Publication Ethics and Publication Malpractice Statement
International Journal of Education Technology and Scientific Researches (IJETSR)
The International Journal of Education Technology and Scientific Researches (IJETSR) is committed to upholding the highest standards of publication ethics and academic integrity. The journal strictly follows the ethical guidelines and best practices recommended by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and other internationally recognized standards. All individuals involved in the publication process, including authors, reviewers, editors, and editorial board members, are expected to adhere to these principles to ensure transparency, credibility, and the integrity of scholarly communication.
1. Ethical Principles
The journal is founded on the principles of honesty, transparency, and accountability in scholarly publishing. It aims to prevent all forms of unethical practices, including plagiarism, data fabrication, and falsification. The journal promotes a fair and unbiased peer review process while maintaining confidentiality and editorial independence throughout all stages of publication.
2. Responsibilities of Authors
Authors submitting manuscripts to IJETSR are required to ensure that their work is original, has not been published previously, and is not under consideration elsewhere. All sources of information must be properly cited, and any form of plagiarism, including self-plagiarism, is strictly prohibited. Authors must present their research findings accurately and transparently without fabrication, falsification, or inappropriate manipulation of data.
Authorship should be limited to individuals who have made significant contributions to the research, and all listed authors must approve the final version of the manuscript. Authors are also required to disclose any financial, institutional, or personal conflicts of interest that may influence their work.
For studies involving human participants, authors must provide evidence of ethical approval from an appropriate institutional review board or ethics committee and confirm that informed consent has been obtained. Additionally, authors must include a data availability statement indicating where supporting data can be accessed or provide a valid reason if the data cannot be shared.
If artificial intelligence tools are used during the preparation of the manuscript, authors must disclose their use, and such tools must not be listed as authors. In the event that a significant error is identified after publication, authors are obligated to promptly inform the journal and cooperate in issuing corrections or retractions if necessary.
3. Responsibilities of Reviewers
Reviewers play a critical role in maintaining the quality of published research and are expected to provide objective, constructive, and timely evaluations of submitted manuscripts. All manuscripts received for review must be treated as confidential documents and must not be shared or discussed with others without authorization from the editor.
Reviewers should conduct their assessments fairly and avoid personal criticism of authors. They are also expected to identify relevant published work that has not been cited and to inform the editor of any potential ethical concerns, including plagiarism or duplication. Reviewers must decline to review manuscripts if any conflicts of interest exist that could affect their impartiality.
4. Responsibilities of Editors
Editors are responsible for making publication decisions based solely on the academic merit, originality, clarity, and relevance of the submitted manuscripts. They must ensure a fair and unbiased double-blind peer review process and maintain the confidentiality of all submissions.
Editors must not use unpublished information from submitted manuscripts for their own research without the explicit consent of the authors. They are also responsible for addressing ethical issues and taking appropriate action in cases of suspected misconduct. Editorial decisions must remain independent and free from any external influence or discrimination.
5. Responsibilities of the Editorial Board
Members of the editorial board are expected to support the editorial process by providing expert guidance and maintaining high ethical standards. They must treat all manuscripts confidentially, disclose any conflicts of interest, and evaluate submissions based solely on academic merit and relevance to the journal’s scope.
6. Peer Review Policy
The journal follows a rigorous double-blind peer review process in which both the identities of authors and reviewers are concealed. Each manuscript is evaluated by at least two independent experts in the relevant field. Editorial decisions are made based on reviewer feedback, academic quality, and the contribution of the manuscript to the field.
7. Plagiarism Policy
All submitted manuscripts are screened using plagiarism detection software to ensure originality. Manuscripts with significant similarity, generally exceeding 15–20% excluding references, may be rejected. Any confirmed cases of plagiarism will result in immediate rejection or retraction, depending on the stage of publication.
8. Publication Malpractice
The journal strictly prohibits all forms of publication malpractice, including plagiarism, data fabrication, falsification, duplicate publication, improper authorship practices, and citation manipulation. Any detected misconduct will be handled seriously and may lead to rejection, retraction, or notification to the relevant institutions.
9. Handling of Ethical Misconduct
In cases of suspected ethical misconduct, the journal follows a structured process beginning with an initial assessment by the editorial team. The authors will be contacted to provide clarification, and the evidence will be reviewed carefully in consultation with reviewers and editorial board members. Based on the findings, appropriate actions will be taken, which may include rejection, correction, retraction, or notification to the authors’ institutions.
10. Retraction and Corrections Policy
If errors or ethical issues are identified after publication, the journal will take appropriate corrective actions. Minor errors may be addressed through corrections or errata, while serious ethical violations may result in retraction. All retraction notices will remain permanently accessible to ensure transparency.
11. Copyright and Licensing
Authors retain the copyright of their published work. All articles are distributed under a Creative Commons license, such as CC BY or CC BY-NC 4.0, which allows sharing and reuse of the content with proper attribution.
12. Human and Animal Rights
All research involving human participants or animals must comply with applicable institutional, national, and international ethical standards. Authors must ensure that all necessary approvals and consents have been obtained prior to submission.
13. Confidentiality
The journal maintains strict confidentiality throughout the submission and review process. Information regarding submitted manuscripts must not be disclosed to anyone other than the individuals directly involved in the editorial and review process.
14. Ethical Oversight
The journal is committed to continuous monitoring and improvement of its ethical standards. Policies are regularly reviewed and updated in accordance with COPE guidelines and evolving best practices in scholarly publishing.
