Understanding the
Framework
The OATI Score (Open Access Trust Index Score) is a journal and publisher assessment framework designed to assist researchers, academicians, institutions, and scholarly communities in identifying transparent, credible, and research-friendly publishing platforms.
OATI Score does not function as a journal indexing service, impact factor provider, or citation metric system. Instead, it evaluates journals and publishers against a comprehensive set of quality, transparency, accessibility, and publishing integrity indicators.
The framework aims to simplify journal selection by presenting a structured assessment of scholarly publishing practices, helping researchers make informed publication decisions.
Primary Sources of Assessment
Promote Transparency
Clear, publicly accessible publishing policies.
Support Researchers
Identify journals aligned with research goals.
Encourage Ethical Publishing
Commitment to peer-review integrity.
Improve Discoverability
Evaluate suitability before submission.
Strengthen OA Ecosystems
Sustainable open-access practices.
8 Assessment Categories
Journal Identity & Authenticity
This category assesses the fundamental legitimacy and completeness of journal information Assessment may include: Journal title consistency ISSN availability and validity Publisher identification Contact information disclosure Publication history Website authenticity Domain stability.
Editorial Transparency
A transparent editorial structure reflects accountability and scholarly responsibility Assessment may include: Editorial board information Editor-in-Chief details Editorial affiliations Editorial contact availability Editorial governance structure Transparency of editorial responsibilities.
Peer Review Practices
Peer review remains one of the essential components of scholarly publishing Assessment may include: Availability of peer review policy Review process description Reviewer guidelines Publication workflow transparency Manuscript handling procedures Ethical review statements.
Publication Ethics & Integrity
Ethical publishing practices contribute significantly to journal credibility Assessment may include: Publication ethics statements Plagiarism policy Retraction policy Correction policy Conflict of interest declarations Research misconduct handling procedures.
Open Access Compliance
Open access journals should clearly communicate access and licensing information Assessment may include: Open access policy Licensing information Copyright statements Author rights disclosure Reader accessibility Archiving policies.
Website Quality & Accessibility
A professionally maintained website improves user trust and information accessibility Assessment may include: Website usability Mobile responsiveness Security standards (HTTPS) Content accessibility Navigation structure Policy accessibility Information consistency.
Publisher Transparency
Publishers play a critical role in maintaining scholarly standards Assessment may include: Publisher identification Organizational transparency Contact information Publishing portfolio Publisher policies Governance information.
Researcher Support Indicators
OATI places special emphasis on author experience and transparency Assessment may include: Submission guidelines Author instructions Publication timelines Fee disclosures APC transparency Communication channels.
OATI Score Rating Scale
| Score Range | Rating Level |
|---|---|
| 90 – 100 | Excellent |
| 80 – 89 | Very Good |
| 70 – 79 | Good |
| 60 – 69 | Moderate |
| 50 – 59 | Limited Transparency |
| Below 50 | Requires Further Review |
Scores reflect comparative transparency, not research quality or citation impact.
Publisher Assessment
Continuous Review Process
The scholarly publishing landscape evolves continuously. Therefore, OATI Score assessments may be periodically reviewed and updated based on: Changes in journal policies Website updates Editorial modifications Publisher information updates Community feedback Publicly available evidence Researchers, editors, and publishers may also submit correction requests when information requires verification or updating.
Disclaimer
The OATI Score is an independent informational framework intended to assist researchers in journal discovery and evaluation. OATI does not guarantee publication quality, indexing status, citation performance, acceptance rates, or academic outcomes Researchers are encouraged to conduct their own due diligence before submitting manuscripts to any journal or publisher.
Guiding Principle
Empowering researchers through transparency, informed decision-making, and responsible scholarly publishing.