Publication Process
Ethical Guidelines, Rights, and Responsibilities
Publishing an entry in the Alevi Encyclopedia is a mutual responsibility shared between the authors and the encyclopedia itself. All parties involved in the publication process -including the Editorial Board, authors, and reviewers- are required to adhere to the outlined scientific criteria and ethical standards of conduct.
Readers, on the other hand, as the primary audience of the Alevi Encyclopedia, contribute with their feedback and suggestions regarding the evaluation, improvement, and oversight of published entries and overall publications. Readers’ critiques and recommendations serve as a guiding framework for the Editorial Board, authors, and the Coordination Board of the encyclopedia.
Responsibilities and Rights of the Editorial Board
- The Editorial Board is responsible for deciding which entries to publish based on the following criteria:
(a) alignment with the encyclopedia’s scope and objectives,
(b) adherence to writing guidelines,
(c) compliance with ethical standards, and
(d) relevance and importance to the audience. - The Editorial Board must provide with a written explanation for the the rejection of an entry, specifying the reasons for the decision. Rejected entries or materials may not be shared publicly or with third parties. Without the author’s consent, no information or materials from the rejected content may be used. Confidentiality must be maintained throughout the process.
- The Editorial Board must recuse itself from evaluating entries where a conflict of interest arises due to ethical, religious, political, economic, or similar reasons.
- If the expertise required exceeds that of the board, the Editorial Board may request written reviews from qualified academics, intellectuals, or researchers in the relevant fields.
- The Editorial Board evaluates submitted entries solely on their relevance to the encyclopedia’s goals, regardless of the author’s gender, sexual orientation, religious beliefs, ethnicity, nationality, or political views.
- The Editorial Board respects authors’ rights. Information related to authors, submitted content, review processes, discussions, and reviewer identities must remain confidential and not be disclosed directly or indirectly.
- In the event of ethical complaints regarding a published entry, the Editorial Board is responsible for contacting the author(s), investigating the issue, and facilitating any necessary corrections. If necessary, actions such as involving reviewers or retracting the entry may be taken.
- For controversial topics, the Editorial Board encourages entries from diverse perspectives to promote a richer understanding.
- All communication and peer-review processes between the Editorial Board and authors are archived digitally.
- The Editorial Board is responsible for deciding which entries to publish based on the following criteria:
Responsibilities and Rights of Authors
- Authors are directly responsible for the content of their entries.
- Submitted entries must be original, plagiarism-free, academically rigorous , well-referenced, and free from misinformation. By submitting content, authors commit to these principles.
- Authors must provide detailed and verifiable data if their submitted content is based on their fieldwork or studies.
- Previously published works, either in print or digital format, may be submitted as encyclopedia entries, provided they are revised, updated, and properly cited.
- Authors must disclose any conflict of interest -whether economic, political, or otherwise- that could affect the results or interpretations of their submissions.
- Discriminatory, exclusionary, judgmental, or sexist content is strictly prohibited.
- Authors may revise the content of their published entries. Any corrections will be noted as updates on the entry page.
- Authors can prepare alternative content to a previously published entry. The Alevi Encyclopedia supports multiple contributions on the same topic to reflect the diversity of Alevi practices and interpretations.
- The Alevi Encyclopedia owns the copyright for published content.
- Authors are solely responsible for securing the copyright of any visual or audio materials they use, including any disputes or legal issues that may arise.
- Authors must ensure the originality of the visual and audio materials they submit.
- Images previously used in digital or print media may be included in entries, provided proper attribution is given.
- Authors may include up to three optional images (JPEG format, resolution min. 1200 x 1200) with their entries.
- Authors must use their real names and, preferably, their academic titles; pseudonyms are not allowed.
Responsibilities and Rights of Reviewers
- Reviewers are selected to provide an expert opinion when the Editorial Board lacks the necessary expertise, faces ethical constraints, or receives objections regarding a published entry. Reviewers are primarily chosen from the Alevi Encyclopedia’s Scientific Advisory Board. If necessary, other recognised experts and researchers may also be invited.
- The Editorial Board must submit the content requiring review, along with relevant documentation, to the reviewers in written form.
- Reviewers are required to evaluate the content in accordance with the encyclopedia’s writing principles, publishing ethics, and overall objectives and to provide a written report to the Editorial Board within two months.
- Reviewers must not use or share submitted content without the author’s consent. They are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of the materials entrusted to them.
- Reviewers must recuse themselves from reviewing content if a conflict of interest arises, whether for ethical or other reasons.
- Reviewers should contribute to improving the submitted content through their feedback while adhering to scientific principles. Reviews should be objective, transparent, and evidence-based, avoiding personal criticism while offering constructive suggestions.
For further information or inquiries, please feel free to contact the Editorial Board.
Contact: [email protected]
