About the Journal

The Journal for Research Methodologists (JRM) is published by Costa Research Institute (CRI), a research outfit focused on the scientific development of Southern Epistemologies, with a strong focus on methodologies. 

The JRM is an Open Access journal, dedicated to encouraging scholarship within Social Sciences, with a special focus on Research Methods. The special area of interest is Qualitative Research and Mixed Methods Research. The target audience for this journal is postgraduates and post-doctoral researchers, including early career researchers.

The journal is divided into four main categories as follows:

  1. Article publications
  2. Theses and Dissertations
  3. Books
  4. E-books

INFORMATION FOR READERS

We encourage readers to sign up for the publishing notification service for this journal. Use the Register link at the top of the home page for the journal. This registration will result in the reader receiving the Table of Contents by email for each new issue of the journal. This list also allows the journal to claim a certain level of support or readership. See the journal's Privacy Statement, which assures readers that their name and email address will not be used for other purposes.

INFORMATION FOR AUTHORS

Interested in submitting to this journal? We recommend that you review the About the Journal page for the journal's section policies, as well as the Author Guidelines. Authors need to register with the journal prior to submitting or, if already registered, can simply log in and begin the five-step process.

The Journal of Research Methodologists (JRM) embraces a dynamic and inclusive approach to peer review, recognizing the importance of scholarly rigor while fostering innovation and transparency in academic publishing. To achieve this, JRM employs the following review methods:

  1. Editorial Review: This process involves the editorial team conducting an initial assessment of submitted manuscripts to ensure alignment with the journal's focus and scope, adherence to submission guidelines, and overall quality. This step is essential in maintaining the integrity and relevance of the journal, streamlining the peer review process by identifying submissions suitable for further evaluation.
  2. Double Anonymous Peer Review: In this traditional yet robust approach, both the reviewers and authors remain anonymous to each other. This method minimizes potential biases, promoting fairness and impartiality in the evaluation process. Reviewers assess submissions based on academic rigour, originality, methodology, and contribution to the field. JRM uses this approach to uphold the highest standards of scholarly evaluation while protecting the interests of authors and reviewers alike.
  3. Post-Publication Peer Review: JRM also supports ongoing scholarly dialogue through post-publication peer review. This approach allows published articles, particularly those in areas like Qualitative Systematic Reviews or Qualitative Evidence Synthesis, to undergo further scrutiny using standardized critical appraisal tools such as the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP). This method recognizes that some types of research require extended review processes to evaluate their implications fully, and it encourages the academic community to engage actively with published work, fostering transparency and continual improvement.

Why JRM Chooses These Approaches
JRM has adopted these methods to balance rigorous pre-publication assessment and post-publication scholarly discourse. The combination of editorial review, double anonymous peer review, and post-publication peer review ensures that articles meet the journal's quality standards, contribute meaningfully to academic discourse, and remain open to constructive critique after publication. By integrating these approaches, JRM reflects its commitment to fostering innovation, inclusivity, and accountability in research publishing.

PUBLICATION FEE STATEMENT

The Journal of Research Methodologists (JRM) charges a publication fee (Article Publication Charges, also commonly known as APC) of $250 per accepted article. This fee supports the journal's operational costs, including editorial processes, peer review, and open-access distribution.

Authors are required to remit the fee upon acceptance of their manuscript. Waivers or discounts may be considered on a case-by-case basis for authors from low-income countries or those facing financial hardship. Please contact the editorial office for more information on eligibility and application for waivers.

JRM remains committed to fostering accessibility while maintaining the highest standards of academic publishing.

INFORMATION FOR LIBRARIANS

We encourage research librarians to list this journal among their library's electronic journal holdings. As well, it may be worth noting that this journal's open-source publishing system is suitable for libraries to host for their faculty members to use with journals they are involved in editing (see Open Journal Systems).

LICENSES

The JRM attribution licence is the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) license, which allows authors to retain copyright to their work while granting others the freedom to:

  1. Share: Copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format.
  2. Adapt: Remix, transform, and build upon the material for any purpose, even commercially.

However, users must provide proper attribution to the original authors, give a link to the license, and indicate if changes were made. This ensures that the original authors receive recognition for their work while enabling wide dissemination and reuse of the content.

COPYRIGHT STATEMENT

The Journal of Research Methodologists applies the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) license to all published articles. This means authors retain full copyright to their work. Readers are free to share and adapt the content, provided proper attribution is given to the original authors, a link to the license is included, and any modifications are indicated. This policy ensures the widest possible dissemination of knowledge while protecting the rights of our authors.

PLAGIARISM STATEMENT

The Journal of Research Methodologists (JRM) maintains a zero-tolerance policy on plagiarism, underscoring our commitment to academic integrity and the ethical dissemination of research. All submissions undergo rigorous plagiarism checks using advanced detection tools to ensure originality and proper attribution of sources.

Plagiarism includes, but is not limited to:
1. Copying another author’s work without appropriate citation.
2. Paraphrasing substantial portions of text without acknowledgment.
3. Self-plagiarism, or the reuse of an author’s previous work without proper referencing or justification.

Authors are expected to adhere to the highest standards of scholarly conduct by providing accurate citations and acknowledging all contributions to their work. If plagiarism is identified at any stage of the publication process, the manuscript will be rejected outright. In cases where plagiarism is discovered post-publication, the article will be retracted, and the incident may be reported to the author’s institution or funding body.

JRM is dedicated to fostering ethical research practices and expects all contributors to uphold these principles to maintain the credibility and trustworthiness of scholarly communication.

ARCHIVING POLICY

The Journal of Research Methodologists(JRM) is committed to ensuring the long-term preservation and accessibility of all published content. As part of this commitment, the journal utilizes the Public Knowledge Project (PKP) platform, which offers robust and reliable archiving solutions.

Key Features of Our Archiving Policy:

  • Digital Preservation: All articles are archived on the PKP Preservation Network (PN) to ensure secure, long-term storage and protection against data loss.
  • Open Access Compliance: Articles are stored in formats that remain accessible regardless of technological advancements, supporting open-access principles.
  • Multiple Repository Integration: JRM integrates with institutional and subject-based repositories to expand accessibility and preservation.
  • Self-Archiving Rights: Authors are encouraged to deposit their published articles in institutional repositories, personal websites, or other platforms, ensuring wider dissemination and discoverability.

This archiving policy reflects JRM’s dedication to safeguarding scholarly work and making it freely available for future generations of researchers.