Publication Ethics

The Journal of Social Sciences, Humanities and Innovation (JSSHI) is committed to maintaining the highest standards of ethics in all aspects of the publication process. The journal abides by ethical guidelines for authors, reviewers, editors, and publishers to ensure the integrity, transparency, and academic rigor of its published content. The following principles guide the publication ethics at JSSHI:

1. Ethical Responsibilities of Authors:

  • Originality and Plagiarism: Authors must ensure that their submissions are original and have not been previously published or under consideration elsewhere. Any use of previously published work or third-party content must be properly cited. Plagiarism, in any form, is strictly prohibited.

  • Authorship: Authors should be accurately credited for their contributions to the research. Only those who have made substantial contributions to the study should be listed as authors. All authors must approve the final manuscript and agree to its submission to JSSHI.

  • Conflict of Interest: Authors must disclose any potential conflicts of interest that could influence the research, such as financial interests, personal relationships, or professional affiliations.

  • Data Integrity: Authors must ensure the accuracy and integrity of data presented in their manuscript. Fabrication, falsification, or manipulation of data is prohibited.

  • Research Ethics: Authors must adhere to ethical standards in conducting research, including obtaining informed consent for studies involving human participants and animals. Ethical approval must be obtained from relevant ethics committees where applicable.

  • Acknowledgment of Sources: All sources of data, ideas, and materials that are not original to the author must be properly acknowledged. This includes citing publications, data sets, software, and contributions from others.

  • Corrections and Retractions: If authors become aware of significant errors or inaccuracies in their published work, they must promptly inform the editorial team and work with the journal to correct or retract the article.

2. Ethical Responsibilities of Reviewers:

  • Confidentiality: Reviewers must maintain the confidentiality of the manuscript and not share or discuss its content with others during the review process.

  • Fairness and Objectivity: Reviewers are expected to evaluate manuscripts objectively, based on scientific merit, contribution to the field, and clarity of presentation. Personal biases, conflicts of interest, or relationships should not influence the review.

  • Timeliness: Reviewers should conduct the review in a timely manner and adhere to the deadlines set by the editorial team. If a reviewer is unable to complete the review on time or has a conflict of interest, they should notify the editor promptly.

  • Ethical Issues: Reviewers must report any ethical issues or suspicions of misconduct, such as plagiarism or unethical research practices, to the editorial team.

  • Constructive Feedback: Reviewers should provide constructive feedback that helps authors improve the quality of their work. Criticism should be respectful, professional, and focused on the manuscript's content.

3. Ethical Responsibilities of Editors:

  • Editorial Independence: Editors must make decisions based on the merit of the manuscript, without interference from any external influence, including financial or personal considerations.

  • Confidentiality: Editors must ensure the confidentiality of submitted manuscripts. Manuscripts should not be disclosed to others without the consent of the authors.

  • Decision Making: Editors are responsible for selecting manuscripts for publication based on the peer review feedback, academic quality, originality, and relevance to the journal’s scope.

  • Fairness: Editors should ensure that the review process is fair and unbiased. Manuscripts should be evaluated based on their scholarly merit, not on the gender, race, ethnicity, or institutional affiliation of the authors.

  • Disclosure of Conflicts of Interest: Editors must disclose any potential conflicts of interest and recuse themselves from handling manuscripts where they have a conflict.

  • Transparency: Editors should be transparent in their decisions, providing authors with clear explanations for manuscript acceptance, rejection, or revisions.

  • Handling Ethical Issues: Editors must address any ethical issues that arise during the review and publication process, such as allegations of misconduct or conflicts of interest, in line with COPE guidelines.

  • Corrections and Retractions: Editors must ensure that corrections or retractions are made in a timely manner if errors or ethical violations are identified post-publication.

4. Ethical Responsibilities of Publishers:

  • Transparency: The publisher must ensure transparency in all journal operations, including editorial and review processes, and make information about the journal’s policies readily available to authors, reviewers, and readers.

  • Compliance with Ethical Standards: The publisher must ensure that the journal follows ethical guidelines and supports the editorial team in upholding these standards.

  • Access to Content: The publisher ensures open access to journal content, promoting dissemination of knowledge and enabling readers to access all articles without financial barriers.

  • Data Protection: The publisher ensures that all data related to authors, reviewers, and readers is handled in accordance with data protection laws and privacy regulations.

  • Archiving: The publisher commits to the long-term preservation of published content to ensure that it remains accessible and retrievable for future reference.

5. Handling Ethical Violations:

  • Investigation of Misconduct: Any allegations of research misconduct, such as plagiarism, falsification of data, or unethical research practices, will be thoroughly investigated. If necessary, JSSHI will consult with the relevant institutions or authorities to resolve the issue.

  • Retraction and Correction: If ethical violations are identified after publication, JSSHI will issue a retraction or correction, and the reasons for such actions will be clearly explained in the public notice.

  • Whistleblowing: JSSHI encourages authors, reviewers, and editors to report any ethical violations they observe during the publication process. Reports will be handled confidentially, and no retaliation will occur for whistleblowing in good faith.

6. Commitment to Ethical Publishing:

  • JSSHI is committed to maintaining the highest ethical standards throughout the entire publication process. By adhering to these publication ethics, the journal aims to foster a scholarly environment of trust, transparency, and integrity, ensuring that all published content meets rigorous academic and ethical criteria.