Policy on the Recognition of Scientific Contributions and Commitment to DORA Principles

Revista Episteme & Praxis (REP), published by Universidad Metropolitana del Ecuador, Machala Campus, declares its commitment to the principles of the San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment (DORA), reflecting its responsibility to foster an academic environment that prioritizes the intellectual significance of scientific discoveries and the legitimacy of the processes through which research achievements are recognized. This orientation is consistent with its identity as a peer-reviewed, multidisciplinary scientific journal dedicated to disseminating original and previously unpublished research findings and encouraging the convergence of perspectives from different fields of knowledge.

REP understands research as an expression of creativity, critical reflection, and the systematic pursuit of answers to complex problems. From this perspective, the recognition of scientific findings should derive from the ability of research to formulate new interpretations, generate coherent explanations, and offer well-founded alternatives to challenges associated with human and social development. The true significance of a scholarly contribution does not necessarily depend on its dissemination through highly prestigious publications, but rather on the strength of its arguments and the opportunities it creates for disciplinary advancement.

The journal opposes the mechanical application of bibliometric measurements as decisive instruments for determining research excellence. Citation frequencies, impact indicators, journal quartiles, and other editorial classification mechanisms provide only partial representations of certain aspects of knowledge dissemination. Such statistical references cannot, by themselves, establish the depth of a theoretical proposal, the validity of empirical evidence, or the relevance of a scientific solution. For this reason, REP considers it essential to distinguish between the visibility achieved by a publication and the intrinsic value of the studies it disseminates.

The interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary nature of Revista Episteme & Praxis requires an understanding that research may be developed through combinations of approaches, procedures, and conceptual frameworks that extend beyond traditional disciplinary boundaries. Consequently, its academic assessment mechanisms should recognize the richness of these connections, considering the coherence of relationships established among different fields of knowledge and the capacity of research proposals to address phenomena from integrative perspectives. The journal seeks to prevent studies conducted at the intersection of disciplines from being evaluated through rigid frameworks that disregard their epistemological particularities.

The assessment of submitted manuscripts is grounded in the participation of specialists capable of critically examining the scientific structure of research proposals. Particular importance is assigned to the formulation of research problems, the alignment between research questions and selected procedures, the adequacy of supporting evidence, and the consistency of the conclusions drawn. Peer review is also understood as an opportunity to enrich intellectual exchange between authors and reviewers by encouraging reasoned observations that contribute to strengthening research before its potential publication.

REP recognizes that scientific development depends on the participation of diverse academic communities whose contributions emerge from different institutional, economic, cultural, and geographical circumstances. In response to this reality, the journal promotes an assessment of scholarly work that is independent of privileges associated with professional standing, membership in particular organizations, or prominence within international publishing networks. Authors' institutional affiliations and the reputation of their organizations should not influence the interpretation of scientific evidence or replace the direct examination of the contributions presented.

The integration of knowledge constitutes an essential component of the journal's editorial orientation. Scientific advances may emerge from interactions among disciplines, the reformulation of established concepts, or the application of existing procedures to new contexts. Accordingly, REP recognizes the importance of research that encourages conceptual, methodological, and practical connections, particularly when these contribute to understanding complex processes or identifying new opportunities for intervention. Acknowledging such contributions requires sufficiently comprehensive criteria to assess both directly observable findings and their implications for future lines of inquiry.

Regarding the use of quantitative information on scholarly production, Revista Episteme & Praxis advocates a reflective approach that considers differences among disciplines, the characteristics of scientific audiences, and the varying periods required for research findings to gain recognition. Available metrics may assist in examining patterns of scholarly dissemination or identifying certain forms of academic interaction, but they should not become automatic mechanisms for comparing researchers, disciplines, or institutions. Any interpretation of these data must acknowledge their limitations and be complemented by specialized assessments of the content and substantive contributions of research.

Editorial responsibility also entails safeguarding the independence of academic decisions and establishing conditions that strengthen the confidence of authors, reviewers, and readers. REP considers it necessary for manuscript selection procedures to be based on identifiable academic foundations, for observations made during peer review to relate directly to the characteristics of the submissions, and for editorial decisions to be supported by scientific reasoning. This commitment includes addressing potential conflicts of interest, maintaining the confidentiality of editorial processes, and promoting conduct consistent with research ethics.

Universidad Metropolitana del Ecuador, Machala Campus, through the editorial leadership of REP, will encourage the updating of provisions related to manuscript assessment and the recognition of scientific production. This objective encompasses reviewing peer-review mechanisms, improving guidance provided to reviewers, and incorporating practices that reduce dependence on exclusively numerical parameters. Adherence to DORA principles is understood as an ongoing responsibility requiring institutional reflection, continuous examination of procedures, and a willingness to introduce improvements whenever academic circumstances make them necessary.

This declaration expresses the commitment of Revista Episteme & Praxis to contributing to the transformation of practices through which scientific research is assigned academic significance. Its approach is based on the recognition that knowledge acquires value through the strength of its foundations, the originality of its interpretations, and the opportunities it creates to understand and transform reality. Consequently, the journal reaffirms its commitment to an academic culture that recognizes the diversity of knowledge, encourages interdisciplinary thinking, and places intellectual contributions above rankings and measurements that reflect only partial dimensions of scientific activity.