Transparency analysis among Communications and Library and Information Science Journals

The principal goal of the research study is to analyze the transparency
of a selection of academic journals based on an analysis model with 20
indicators grouped into 6 parameters. Given the evident interest in and
commitment to transparency among quality academic journals and researchers’
difficulties in choosing journals that meet a set of criteria, we present
indicators that may help researchers choose journals while also helping
journals to consider what information from the editorial process to publish, or
not, on their websites to attract authors in the highly competitive environment
of today’s scholarly communication. To test the validity of the indicators, we
analyze a small sample: the Spanish Communications and Library and Information
Science journals listed in the Scimago Journal Rank. The results confirm that
our analysis model is valid and can be extrapolated to other disciplines and
journals.