Peer Review
Preprints vs Peer-Reviewed Articles: What's the Difference?
A preprint shares your findings early; a peer-reviewed article carries the journal's validation. Learn how they differ, their pros and cons, and how t...
Directive Publications · Author & Reviewer ResourcesOpen Access · Peer-Reviewed
Trusted Research · Since 2026
Directive Academy
Guides on peer review, research integrity & scholarly publishing — for authors, reviewers and editors
Open Science
Impact Factor, CiteScore & h-index: What They Really Mean
Research metrics are widely used and widely misunderstood. Learn what the Impact Factor, CiteScore and h-index...
Directive Editorial Team · 7 min
Scientific Writing
Citation Styles Explained: APA vs Vancouver vs MLA
APA, Vancouver and MLA format citations differently. Learn how each works, where each is used, and how to choo...
Directive Editorial Team · 6 min
Editor Resources
How to Run Fair, Ethical Peer Review (For Editors)
Running peer review well is the heart of an editor's job. Here is how to select reviewers, manage the process...
Directive Editorial Team · 7 min
“Legitimate journals are transparent about their fees, peer review and editorial board — verify all three before you submit.”
— Directive Publications Editorial Standards
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Research Integrity
What Is a Retraction? (and How to Avoid One)
A retraction formally withdraws a published article from the scholarly record. Learn why articles are retracted, how it differs from a correction, and...
Scientific Writing
Reporting Guidelines: CONSORT, PRISMA & STROBE Explained
Reporting guidelines are checklists that make research complete and transparent. Learn what CONSORT, PRISMA and STROBE are, and which one your study n...
Scientific Writing
Systematic Review vs Meta-analysis vs Literature Review
These three review types are often confused. Learn how a narrative review, a systematic review and a meta-analysis differ — and which one you are actu...
Scientific Writing
How to Write a Data Availability Statement
Most journals now require a data availability statement. Learn what to include, the standard statement types, and ready-to-use examples for each situa...
Editor Resources
The Handling Editor's Role: How Editorial Decisions Are Made
Behind every published paper is a handling editor. Learn what they do, how editorial decisions are reached, and the principles that keep the process f...
Research Integrity
Types of Plagiarism and How to Avoid Them
Plagiarism is not only copying and pasting. Learn the main types — including self-plagiarism and mosaic plagiarism — how journals detect them, and how...
Open Science
What Is ORCID and How to Register
An ORCID iD is a free, permanent identifier that reliably connects you to your research. Here is what it is, why it matters, and how to register in a...
Research Integrity
Using AI Tools in Research Writing (and How to Disclose Them)
Generative AI can help with research writing — but it cannot be an author, and its use must be disclosed. Here are the rules, the risks, and how to st...
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