Integrity of the Scholarly Record

Publication in a peer-reviewed journal contributes to a coherent and trustworthy scholarly record. All parties must uphold integrity, accuracy, transparency, and accountability throughout the publication process.

Editorial Independence

Editorial decisions are based on scholarly merit and ethical compliance. Advertising, commercial interests, sponsorship, or reprint revenue will not influence editorial decision-making.

Cooperation for Integrity

Where necessary, the journal may cooperate with other editors, publishers, and institutions to investigate ethical concerns and to safeguard the integrity of the scholarly record.

1) Publication Decisions

The Editor-in-Chief is responsible for deciding which submissions will be published. Decisions are based on originality, methodological rigor, clarity, relevance to the journal’s scope, and contribution to scholarship. Legal and ethical considerations (e.g., libel, copyright, plagiarism, research ethics) may also affect decisions.

2) Fair and Objective Evaluation

Manuscripts are evaluated on academic merit without discrimination based on race, gender, religion, ethnic origin, citizenship, political philosophy, or institutional affiliation.

3) Confidentiality

Submitted manuscripts are treated as confidential documents. Editors and editorial staff must not disclose information about a manuscript beyond those directly involved in editorial handling (authors, reviewers, potential reviewers, and the publisher as appropriate).

4) Conflicts of Interest

Unpublished materials disclosed in a submitted manuscript must not be used by editors or editorial staff for personal research without the author’s explicit written consent. Editors should manage potential conflicts of interest transparently and recuse themselves where necessary.

1) Contribution to Editorial Decisions

Peer review supports editorial decisions and helps authors improve manuscripts through constructive, evidence-based feedback.

2) Promptness

Reviewers who feel unqualified or unable to complete a review on time should inform the editor promptly and decline the invitation.

3) Confidentiality

Manuscripts received for review must be treated as confidential and must not be shared or discussed with others unless authorized by the editor.

4) Objectivity

Reviews must be objective, respectful, and supported by clear reasoning. Personal criticism of authors is inappropriate.

5) Acknowledgment of Sources

Reviewers should identify relevant work that has not been cited and should alert the editor to substantial similarity or overlap with other publications.

6) Conflicts of Interest

Reviewers must declare conflicts of interest and avoid reviewing manuscripts where conflicts arise from competitive, collaborative, financial, or personal relationships with authors, institutions, or organizations connected to the work.

1) Reporting Standards

Authors must provide an accurate, objective account of the work. Data and methods must be reported transparently with sufficient detail to support evaluation and, where appropriate, replication. Fabrication, falsification, or misrepresentation is unethical and unacceptable.

2) Data Access and Retention

Authors may be asked to provide supporting data for editorial review. Authors should retain data for a reasonable period after publication and, where feasible, share data in line with ethical, legal, and privacy constraints.

3) Originality and Plagiarism

Authors must ensure originality. Where others’ work is used, it must be properly cited and, where required, quoted. All forms of plagiarism are unacceptable.

4) Multiple or Redundant Publication

Submitting the same manuscript to more than one journal simultaneously is unethical. Authors should not publish substantially similar work in multiple venues without transparent disclosure and appropriate citation.

5) Acknowledgment of Sources

Authors must acknowledge all sources that influenced the work and must cite relevant literature accurately and appropriately.

6) Authorship

Authorship should be limited to those who made significant contributions to conception/design, execution, data collection, analysis, or interpretation. All contributors meeting authorship criteria must be listed. The corresponding author must ensure all co-authors approve the final manuscript and agree to submission.

7) Disclosure and Conflicts of Interest

All authors must disclose financial or non-financial conflicts of interest that could influence the work, as well as funding sources and relevant affiliations.

8) Fundamental Errors in Published Works

If a significant error or inaccuracy is discovered after publication, authors must promptly notify the editor and cooperate with the journal to correct or retract the work as appropriate.