals and mission.
- Implement strategies for diversifying publication sources, including partnerships.
- Ensure proper allocation of funds for different aspects of journal operations, including editorial activities and technological improvements.
- Establish partnerships with academic institutions, research organisations, and industries for joint publication opportunities.
- Represent the journal at conferences, symposia, and networking events to raise awareness and engage with potential collaborators.
- Engage in social media and digital platforms to raise the journal’s impact and attract furthers collaborations.
- Contribute to strategic discussions regarding the expansion of the journal, including special issues or research initiatives.
2.2. Editor-in-Chief
§ Role: The Editor-in-Chief (EiC) is responsible for the overall editorial direction, strategic development, and policy implementation of Journal of Contemporary Approaches in Psychology and Psychotherapy (JCAPP).
§ Responsibilities:
- Provide leadership and vision for the journal developing a strategic direction, fostering excellence within the editorial team, and staying informed about innovative approaches covering a wide range of topics and also their theories and practices. In this regard, upon their appointment, the Editor-in-Chief must present a strategy (3-year period) for the journal.
- Ensure the quality and integrity of the published content, addressing cases where withdrawing a paper is necessary due to clear evidence indicating unreliable results or discussions, inappropriate conduct such as data fabrication, human errors like miscalculations or experimental mistakes, prior publication without proper attribution or justification, plagiarism, or reporting of unethical research. EiC is ethically and morally obligated to investigate alleged cases of misconduct thoroughly, potentially resulting in the rejection of articles.
- Make final decisions on manuscript acceptance or rejection. Should make sure that the assessment is fair, impartial and in due time. If the manuscript does not comply with the online published publication requirements and guidelines or it does not meet the aim and scope of the journal, the editor reserve the right to reject the manuscript without peer review.
- Oversee the peer review process and ensure timely publication, managing manuscript reviews, enforcing publication timelines, and resolving any conflicts or issues that arise.
- Maintain and enhance the journal's reputation and impact through developing strategies to increase its impact factor and citation rates, ensuring adherence to ethical publishing standards, and regularly updating editorial policies to reflect current best practices.
- Ensure the timely indexing process for each issue released across all databases in which the Journal is currently indexed;
- Liaise with the Publishing House and represent the Journal at academic and professional events, maintaining regular communication for strategic initiatives and operational matters, promoting the journal at conferences and workshops, and engaging with authors, reviewers, and readers to build strong relationships and encourage high-quality submissions.
- May not disclose others communications and materials related to the revision process to others and may not keep or copy the manuscript.
- Has a duty to act promptly and appropriately if they suspect improper conduct or if they are accused of improper conduct.
- Must familiarise themselves with the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) Code of and Best Practice Guidelines for Journal Editors. Additionally, it is recommended to utilise Elsevier resources, particularly the Publication Ethics Resource Kit (PERK), which offers online support for managing publishing ethics issues and includes other essential resources relevant to the role of an Editor.
§ Appointment and Term: Appointed by the Founding Editor. Serves an open-ended term, renewable every 3 years by mutual agreement based on the strategy provided and demonstrated academic performance. Academic performance will be evaluated through key metrics, including year-over-year increases in h-index scores as provided by Google Scholar, Scopus Author ID, ResearcherID, and SciProfiles.
2.3. Associate Editor(s)
§ Role: The Associate Editor(s) (AE) assists the EiC in managing the editorial workflow and upholding the journal's standards.
§ Responsibilities:
- Collaborate closely with the Editor in Chief (EiC) to make informed editorial decisions and uphold the journal's standards.
- Take charge of managing submissions within specific areas of expertise, ensuring they align with the journal's scope and quality criteria.
- Oversee the coordination and execution of special issues and thematic collections, from soliciting contributions to final publication.
- Facilitate and support the peer review process, ensuring rigorous evaluation and timely feedback to authors.
- Assume the responsibilities of the Editor in Chief as needed, ensuring continuity and leadership in their absence to maintain operational efficiency and editorial excellence. In this regard, upon their appointment, the AE(s) must present a Cover Letter, reflecting their own vision in accordance with their responsibilities.
§ Appointment and Term: Appointed by the EiC in consultation with the FE. Serves a 2 years term, renewable by mutual agreement based on the Cover Letter provided and demonstrated academic performance. Academic performance will be evaluated through key metrics, including year-over-year increases in h-index scores as provided by Google Scholar, Scopus Author ID, ResearcherID, and SciProfiles.
2.4. International Advisory Board
§ Role: The International Advisory Board (IAB) provides strategic advice and guidance on the journal's direction and development.
§ Responsibilities:
- Advise the Editor in Chief and editorial team on shaping editorial policies, long-term strategic planning, and maintaining high standards of academic integrity.
- Recommend and critically review potential topics for special issues, ensuring they align with the journal's scope and contribute to advancing knowledge in the field.
- Act as ambassadors for the journal within the international academic community, fostering collaborations and enhancing its visibility and reputation globally.
- Assist in identifying and attracting high-quality manuscripts and competent reviewers, contributing to the journal's growth and impact.
- Provide valuable feedback and insights on the journal's performance, impact, and areas for improvement, based on their expertise and understanding of the field.
§ Composition and Appointment: Comprised of distinguished scholars and professionals from diverse geographical and disciplinary backgrounds. Members are appointed by the Founding Editor and EiC in consultation with current IAB members based an invitation. Serves a term of five years, renewable by mutual agreement based on demonstrated academic performance. Academic performance will be assessed through key metrics, including year-over-year increases in h-index scores as provided by Google Scholar, Scopus Author ID, ResearcherID, and SciProfiles.
Duties of Authors:
§ Submitted manuscript must be the original work of the author(s) and if the authors have used the work and/or words of others they ensure that this has been appropriately cited or quoted.
§ Only unpublished manuscript should be submitted. Author should not in general publish manuscripts describing essentially the same research in more than one journal or primary publication. It is unethical to submit a manuscript to more than one journal concurrently.
§ Any conflict of interest must be clearly stated. Authors should disclose in their manuscript any financial or other substantive conflict of interest that might be construed to influence the results or interpretation of their manuscript. All sources of financial support for the project should be disclosed. The JCAPP_Disclosure Interest will be filled and signed in the same time with your paper submission.
§ Proper acknowledgment of the work of others must always be recognised. Authors should cite publications that have been influential in determining the nature of the reported work.
§ All errors discovered in the manuscript after submission must be promptly communicated to the journal editor or publisher and cooperate with the editor to retract or correct the paper.
§ If the authors decide to withdraw the paper from the revision process or they decide not to respond to the reviewers’ comments, after having received a conditional acceptance, they must inform the editors. Authors should respond to comments made in reviews in a professional manner and in due time.
§ Authors should acknowledge the contributions of those who provided support, guidance, or resources that helped in conducting the research. The template form of the paper has a brief section where authors express their appreciation and recognition to individuals, groups, or organisations that have contributed to the research but may not qualify for authorship. If individuals or organisations are being acknowledged by name, it is advisable to seek their informed consent before including their names in the publication.
§ Authorship to the manuscript should be limited to those who have made a significant contribution to the conception, design, execution, or interpretation of the reported study. All those who have made significant contributions should be listed as co-authors. Where there are others who have participated in certain substantive aspects of the research project, they should be acknowledged or listed as contributors. The corresponding author should ensure that all appropriate co-authors and no inappropriate co-authors are included to the manuscript, and that all co-authors have seen and approved the final version of the manuscript and have agreed to its submission for publication. It is unacceptable to mention as authors persons whose contribution to the research has been scanty or actually non-existent (the so-called “guest authorship”). It is likewise inappropriate to conceal information on the contribution of persons who have actually participated in the creation of the publication. This must be recognised in form of acknowledgements at the end of the text or by including this person as a co-author. “Ghostwriting” and “guest authorship” are manifestations of scholarly unreliability.
§ Authors should disclose their specific contributions to the research and manuscript preparation. This disclosure is included in Credit Authorship Contribution Statement section in the published paper. This section has the intention of recognising individual author contributions, reducing authorship disputes and facilitating collaboration. For more details about how to describe the role played, please see: https://credit.niso.org/ The corresponding author is responsible for ensuring that the descriptions are accurate and agreed by all authors.
§ All errors discovered in the manuscript after submission must be promptly communicated to the journal editor or publisher and cooperate with the editor to retract or correct the paper.
§ If the authors decide to withdraw the paper from the revision process or they decide not to respond to the reviewers’ comments, after having received a conditional acceptance, they must inform the editors. Authors should respond to comments made in reviews in a professional manner and in due time.
§ If authors have not revised their articles within six weeks without offering any explanation, the paper will be postponed to the next issue. However, if more than six months pass without revision, the research reported may start to become outdated in terms of its evidence base. After one year in the system without revision, it becomes evident that the author is unlikely to revise the paper.
Duties of Reviewers:
§ Peer review assists the editor in making editorial decisions and through the editorial communications with the author who may also assist the author in improving the paper.
§ Reviewers are expected to respond promptly to requests to review and to submit reviews within the time agreed.
§ Any selected referee who feels unqualified to review the research report in a manuscript or knows that its prompt review will be impossible should notify the editor and excuse himself from the review process.
§ Any manuscripts received for review must be treated as confidential documents. They must not be shown to or discussed with others except as authorised by the editor.
§ Reviews should be conducted objectively. Personal criticism of the author is inappropriate. Referees should express their views clearly with supporting arguments.
§ Reviewers should identify relevant published work that has not been cited by the authors. Any statement or an observation, derivation, or argument that had been previously reported should be accompanied by the relevant citation. A reviewer should also call the editor's attention to any substantial similarity or overlap between the manuscript under consideration and any other published paper of which they have personal knowledge.
§ Privileged information or ideas obtained through peer review must be kept confidential and not used for personal advantage. Reviewers should not consider manuscripts in which they have conflicts of interest resulting from competitive, collaborative, or other relationships or connections with any of the authors, companies, or institutions connected to the papers. A Non-Conflict of Interest Statement is included in the JCAPP_Reviewer Form in which they affirm that don't have any financial, professional, or personal affiliations or relationships with any individual, organisation, or entity that could potentially influence or bias their judgment or review of the manuscript.
§ Commitment to providing an unbiased and objective evaluation of the manuscript based solely on its scientific merits, originality, validity, and relevance to the field, maintaining strict confidentiality and handling all materials and information provided for the review process with the utmost professionalism and integrity.
3. Editorial Process
- Manuscripts are submitted through the journal’s online submission system, which ensures efficiency and transparency. Authors' work are anonymously considerate for reviewing to maintain a double-blind process. This system helps in maintaining impartiality and fairness in the review process.
- Upon submission, the Managing Editor oversees the assignment of manuscripts to reviewers. Reviewers are selected based on their expertise and familiarity with the subject matter, drawn from a registered pool within the RITHA Editorial & Publishing System. The Editor-in-Chief (EiC) and Associate Editor play key roles in identifying suitable reviewers who can provide insightful evaluations of the manuscript's quality, originality, methodology, and relevance to the journal's scope.
- Following the peer review process, the EiC consolidates feedback from reviewers and the AE(s) (when is the case) to make a final decision on the manuscript. This decision may include acceptance, revision with major or minor changes, or rejection. The aim is to ensure that decisions are made promptly and fairly, considering the scholarly merit and potential impact of the submission.
- Once accepted, manuscripts are prepared for publication by AE(s) (when is the case) under the overseeing of the EiC. This involves typesetting, formatting, and ensuring adherence to the journal's style guidelines. The editorial team works diligently to maintain the quality and integrity of the published content while aiming for timely release of journal issues. The EiC oversees the final approval process before publication to guarantee accuracy and consistency across all published articles.
4. Conflict of Interest
All editors and board members must disclose any potential conflicts of interest. Decisions on manuscripts in which an editor has a conflict of interest will be handled by Managing Board of Publisher to ensure impartiality.
5. Amendments
This Governance Policy may be amended by the EiC in consultation with the Founding Editor, Managing Board of Publishing House, and IAB as needed to reflect the evolving needs of the journal.
Open Access Policy for the Journal of Contemporary Approaches in Psychology and Psychotherapy (JCAPP):
§ JCAPP is committed to the principles of open access, ensuring that all published research articles, and other content are freely available to the global community without any restrictions.
§ JCAPP operates under a gold open access model, meaning that all articles published in the journal are immediately and freely accessible online to readers worldwide, without the need for a subscription or payment.
§ Authors retain the copyright of their work published in JCAPP and grant the journal the right to publish and disseminate their work under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). This allows others to freely distribute, remix, adapt, and build upon the work, provided the original author(s) and source are properly credited.
§ JCAPP is committed to the long-term preservation and accessibility of published content. All articles are archived in digital repositories and preservation archives to ensure their continued availability and accessibility in the future.
§ JCAPP utilises platforms and indexing services to maximise the discoverability and accessibility of published content. Articles are indexed in major databases and search engines, making them easily discoverable by researchers, practitioners, and the general public.
§ Authors are encouraged to share and disseminate their published articles freely, provided they properly cite JCAPP as the original source. Authors retain the right to reuse and distribute their work in accordance with the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License.
§ JCAPP complies with all relevant open access policies and mandates, including those established by funding agencies, institutions, and governmental bodies. Authors are responsible for ensuring compliance with any applicable open access requirements associated with their research funding or institutional affiliations.
§ JCAPP actively promotes the benefits of open access publishing and advocates for the adoption of open access policies by scholarly publishers, institutions, and funding agencies. The journal encourages collaboration and knowledge sharing within the global research community to advance the principles of open access and open science.
Open Access Explained
Publishing open access (OA) offers significantly greater reach and readership for authors' work: 1.6 times more citations than non-OA articles across all subjects, OA articles are downloaded four times more frequently, enhancing visibility and accessibility, OA articles attract 2.5 times more Altmetric attention, including 1.9 times more news mentions and 1.2 times more policy mentions. These metrics demonstrate that publishing open access not only increases the dissemination of research but also amplifies its influence and engagement within and beyond the scholarly community.
Preprints Policy
A preprint is a paper that is made available publicly via a preprint server prior to (or simultaneous with) submission to a journal. Preprint servers, i.e., servers that allow for the posting of papers prior to submission for publication, are becoming more common across a range of disciplines.
Journal of Contemporary Approaches in Psychology and Psychotherapy allows for the submission of manuscripts which have already been made available on such a server. Allowing a preprint version as submission does not, of course, guarantee that an article will accepted for publication without reviewing; it simply reflects a belief that availability on a preprint server should not be a disqualifying for submission.
Authors are requested to update any pre-publication versions with a link to the final published article. Authors may also post the final published version of the article immediately after publication.
If a preprint is assigned a DOI, Publishing House will assign a new DOI to the accepted article using https://doi.org/10.57017/jcapp and can optionally link to the preprint. Note that the preprint publisher must link to the published article, per CrossRef: “[Posted content] consists of preprints, eprints, working papers, reports, dissertations, and many other types of content that has been posted but not formally published… Once a journal article (or book, conference paper, etc.) has been published from the posted content and a DOI has been assigned, the posted content publisher will update their metadata to associate the posted content with the DOI of the accepted manuscript (AM) or version of record (VOR)”. More details are available here.
Copyright and Licensing Policy
All articles published in Journal of Contemporary Approaches in Psychology and Psychotherapy are open access licensed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License 4.0 which permits unrestricted, use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, or format for any purpose, even commercially provided the work is properly cited. The CC BY licence is the most open licence available and considered the industry 'gold standard' for open access; it is also preferred by many funders. A "License Agreement" will be complete by the author(s) if the submitted manuscript is accepted for publication allowing them to retain the copyright to their work.
Reproducing Published Material from other Publishers
Authors must obtain permission to reproduce any published material (figures, schemes, tables, or text extracts) for which they do not hold the copyright. Permission should be sought from the copyright holder, typically the publisher.
- When permission is required:
- For authors' own works published by other publishers where copyright was not retained;
- For substantial extracts from others' works;
- For using unaltered or slightly modified tables, graphs, charts, schemes, artworks, or photographs not owned by the author.
- When permission is not required:
- Reconstruction of the author's own table with data published elsewhere, with proper citation;
- Reasonably short quotes (considered fair use);
- Graphs, charts, schemes, and artworks completely redrawn by the authors and significantly changed beyond recognition.
- Obtaining Permission:
- Authors should start obtaining permissions early to avoid publication delays;
- If unsure about copyright, it's recommended to apply for permission;
- Acknowledgement of permission should follow a standard style if instructed by the copyright holder.
These guidelines aim to ensure compliance with copyright laws and ethical standards in academic publishing. Authors are responsible for obtaining necessary permissions to reproduce copyrighted material and should adhere to the stated policies to prevent any delays or legal issues in the publication process.
Publication Ethics and Publication Malpractice Statement for the Journal of Contemporary Approaches in Psychology and Psychotherapy (JCAPP)
The editors of JCAPP are responsible for ensuring the integrity and quality of the journal's content. They strive to maintain editorial independence and impartiality in all decision-making processes. Editors evaluate submitted manuscripts based on their academic merit, relevance, and adherence to ethical standards. They ensure fair and unbiased peer review processes and make publication decisions based solely on the manuscript's quality and suitability for the journal.
Authors must ensure that their submissions represent original work and accurately acknowledge the contributions of all individuals involved in the research. All listed authors must have made substantial contributions to the conception, design, execution, or interpretation of the reported study.
Authors should appropriately cite and reference the work of others and refrain from engaging in plagiarism or self-plagiarism.
Authors, reviewers, and editors must disclose any potential conflicts of interest that may influence their objectivity or integrity in the publication process. Conflicts of interest may include financial relationships, personal relationships, or institutional affiliations that could be perceived as biasing the research or its interpretation.
JCAPP employs a rigorous peer review process to ensure the quality and validity of published research. Reviewers evaluate manuscripts objectively and provide constructive feedback to authors to improve the quality of their work. Reviewers must maintain confidentiality and refrain from disclosing any information about the manuscript or its review process to unauthorised individuals.
Authors are expected to conduct research ethically and adhere to recognised standards of research integrity. Research involving human subjects or animals must comply with relevant ethical guidelines and obtain appropriate approvals from institutional review boards or ethics committees. Fabrication, falsification, or manipulation of data is strictly prohibited and constitutes unethical behaviour.
JCAPP is committed to correcting errors and addressing instances of misconduct promptly and transparently. Authors are encouraged to notify the editors if they discover any errors or inaccuracies in their published work, and appropriate corrections or retractions will be issued as necessary.
JCAPP adheres to established guidelines and best practices for academic publishing, including those outlined by the Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct and Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE). Furthermore, the ethical framework of the Journal of Contemporary Approaches in Psychology and Psychotherapy integrates the best practices outlined in The European Code of Conduct for Research Integrity. Endorsed by the European Science Foundation (ESF) and All European Academies (ALLEA), this code serves as a benchmark for national research integrity standards across the European Union, following a rigorous development process.
JCAPP welcomes feedback and complaints from authors, reviewers, and readers regarding any aspect of the publication process. Complaints will be investigated thoroughly and resolved promptly to uphold the integrity and reputation of the journal.