Instructions for Authors
Conditions for Manuscript Submission
A manuscript can only be accepted for consideration if:
- Submitted via the journal’s online submission system to one of the forthcoming thematic issues (see the Next Issues webpage). This journal does not accept spontaneous submissions for publication;
- Submitted in Word or .odt format, using the template file provided in the instructions for authors, and respecting the word limit and reference style (Download Manuscript Template and APA Style Guide);
- It has not been previously published nor under consideration elsewhere;
- It is prepared in accordance with the instructions for authors.
Type of Manuscripts
The journal accepts the following types of articles for publication (all must be original and can not have been published elsewhere):
- Article: a paper containing original research results that has not been published elsewhere. Articles shall have a maximum length of 6,000 words (the word count limit includes title, abstract, tables, figures, and references list). During a potential revisions stage, after peer-review, authors can extend the article length to a maximum of 8,000 words to better address the reviewers and editors’ comments.
- Book Review: a report which offers a critical analysis of a book based on its content and merit. Book reviews shall have a maximum length of 2,000 words (the word count limit includes title, abstract, tables, figures, and references list) and may only be submitted upon invitation.
- Commentary: an opinion piece providing a critical evaluation of a published article or topic of interest to the readership of the journal. Letters to the Editor and replies should be submitted as Commentaries. Commentaries shall have a maximum length of 2,000 words (the word count limit includes title, abstract, tables, figures, and references list).
- Editorial: an introductory piece submitted by an Academic Editor providing insight into the topic of the thematic issue. Editorials shall have a maximum length of 2,000 words (the word count limit includes title, abstract, tables, figures, and references list).
- Review: a paper which comprehensively sums up the current state of research on a particular topic. Reviews shall have a maximum length of 6,000 words (the word count limit includes title, abstract, tables, figures, and references list). During a potential revisions stage, after peer-review, authors can extend the article length to a maximum of 8,000 words to better address the reviewers and editors’ comments.
- Short Note: a short description of important current research findings, which is more focused and concise than an article. Short Notes shall have a maximum length of 2,000 words (the word count limit includes title, abstract, tables, figures, and references list).
Language
All submitted articles must be written in English. Both British and American spellings are accepted, as long as one spelling is used consistently throughout the text. Authors whose native language is not English are strongly advised to ensure the grammatical correctness of their paper prior to submission. Papers with serious deficiencies in English may be returned without review.
In the first two cases a certificate or confirmation by the author confirming the performance of English editing servicer must be provided to the Editorial Office. Should the author opt for Cogitatio’s English editing service, the task will be performed immediately after receiving the copy-edited file from the authors. Cogitatio’s English editing charges are as follows:
- Articles up to 8,000 words: €250 (plus VAT if applicable)
- Articles from 8,001 to 9,000 words: €300 (plus VAT if applicable)
- Editorials, Commentaries, and Book Reviews up to 2,000 words: €150 (plus VAT if applicable)
- Editorials, Commentaries, and Book Reviews from 2,001 to 3,000 words: €200 (plus VAT if applicable)
Structure of the Manuscript
The template file provided by Cogitatio must be used when preparing a manuscript. Manuscripts shall have the following ordered elements: type of article, title, authors, affiliations, abstract (200 to 250 words), keywords (4 to 10, alphabetically ordered), text (introduction… conclusion), acknowledgements, conflicts of interests, and references. Epigraphs, endnotes and footnotes are not allowed.
Length Restrictions
Articles and reviews shall have a maximum length of 6,000 words upon submission (the word count limit includes title, abstract, tables, figures, and references list). During a potential revisions stage, after peer-review, authors can extend the article length to a maximum of 8,000 words to better address the reviewers and editors’ comments.
Book reviews, commentaries, editorials and short notes shall have a maximum length of 2,000 words upon submission (the word count limit includes title, abstract, tables, figures, and references list).
Blinded Manuscript
The journal undertakes a double-blind peer-review process (the identity of the authors is concealed from the reviewers, and vice versa). Submitted articles shall always include the authors’ names and affiliations on the title page, but in the main text and article’s metadata there shall be no elements that disclose the authors’ identity. Self-citations should be kept to a minimum, and citation of any of the authors’ published work must be done in the third person.
Reference Style
Articles shall be submitted using the APA reference style. APA style requires both in‐text citations and a final references list. For every in‐text citation, there should be a full citation in the reference list and vice versa. When you need to cite two or more works together, arrange the in-text citations alphabetically in the same order in which they appear in the reference list. In-text citations must list the author’s last name, date of publication, and page number(s) when applicable:
Evans (2014, p. 52) or (Evans, 2004, p. 52)
Howlett and Mukherjee (2014) or (Howlett & Mukherjee, 2014)
Vrooman et al. (2015, pp. 77-78) or (Vrooman et al., 2015, pp. 77-78)
Tables and Figures
Tables and figures are limited to a combined total of 10. Tables and figures must be numbered, an explanatory title must be added, and each table and figure must be mentioned at least once in the main text. Figures should be supplied in a suitable size for printing, and tables should be inserted using the ‘Insert Table’ function provided by the software.
It is the author's responsibility to obtain permission from the copyright owner to reproduce figures and tables that have been published elsewhere. Tables and figures without such evidence are assumed to originate from the author.
Supplementary Files
Authors may submit supplementary files to be made available alongside their article. Supplementary material is available online only on the article’s webpage (it is not published in the PDF of the article). Supplementary files are not copy-edited nor proofread by the Editorial Office, and it is the authors’ responsibility to guarantee the scientific accuracy of these files.
Supplementary files are also sent to peer-review alongside the article; thus, authors are also responsible for guaranteeing that there are no elements (including in the file’s metadata) that disclose the authors’ identity.
Editorial Process (Step-by-Step)
Online Submission
Authors must submit their manuscripts through the online submission platform, comply with our instructions for authors. Submissions by email will not be considered. Authors will receive an automatic acknowledgment email upon a successful submission. This email will also request that they provide a list of 5 potential reviewers for their manuscripts.
First Check
The Editorial staff will make a first assessment of the article submitted. Manuscripts that do not comply with the instructions for authors may be returned to the authors.
Contact by Editorial Staff
The Editorial staff will contact the corresponding author with a decision as to whether the manuscript will be considered for publication in the journal and sent for peer-review. At this point of the process, authors should have already emailed the Editorial staff their list of 5 potential reviewers, otherwise they will be reminded to do so. The list will be carefully reviewed by the Editorial staff and it is not guaranteed that the suggested researchers will be contacted to review the manuscript. Authors who fail to provide a list of suitable and trustworthy reviewers may see their manuscripts immediately rejected for publication.
Peer-Review
Manuscripts will undergo a very stringent double-blind peer-review process, where both the identities of authors and reviewers remain undisclosed in order to guarantee the highest quality of the journal. All manuscripts (except for Editorials, Commentaries and Book Reviews) will be sent out for review and at least two review reports per manuscript will be collected. All reviewers will be carefully selected by the journal’s Editors for each submitted manuscript and must fulfill the following criteria:
- Hold a PhD degree and/or be a recognized expert in the field;
- Not have co-authored publications with the author(s) for the last 5 years;
- Not be affiliated with the same institution as the author(s).
Even if, in principle, a double-blind peer-review system could allow this task to be performed by scholars who are acquainted with the authors, our Editorial Office still wishes reviews to be completed only by reviewers who do not have any recent professional contact with the authors in order to fully guarantee that there are no conflicts of interests and that reviews are indeed totally unbiased. Spontaneous applications from scholars to join the journal’s pool of reviewers will not be considered. All reviewers will be selected and invited by the Editorial Office to review manuscripts according to the field of expertise of the submissions received.
Reviewers will be asked to complete their review within two weeks, but are allowed to extend the review period in order to complete and submit their report. All relevant information for reviewers can be consulted in the Instructions for Reviewers.
Decision
After each round of peer-review, the Academic Editor(s) of the thematic issue will be asked to assess the submitted manuscript and the peer-review reports collected. Decisions regarding each submission will be taken without exception by the Academic Editor(s), guaranteeing the excellence and high standard of our decision-making process. The Academic Editor(s) may decide between the following options:
- Accept the submission: the manuscript is considered to warrant high quality and can be published in the journal.
- Revisions required: authors are asked to perform revisions to their manuscript and, after resubmission, the manuscript is sent directly to the Academic Editor(s) for assessment and decision (accept submission, ask for further revisions, or decline the submission).
- Decline submission: the manuscript is considered to have major flaws that could not be resolved by revision and resubmission.
In order to guarantee swiftness of the editorial process, each manuscript will only be allowed two rounds of review and revisions. Authors are thus urged to address all issues raised by the reviewers directly after the first round of peer-review.
Copyediting
After the manuscript is accepted for publication it will undergo a first stage of copy editing where the Editorial staff will correct any minor mistakes (such as punctuation or references) and check that all necessary information regarding the manuscript and authors has been provided.
Authors will receive an edited version of their manuscript for author copy editing after acceptance of the manuscript for publication. This is the last stage where any substantial copy editing changes to the text are allowed (the next stage—proofreading—is restricted to correcting typographical and layout errors).
It is the author’s responsibility to guarantee that the English language is flawless, and authors who are not proficient or whose native language is not English must have their manuscripts edited by a proficient/native English speaker. Please consult our “Language” section for further information.
Proofreading
The Editorial staff will create the final version of the manuscript in the journal’s template and the PDF proof will be sent to the author for final proofreading before publication. Authors should carefully check the proofs for typographical or layout errors, and use the sticky notes tool to mark and explain any changes necessary.
Publication
Once all rounds of proofreading and typesetting are complete and the manuscript is considered ready for publication, the article will be made available online “ahead of print”: This means that the article will be given a working DOI address, an “in press” version of the article will become immediately accessible to readers, and authors can start sharing it with ease.
The full thematic issue will be published in one sitting as soon as all the articles, without exception, are ready.
Publication Fees and Institutional Membership
Publication Fees
Original submissions must have a maximum length of 6,000 words. The article processing charge for each manuscript accepted for publication after peer-review is as follows:
- Articles up to 8,000 words: €950 (plus VAT if applicable)
- Articles from 8,001 to 9,000 words: €1050 (plus VAT if applicable)
- Editorials, Commentaries, and Book Reviews up to 2,000 words: Free of charge
- Editorials, Commentaries, and Book Reviews from 2,001 to 3,000 words: €150 (plus VAT if applicable)
Note: The word count includes all elements in the document, without exception. You can use the Word Count dialog box in your software to know the number of words in the document.
The journal does not have any submission fees.
As an open access publisher, Cogitatio is committed to ensuring permanent and universal free access to all published articles, unlike closed-access journals which limit their readership to those able to pay subscription fees. This means that Cogitatio does not receive any income from either subscriptions or article views/downloads. As publishing is not without its costs, the journal needs to offset all production costs through article processing charges. These charges are used to finance the whole publication and archiving process, including peer review, editing, proof-reading and copy-editing, and hosting and maintenance of the journal archives. Without proper financing for such necessary expenses, the journal would be unable to provide the rigorous and professional service upon which we pride ourselves.
Numerous universities and funding agencies allocate funds to cover article processing charges, and authors are advised to check with their departments and libraries if funds are available to cover open access publication costs. Authors affiliated with institutions that have joined Cogitatio's Membership Program can publish their articles totally free of charge.
Authors who demonstrate financial need and cannot afford the article processing charge can apply for a waiver during the abstract submission procedure (waiver requests during or after peer-review will not be considered). Requests will be assessed on a case-by-case basis and may be granted in cases of genuine need. Due to the numerous costs associated with open access publishing, Cogitatio can only accept to process a limited number of waived submissions per issue.
Institutional Membership
Cogitatio’s Institutional Membership Programme is an affordable option that allows authors to freely publish in highly ranked open access journals.
The institution pays an annual flat fee and all articles that have a corresponding author from the institution are published completely free of charge (no APCs).
The annual flat fee is tiered according to the institution’s size and country’s Human Development Index, as a way of demonstrating a commitment to a more equitable publishing landscape, while keeping the costs very reasonable.
| Institution FTE (staff + students) | Country’s Human Development Index | |
|---|---|---|
| Below .89 | Over .90 | |
| Up to 5,000 | 1200 € | 1500 € |
| 5,001–10,000 | 1400 € | 1700 € |
| Over 10,000 | 1600 € | 1900 € |
The membership covers all journals issued by Cogitatio:
- Media and Communication (12 issues/year)
- Politics and Governance (12 issues/year)
- Social Inclusion (12 issues/year)
- Urban Planning (12 issues/year)
Institutions interested in joining Cogitatio's Institutional Membership program can contact us at [email protected]
The list of institutions that have joined Cogitatio's Membership Program is available on the Institutional Members page.
Indexing and Abstracting
The Editorial Office of the journal entails all the contacts necessary to guarantee that the manuscript will be indexed by the indexing and abstracting companies that cover the journal’s contents shortly after publication. The journal is currently indexed in the following databases:
- Web of Science (Social Sciences Citation Index)
- Scopus
- BASE - Bielefeld Academic Search Engine
- Cengage
- DOAJ - Directory of Open Access Journals
- EBSCO
- Google Scholar
- J-Gate
- ProQuest
- Repec
- RoMEO
- UlrichsWeb
- WorldCat