Journal Publication Ethics and Best Practice Statement
This Journal is committed to upholding the highest standards of publication ethics and transparency in accordance with the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) Code of Conduct and Best Practice Guidelines (https://publicationethics.org/membership/code-of-conduct). The following policies govern all editorial and publishing activities of the Journal and apply to authors, editors, reviewers, and the publisher.
All policies below are publicly available and are implemented consistently to safeguard the integrity of the scholarly record.
1. Authorship and Contributorship Policy
The Journal defines authorship based on substantial intellectual contribution to the conception, design, execution, or interpretation of the research. All listed authors must have participated in drafting or critically revising the manuscript, approved the final version for publication, and agreed to be accountable for all aspects of the work. Individuals whose contributions do not meet authorship criteria must be properly acknowledged as contributors.
To prevent unethical practices such as ghost, gift, or guest authorship, the Journal requires a clear statement of author contributions and written confirmation from all authors at the time of submission. Any authorship disputes arising before or after publication will be handled transparently and in line with recognized ethical guidelines. The reference: COPE'S guidance Journal's policies on authorship and contributorship.
2. Complaints and Appeals Policy
The Journal provides a clear mechanism for submitting complaints or appeals concerning editorial decisions, peer-review processes, or publication ethics. Complaints may be submitted by authors, reviewers, or readers and will be acknowledged promptly and handled in a timely, objective, and confidential manner. Appeals against editorial decisions are evaluated by senior editors or an independent editorial panel when necessary. All decisions are based on academic merit and ethical considerations, ensuring fairness, accountability, and editorial independence. The reference: COPE'S guidance on How the journal will handle complaints and appeals.
3. Research Misconduct Policy
The Journal takes allegations of research misconduct seriously, including plagiarism, data fabrication or falsification, redundant publication, and citation manipulation. Manuscripts are routinely screened using appropriate detection tools, and concerns may be raised during review or after publication. Suspected misconduct is investigated following established ethical procedures and, where appropriate, COPE guidelines. The Journal may contact authors, institutions, or funders during investigations and will take corrective actions—including corrections or retractions—when misconduct is confirmed. The reference: COPE'S guidance on How the journal will handle allegations of research misconduct.
4. Conflicts of Interest Policy
All authors, editors, and reviewers are required to disclose any financial or non-financial conflicts of interest that could influence the research, review, or editorial decision-making process. These disclosures promote transparency and allow readers to assess potential sources of bias. Declared conflicts of interest are published alongside articles when relevant. Failure to disclose conflicts may result in editorial action, including correction or retraction, to protect the credibility of the scholarly record. The reference: COPE'S guidance on Journal's policies on conflicts of interest.
5. Data Sharing and Reproducibility Policy
The Journal encourages transparency and reproducibility by requiring authors to make research data, methods, and materials available whenever possible. Authors must include a data availability statement explaining how supporting data can be accessed or why access is restricted. Compliance with this policy is assessed during editorial review. By promoting responsible data sharing, the Journal supports open science practices and enables independent verification of research findings. The reference: COPE'S guidance on Journal's policies of data sharing and reproducibility.
6. Ethical Oversight Policy
Research published in the Journal must comply with internationally recognized ethical standards, particularly for studies involving human participants, animals, or sensitive data. Authors are required to provide evidence of ethical approval and informed consent where applicable. Any ethical concerns raised after publication are investigated thoroughly. The Journal reserves the right to take corrective actions to ensure accountability and ethical compliance. The reference: COPE'S guidance on Journal's policy of ethical oversight.
7. Intellectual Property Policy
The Journal clearly defines copyright and licensing arrangements for published content. Authors retain copyright while granting the Journal the right to publish the work under an open-access license, typically a Creative Commons license, which permits lawful reuse under stated conditions. Cases of intellectual property infringement are handled transparently and may result in corrections or retractions. This policy ensures legal clarity for authors, readers, and third-party users. The reference: COPE'S guidance on the Journal's policy of intellectual property.
8. Post-Publication Discussion Policy
The Journal supports scholarly dialogue after publication through letters to the editor, commentaries, or other approved formats. Post-publication discussions allow readers to raise questions, provide critiques, or offer additional perspectives. All submissions for post-publication discussion are moderated to ensure respectful, evidence-based discourse. Authors are allowed to respond, fostering constructive academic exchange. Reference: COPE'S guidance on Journal's options for post-publication discussions.
9. Corrections and Retractions Policy
The Journal is committed to maintaining the accuracy of the scholarly record. Minor errors that do not affect the validity of the work are corrected through formal notices, such as errata or corrigenda. Articles may be retracted in cases of serious error or ethical violation. All corrections and retractions are clearly labeled, linked to the original article, and explained transparently to readers. Reference: COPE'S guidance on Journal's policies on corrections and retractions.
Reference: Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) – Code of Conduct and Best Practice Guidelines https://publicationethics.org/membership/code-of-conduct
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