Preprints

1. Introduction

Magistra Andalusia: Jurnal Ilmu Sastra (MAJIS) recognises the growing role of preprint platforms in the rapid dissemination, discussion, and development of scholarly research.

A preprint may enable authors to make their research publicly accessible before completion of formal journal peer review. Preprints can contribute to scholarly communication by facilitating early access to research, encouraging discussion, and allowing authors to receive feedback before or during formal publication.

At the same time, preprints have not normally undergone the journal's full editorial and peer-review process. Readers must therefore be able to distinguish clearly between a preprint and a peer-reviewed article published in MAJIS.

MAJIS therefore adopts a transparent and supportive approach to preprints. The existence of a preprint does not, in itself, constitute prior journal publication or automatically prevent consideration of a manuscript by MAJIS, provided that the manuscript satisfies the conditions of this policy and the journal's other submission requirements.

This policy establishes MAJIS's requirements concerning:

  • submission of manuscripts that have previously appeared as preprints;

  • disclosure of preprints;

  • citation of preprints;

  • identification of preprint versions;

  • linking preprints to published articles;

  • subsequent updates to preprints;

  • preprints and peer review;

  • confidentiality and anonymity;

  • copyright and licensing;

  • duplicate or redundant publication;

  • withdrawal or correction of preprints;

  • post-publication relationships between preprints and journal articles; and

  • responsibilities of authors, editors, reviewers, and the Editorial Office.

This policy has been developed with reference to relevant scholarly publishing practices and the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) Discussion Document: Preprints. COPE's preprint document emphasises transparency and recommends that journals publicly state their position on preprints, require authors to disclose relevant preprints, and establish clear procedures for linking preprints and published articles.

2. Definition of a Preprint

For the purposes of this policy, a preprint is a version of a scholarly manuscript that has been publicly disseminated before formal peer review and publication in a journal.

A preprint may be deposited on:

  • a recognised disciplinary preprint server;

  • an institutional preprint repository;

  • a general scholarly preprint platform;

  • a recognised institutional repository; or

  • another publicly accessible scholarly platform that identifies the work as a preprint or unpublished manuscript.

A preprint may have a DOI or other persistent identifier.

The assignment of a DOI or public availability does not by itself mean that the manuscript has undergone formal journal peer review.

3. Preprints and Prior Publication

3.1 General Principle

MAJIS does not regard the prior posting of a legitimate preprint as automatically equivalent to formal publication in a peer-reviewed journal.

Accordingly, a manuscript that has previously been deposited as a preprint may be considered for publication in MAJIS, provided that:

  1. the manuscript meets the journal's scope and submission requirements;

  2. the authors disclose the preprint at submission;

  3. the manuscript is not simultaneously under consideration by another journal;

  4. the submitted manuscript does not constitute redundant or duplicate publication;

  5. appropriate copyright and licensing requirements are satisfied; and

  6. the relationship between the preprint and the submitted manuscript is transparent.

This approach is consistent with JOSI's stated position that recognised preprints do not automatically preclude journal consideration, provided that the prior dissemination is disclosed and the preprint is appropriately linked to the journal submission.

3.2 Preprint Versus Journal Publication

A preprint is distinct from a published MAJIS article because it has not undergone the journal's complete editorial and peer-review process.

The presence of a preprint therefore does not imply:

  • acceptance by MAJIS;

  • endorsement by MAJIS;

  • validation by MAJIS;

  • peer-review approval;

  • editorial approval; or

  • equivalence to the Version of Record.

Authors must not describe a preprint as a "published article in MAJIS" before formal publication.

4. Eligibility of Manuscripts Previously Posted as Preprints

MAJIS may consider manuscripts that have previously been made available as preprints.

This may include manuscripts posted:

  • before submission to MAJIS;

  • during the period of editorial consideration;

  • during peer review; or

  • during the revision process,

provided that the authors comply with this policy.

The existence of a preprint will not, by itself, be used as a reason to reject a manuscript.

However, the Editorial Office may request clarification where the relationship between the preprint and submitted manuscript is unclear.

5. Disclosure of Preprints

5.1 Mandatory Disclosure

Authors must disclose the existence of any relevant preprint when submitting a manuscript to MAJIS.

The disclosure should include, where applicable:

  • title of the preprint;

  • names of all authors;

  • preprint server or repository;

  • date of posting;

  • DOI or persistent identifier;

  • URL or other stable link;

  • version number, where applicable; and

  • explanation of any substantial differences between the preprint and submitted manuscript.

5.2 Location of Disclosure

Authors should d