Editorial policy
- Scope and Policy
- Frequency
- Open Access Policy
- Interoperability Policy
- Article Evaluation, Acceptance, and Editing Procedure
- Guidelines for Reviewers
- Editorial Practices on Gender Equality
- Disclaimer and Rights Transfer
- Rights and Ethical Conduct Policies
Bajo Guadalquivir y Mundos Atlánticos, with e-ISSN: 2605-0560, is an annual scientific journal affiliated with the Medieval History Department of the Department of Geography, History, and Philosophy at Pablo de Olavide University.
It is aimed at the community of researchers, educators, and scholars from various disciplines within the Humanities, with the purpose of producing knowledge, promoting the creation of participation networks, and assisting in the dissemination of the growing number of original research results, theoretical studies, short communications, etc., being conducted in our country and internationally on the aforementioned topics.
It is an open-access, pluralistic, and open electronic publication for reflection and debate on the already mentioned themes, with articles evaluated through a double-blind review system. Additionally, Bajo Guadalquivir y Mundos Atlánticos does not charge any fees for article submission, publication, or dissemination.
Bajo Guadalquivir y Mundos Atlánticos accepts contributions written in Spanish and English, signed by one or more authors, from researchers from various institutions or individuals.
Bajo Guadalquivir y Mundos Atlánticos is published annually. The article submission process is open permanently. Texts must be submitted via the Bajo Guadalquivir y Mundos Atlánticos OJS platform and will be evaluated in strict order of submission.
Bajo Guadalquivir y Mundos Atlánticos is an open-access journal, meaning that all content is freely available without charge to the user or their institution. Users can read, download, copy, distribute, print, search, or link to the full text of the articles or use them for any lawful purpose without requiring prior permission from the publisher or author. Bajo Guadalquivir y Mundos Atlánticos thus complies with the BOAI definition of open access.
Bajo Guadalquivir y Mundos Atlánticos provides an OAI-PMH (Open Archives Initiative – Protocol for Metadata Harvesting) interface that allows other portals and information services to access the metadata of the published content.
Data from published articles is available for data mining processes through the use of APIs. You can consult the technical documentation at https://docs.pkp.sfu.ca/dev/api/. If you wish to obtain the API key, contact publicaciones@upo.es.
5. ARTICLE EVALUATION, ACCEPTANCE, AND EDITING PROCEDURE
Once the research text is uploaded to the platform following the steps outlined in Submissions, Bajo Guadalquivir y Mundos Atlánticos, after signing and committing to comply with the San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment (DORA), will follow these steps:
5.1. SUBMISSION
Once the researcher submits the documentation (see Submissions) via the OJS platform, they will receive a notification of its reception. If no confirmation is received, please contact us at lcabdel@upo.es.
5.2. EVALUATION
1. The editorial team will conduct a review to ensure the article meets the journal’s style guidelines, aligns with its thematic lines, does not involve any form of plagiarism, and is adequate, original, and relevant. 1.1. The editorial team will notify the author if the article needs revisions to meet the style guidelines.
1.2. Authors will have one week to make the necessary changes.
1.3. If no revisions are needed, the author will also be informed of the status of their text.
1.4. For articles to continue in the evaluation process, they must comply with the style guidelines outlined on the website.
2. Two reviewers will then evaluate the article using the double-blind review system and complete the evaluation template for original submissions.
2.1. Reviewers will have one month to evaluate the assigned article.
2.2. If the two reviewers disagree on the scientific quality of the text, a third specialist’s report will be required.
2.3. These reviewer evaluations will be anonymous, both for the author and the reviewer.
5.3. ACCEPTANCE OR REJECTION
3. Upon completing the evaluations, the reviewers will recommend either publication (with specified corrections or revisions) or rejection of the manuscript.
3.1. Once the evaluation process is completed, authors will be notified of the reviewers' decision.
3.2. If the article is rejected by two reviewers, the authors will be informed of the decision by email, along with the reasons for the rejection.
3.3. If the article is accepted by two reviewers without requiring changes, authors will be notified via email.
3.4. If the article is accepted by two reviewers, but revisions are needed, authors will be notified to make the changes indicated by the reviewers within a maximum of ten days.
3.5. Within ten days, the author must return the text with the modifications highlighted in a different color and not exceeding 42,000 characters with spaces. If the author does not make all the requested changes, they must explain the reasons for not doing so. The editorial team will then review these corrections.
3.6. An article will be rejected if, in the second round of review, it is not fully accepted by the reviewers for publication.
The estimated timeframe for the submission and review phases is approximately three months.
5.4. EDITING
4. The final decision to accept an article for publication rests with the editorial team.
4.1. Once the article is accepted for publication, the editors may make minor modifications, without altering the content, to correct mechanical or linguistic errors.
4.2. If such changes affect the content, authors will be consulted for approval.
5. After layout, authors will receive the first proofs and will have a maximum of five days to make corrections, limited to typographical errors. If no response is received from the authors, the article will be published as is.
We thank authors in advance for adhering to these guidelines to expedite the evaluation and editing process.
Reviewers should avoid conflicts of interest when reviewing articles, maintain confidentiality regarding the author and evaluated work, and ensure objectivity in their comments, judgments, and observations.
Reviewers will have a period of one month to evaluate the article assigned to them. To do this, they must submit their report through the OJS platform, evaluating fourteen different aspects of the work's quality, suitability, and relevance using four gradings (very good, good, fair, or poor).
After providing the comments justifying their decision and making any necessary corrections, the reviewer must choose from the following options: accept (the article is accepted for publication without requiring any changes), publishable with modifications (the article is accepted for publication, but the author will be asked to make certain changes), resend for review (the reviewer considers that significant changes are necessary, which the author must make, followed by another round of peer review), resend to another publication (the reviewer considers that the text does not fit the journal’s policy and recommends submission to another publication), and not publishable (the submission has failed peer review and is not recommended for publication in the journal).
These evaluations will be anonymous, both for the authors and reviewers. Periodically, the editorial team will publicly release a list of the reviewers who participate in the manuscript evaluation process. Additionally, the names of the reviewers will also be published on the website (see List of evaluators).
7. EDITORIAL PRACTICES ON GENDER EQUALITY
As much as possible, the journal informs whether the research’s origin data and conclusions consider gender, ensuring these are appropriately reflected to identify potential differences.
The use of inclusive language is recommended (Gabe, M. (2010). ¿Cómo dices? Guía para una comunicación con Equidad de Género), for example:
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Use real generics (ages, professions, social groups...): indigenous peoples instead of the indigenous.
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Use double forms, masculine and feminine, to highlight or make visible.
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Alternate the order, as it defines power, not always indicating the boys and the girls, but also the girls and the boys.
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Highlight the gender when dealing with topics/roles typically associated with women or men.
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Use metonymic terms (language figure replacing the generic masculine with the profession they hold, the position they occupy, the place, etc.).
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Remove articles and determiners in neutral nouns to avoid masculinizing them: professionals in the sector, instead of the professionals in the sector.
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Give the same treatment to women and men, avoiding asymmetries. For instance, avoiding addressing women only by their first name or diminutives if not done the same way with men.
8. DISCLAIMER AND ASSIGNMENT OF RIGHTS
The author or assignor of the material submitted for publication authorizes the journal Bajo Guadalquivir y Mundos Atlánticos to publish the content of the manuscript in print, digital format, or any other medium, with no obligation (economic or otherwise). This assignment of the material’s use includes all the rights necessary for its publication in the journal. The author’s moral rights are simultaneously guaranteed.
The author or assignor acknowledges and agrees that all or any part of the submitted content will form a work whose use is granted to the journal Bajo Guadalquivir y Mundos Atlánticos for total or partial publication.
The author or assignor guarantees being the holder of the Intellectual Property rights over the provided content, meaning the text itself and any images/photographs/photographic works included in their article.
Thus, the author or assignor assures and guarantees: (i) that all material submitted to the journal Bajo Guadalquivir y Mundos Atlánticos complies with applicable legal provisions; (ii) that the use of any material protected by copyright and personal rights in the creation of the material has been regulated; (iii) that the necessary licenses, permissions, and authorizations for the execution of the material have been obtained, including image rights, if applicable; and (iv) that the material does not violate third-party rights, including but not limited to copyright and personal rights.
The author or assignor holds the journal Bajo Guadalquivir y Mundos Atlánticos harmless from any and all responsibility regarding violations of copyright, committing to assist the journal in defending against any claims, extrajudicial and/or judicial actions. They also agree to cover any fees or indemnities the journal must pay to third parties for breaching these obligations, whether by judicial, arbitral, or administrative decision.
9. RIGHTS POLICIES AND ETHICAL BEHAVIOR
9.1. REGARDING COPYRIGHT
Authors who have published works in Bajo Guadalquivir y Mundos Atlánticos will retain their copyright and grant the journal the right of first publication of their work, which will also be subject to the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License, allowing third parties to share the work as long as they reference the author and the fact that the work has been published in the journal.
In case of co-authorship, authors must indicate the level of contribution in each phase of the research and writing process. It is recommended to follow the CRediT taxonomy [https://credit.niso.org/].
9.2. REGARDING PLAGIARISM AND FRAUD POLICY
The author or assignor holds the journal harmless from any and all responsibility regarding violations of copyright, committing to assist the journal in defending against any claims, extrajudicial and/or judicial actions.
To ensure the following policy and the procedures followed by the journal to detect fraud and plagiarism, and manage claims, the SafeAssign tool is used. Each submission received by the platform will be analyzed using this tool to determine the percentage of similarity to other publications. The editorial team will study the SafeAssign report and determine whether the article should continue in the editorial process. In case of plagiarism detection, the author will be notified.
Plagiarism is understood as the use of ideas, words, work, or data from another person without proper citation. Scientific fraud includes falsification of data and actions against copyright and intellectual property rights.
9.3. REGARDING ETHICAL STATEMENT
On authorship and contributions
The submission guidelines for original works to the journal are public. Authors retain their copyright and are responsible for the content. They guarantee the journal the right of first publication of their work.
The works will undergo a double-blind evaluation process, with the editorial team being responsible for the final decision on the articles. The editorial team may reject works without external evaluation if they do not meet a minimum quality level, do not align with the journal's objectives, or contain plagiarism.
On handling complaints, claims, and appeals
Complaints, claims, and appeals will be managed by the editorial team. Members will review the evidence, try to resolve each case, and, if necessary, propose evaluators following the double-blind system. Results and communications will be made through the journal’s email.
On conflicts of interest
Editorial team members and reviewers will not handle or review an original work if there is any kind of interest toward the author (personal or professional relationships).
On data sharing and reproducibility
Works submitted to Bajo Guadalquivir y Mundos Atlánticos must be original, indicating any ideas taken from previously published works. Authors are responsible for not fabricating, copying, manipulating, or distorting the data presented in their research, as plagiarism in any form is a serious ethical violation, and the editorial team will take appropriate actions.
In case of articles signed by multiple authors, the recognition of all authors and their responsibility for the work must be guaranteed.
Additionally, the source of graphical material must be cited, and the necessary reproduction permissions must be obtained, with funding sources for the study being disclosed.
Published articles will be available on the journal’s website and will have the corresponding Creative Commons license.
On ethical supervision
Authors submitting to Bajo Guadalquivir y Mundos Atlánticos must ensure their work is original and unpublished. If not, the journal may take appropriate decisions.
Reviewers must understand they are working with confidential documents, not disseminating or using their information. Their role, avoiding conflicts of interest, is to objectively evaluate the sections in the evaluation form within the established time frame (see guidelines for reviewers), as well as report any known similarities, plagiarism, falsifications, etc., related to other works.
On intellectual property
Authors will retain their copyright, and the journal commits to respecting their intellectual property rights at all times, acknowledging them when necessary. The editorial team will, impartially and confidentially, avoid malpractice and manage the reception, evaluation, and editing of the articles.
On managing discussions and corrections after publication
The editorial team is always available to manage discussions and consider necessary corrections after the articles are published.
For all of this, Bajo Guadalquivir y Mundos Atlánticos is committed to adhering to the standards established by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).
9.4. ERRATA, CORRECTIONS, AND RETRACTIONS POLICY
The correction, retraction, or removal of already published articles in Bajo Guadalquivir y Mundos Atlánticos will only occur exceptionally and after being studied and approved by the editorial team. The journal will follow the guidelines recommended by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).
The policy in Bajo Guadalquivir y Mundos Atlánticos regarding article correction, retraction, and removal seeks to guarantee transparency and the highest assurance in the process. We distinguish between:
- Errata: minor, simple changes that do not affect the content of the article or its research findings, whether made by the authors or editorial team.
- Retractions: significant changes that notably affect the content and results of the work, as well as misconduct in research, writing, or publication. Retractions, as defined by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), include: major errors, falsifications, plagiarism, redundant publication, unauthorized use of materials, violations of copyright or ethical codes, or when the peer-review process has been compromised and a conflict of interest exists.
In both cases, authors must inform the journal via email (lcabdel@upo.es) justifying the reasons and providing a new version of the work where modifications are highlighted. The editorial team will consider whether the work needs to be re-evaluated based on the significance of the changes. Once the change and/or retraction is accepted, the editorial team will publish an announcement on the website informing about the changes. Furthermore, in the next issue, a list of errata, corrections, or retractions will be published, including the article's title, the error, and the correction. If substantial changes are required, a new version of the article will be published, referencing the modifications. In the case of a retraction, a watermark will be added to the article with the label “retracted article,” also appearing in the title.
Finally, an article may be removed if serious issues are found in its content that cannot be resolved through the previous measures or for legal reasons. In such cases, article metadata will be retained, but the text will be replaced with a document explaining its new status.
The journal incorporates systems such as CLOCKSS (Controlled Lots of Copies Keep Stuff Safe), LOCKSS, and PKP Preservation Networks that allow libraries to preserve selected electronic journals by regularly checking the websites of registered publications for recently published content and archiving it for future preservation.
9.6. EDITORIAL POLICY ON THE USE OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
At the journal Bajo Guadalquivir and Mundos Atlánticos, we are committed to scientific integrity and transparency in the use of artificial intelligence (AI). This policy establishes clear guidelines on the proper use of AI tools for authors, reviewers, and editors:
- General Principles
In accordance with the guidelines of the COPE Declaration and best practices in the scientific community:
- AI tools cannot meet the criteria for authorship, as they cannot assume responsibility for scientific content.
- They cannot manage conflicts of interest, copyrights, or make ethical decisions on their own.
- Use of AI by Authors
2.1. Declaration of Use
Authors must explicitly declare the use of any AI tools in writing or analyzing their manuscripts. The software used, the functions applied, and the sections of the manuscript where AI has been employed must be specified.
2.2. Responsibility for Originality
The author is responsible for the originality of content generated or assisted by AI. The generated material must not infringe on third-party rights or plagiarize existing content.
2.3. Review of AI-Assisted Content
Authors are responsible for carefully reviewing and verifying any content generated by AI to avoid biases, errors, or inaccuracies. - Use of AI in Peer Review
3.1. Declaration of AI Use by Reviewers
If reviewers use AI to assist in evaluating a manuscript, they must declare this use. AI may serve as support, but the critical judgment and final evaluation must be made by humans.
3.2. Manuscript Evaluation
AI should not replace the responsibility of the reviewer in the scientific evaluation. The process should primarily be carried out by humans, and the use of AI should be complementary. - Use of AI by the Editorial Team
The editorial team may use AI for administrative and editorial tasks, such as formatting manuscripts or detecting plagiarism, always under strict human supervision to ensure consistency and quality. - Ethics in AI Use
The use of AI must not, under any circumstances, lead to data manipulation, plagiarism, or violations of intellectual property. Any misuse of AI, whether intentional or not, will be addressed in accordance with COPE policies and other ethical regulations of the journal. - Evaluation and Update of the Policy
This policy will be regularly reviewed to adapt to technological advances in AI and to ensure best practices within scientific publishing. - Consequences of Non-Compliance
Failure to comply with this policy may result in sanctions such as the withdrawal of the manuscript or the prohibition of submitting future works to Bajo Guadalquivir and Mundos Atlánticos.
