When it comes to scientific rigor and editorial integrity, we do not compromise
Why publishing in PLOS ONE is the right choice for you
PLOS ONE is an inclusive community-driven journal committed to working to advance science for the benefit of society, now and in the future.
Working with our community we inspire, implement and enforce leading policies for ethical research conduct to build an open, fair and trustworthy foundation of knowledge that is freely accessible to all to read, use, and build upon.
1. We focus on robust research
An intentionally broad scope journal, we specialize in finding ways to ensure the peer review of papers that may span multiple disciplines. Our editors make decisions on submissions based on scientific rigor, regardless of novelty, and we welcome submissions from research with original, null, or negative results.
We manage quality before, during, and after peer review
With its editorial policies and frequent checks, we ensure that the peer review process is fair and transparent, and believe peer reviews and author responses to reviewers, are research outputs in their own right with intrinsic value to readers—even after formal article publication.
Many of our reviewers choose to sign their reviews and many authors decide to publish their peer review history.
2. We safeguard the integrity of the scholarly record
When you collaborate with us, you benefit from the robust guidance and consistent support of our dedicated Publications Ethics Team. Our group of specialists has scientific and editorial expertise, as well as expertise in the policies, workflows, and industry-wide guidance on ethics and integrity issues such as paper mills and peer review and citation rings.
We set high expectations for ethical conduct
PLOS ONE has established leading policies for researchers who choose to contribute to our journals as authors, editors, and reviewers, and we hold ourselves accountable to the same standards.
All contributors to our journals must:
- Follow best practices for authorship and publication ethics
- Comply with our research ethics policies
- Uphold our codes of conduct
3. We encourage Open Science practices that enhance research integrity
We believe non-traditional research outputs hold real value for both the individual researcher and society. When you publish all your research outputs, you not only get credit for the full scope of your research project, but also add transparency to your research process, and open the door for greater impact and visibility.
As such, we offer a range of Open Science options to enrich the scientific record, to reach a wider readership, to demonstrate integrity, and to maximize the impact of research.
Our article types offer unique benefits that can help improve the visibility, transparency and rigor of your study
A huge amount of investigation, data, and analysis goes into every stage of a research project, but only a very small snapshot of this is captured in the final paper. However, publishing a non-traditional article type offers several benefits for researchers and the community.
PLOS ONE publishes a range of article types, including, Registered Report Protocols, Registered Reports, Study Protocols, Lab Protocols, and more.
Publish with a responsible journal
For constant support and robust guidance on publication ethics and integrity throughout your publishing journey, choose PLOS ONE.