Ethics and Malpractice

The publication of Journal of Communities Issues (JoCI) involves conscientious, systematic, and comprehensive processes by publishers and editors that require efficient and professional management. To maintain high ethical standards in publishing quality scientific works, the publisher works closely with editors, authors, and peer reviewers at all stages of publication. The ethics statement of JoCI refers to the guidelines established by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) available at COPE – Committee on Publication Ethics.

The essential principles of publication ethics in JoCI apply to all parties involved in the publication process, including authors, editors, reviewers, publishers, and academic institutions.

Ethical Guidelines for Journal Publication

The publication of articles in a peer-reviewed journal such as JoCI is an important contribution to the development of a credible and respected body of scientific knowledge. Published articles reflect the quality of research conducted by authors and their supporting institutions. Peer-reviewed publications also uphold and embody the scientific method.

Therefore, it is essential to establish ethical standards for all parties involved in the publication process, including authors, journal editors, reviewers, publishers, and institutions. JoCI is committed to maintaining integrity, transparency, and academic quality throughout the publication process. Editorial decisions are made independently and are not influenced by commercial interests, advertising, sponsorship, or other external factors.

The Editorial Board is committed to supporting ethical communication and cooperation with other journals or publishers whenever necessary to maintain scientific integrity.

Allegations of Research Misconduct

Research misconduct includes fabrication, falsification, citation manipulation, and plagiarism in conducting, reporting, or reviewing research and scientific articles. Editors have a responsibility to ensure the integrity and accuracy of the scientific record.

In cases of suspected misconduct, the Editors and Editorial Board will follow COPE best-practice guidelines to investigate and resolve complaints fairly and transparently. Manuscripts found to contain unethical practices will be rejected. If misconduct is identified after publication, the journal may issue corrections, retractions, or other necessary notices linked to the original article.

The investigation process includes:

  • Assessing the validity and relevance of allegations.
  • Requesting clarification and responses from corresponding authors.
  • Conducting additional evaluations involving experts if necessary.
  • Publishing corrections or retractions when required.

Institutions affiliated with the authors are expected to conduct thorough investigations when scientific misconduct is suspected. JoCI remains committed to safeguarding the validity and integrity of scholarly publications.

Publication Decisions

The Editor-in-Chief and Editorial Board of JoCI are responsible for deciding which submitted articles should be published. Editorial decisions are based on:

  • Originality and scientific contribution,
  • Relevance to the journal scope,
  • Methodological quality,
  • Clarity and academic significance.

Editors may consult reviewers or other editors in making publication decisions while complying with legal requirements regarding defamation, copyright infringement, and plagiarism.

Fair Play

Editors evaluate manuscripts solely based on academic merit without discrimination regarding race, gender, religion, nationality, citizenship, ethnicity, political orientation, or institutional affiliation of the authors.

Confidentiality

Editors and editorial staff must maintain the confidentiality of submitted manuscripts and must not disclose any information regarding manuscripts to anyone other than the corresponding author, reviewers, editorial advisers, and publisher as appropriate.

Disclosure and Conflict of Interest

Unpublished materials disclosed in submitted manuscripts must not be used by editors or reviewers for personal research without written permission from the author.

Duties of Reviewers

Contribution to Editorial Decisions

Peer review assists editors in making editorial decisions and helps authors improve the quality of their manuscripts through constructive feedback.

Promptness

Reviewers who feel unqualified to review a manuscript or unable to complete the review promptly should notify the editor and withdraw from the review process.

Confidentiality

Manuscripts received for review must be treated as confidential documents and should not be discussed with others without authorization from the editor.

Standards of Objectivity

Reviews should be conducted objectively and professionally. Personal criticism of authors is inappropriate. Reviewers should provide clear arguments and constructive recommendations.

Acknowledgement of Sources

Reviewers should identify relevant published works not cited by the authors and inform editors about any substantial similarity between the submitted manuscript and other published works.

Disclosure and Conflict of Interest

Reviewers must not use privileged information obtained during peer review for personal advantage and should avoid reviewing manuscripts where conflicts of interest exist.

Duties of Authors

Reporting Standards

Authors should present accurate and objective accounts of their research and provide sufficient detail to allow replication of the study. Fraudulent or intentionally inaccurate statements are unethical and unacceptable.

Originality and Plagiarism

Authors must ensure that submitted manuscripts are original works. Any use of others’ work, ideas, or words must be appropriately cited and referenced.

Multiple, Redundant, or Concurrent Publication

Authors should not submit the same manuscript to more than one journal simultaneously or publish substantially similar research in multiple journals.

Acknowledgement of Sources

Proper acknowledgement of the work of others must always be provided. Authors should cite all influential publications relevant to the submitted work.

Authorship of the Paper

Authorship should be limited to individuals who significantly contributed to the conception, design, execution, or interpretation of the study. All contributors who meet authorship criteria should be listed as co-authors.

The corresponding author must ensure that:

  • All eligible co-authors are included,
  • No inappropriate co-authors are listed,
  • All co-authors approve the final manuscript before submission.

Disclosure and Conflicts of Interest

Authors must disclose any financial or other conflicts of interest that could influence the interpretation of the research results. Sources of funding must also be clearly acknowledged.

Fundamental Errors in Published Works

If authors discover significant errors or inaccuracies in their published work, they must promptly notify the editor and cooperate in correcting or retracting the article when necessary.