Journals select which of the eight transparency standards they wish to implement and select a level of implementation for each. These features provide flexibility for adoption depending on disciplinary variation, but simultaneously establish community standards. Journal policies can be evaluated based on the degree to which they comply with the TOP Guidelines. This TOP Factor is a metric that reports the steps that a journal is taking to implement open science practices, practices that are based on the core principles of the scientific community.
It is an alternative way to assess journal qualities, and is an improvement over traditional metrics that measure mean citation rates. The TOP Factor is transparent see underlying data and the evaluation rubric and will be responsive to community feedback. Read more about TOP Factor here. With over 5, signatories, the TOP Guidelines are a widely used tool for implementing open science practices. Journal signatories have expressed their support of the principles of openness, transparency, and reproducibility, expressing interest in the guidelines and commit to conducting a review within a year of the standards and levels of adoption.
Organization signatories have expressed their support of the principles of openness, transparency, and reproducibility and encouraging associated journals to conduct a review of the standards and levels of adoption.
As of , we are no longer adding signatories to this list as we focus on implementation of the policies covered in TOP and evaluate journal practices through TOP Factor. For inquiries, please contact David Mellor or email top cos. Download the summary table for journals or funders. Thousands of journals have implemented one or more of the TOP Guidelines. See TOP Factor for a comprehensive list and find examples in your discipline.
Below are a few exemplars. Funders are also implementing open science policies around preregistration and Registered Reports, open data and materials, and preprints or open access. Please note that as of the end of , we are no longer adding signatories to this list. The TOP Guidelines were created by journals, funders, and societies to align scientific ideals with practices.
