Ethical Guidelines and Publication Policy
The ethical standards of Journal of Educational and Psychological Research (JEPR) are aligned with the principles outlined by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and adhere to the codes of conduct established by the journal’s editorial board. All parties involved—readers, authors, reviewers, and editors—are expected to comply with these ethical guidelines when engaging with JEPR. The journal’s ethical policy also serves as the basis for determining the suitability of submitted research papers or articles for publication. For further details on ethical publishing practices, please refer to http://publicationethics.org/.
Responsibilities of Editors
1. Publication Decisions
The editor holds the responsibility of determining which submitted manuscripts will be published. Decisions are made based on the manuscript’s significance, originality, clarity, and relevance to the journal’s scope. The evaluation process is conducted impartially, without consideration of the authors’ race, gender, sexual orientation, religious beliefs, ethnic origin, citizenship, or political views. Legal standards related to libel, copyright infringement, and plagiarism are also taken into account.
2. Confidentiality
Editors and editorial staff are required to maintain strict confidentiality regarding submitted manuscripts. Information about a manuscript may only be shared with the corresponding author, reviewers, potential reviewers, editorial advisors, and the publisher, as necessary.
3. Disclosure and Conflicts of Interest
Unpublished materials from submitted manuscripts must not be used by editors or editorial board members for their own research without the explicit written consent of the author(s).
Responsibilities of Reviewers
1. Contribution to Editorial Decisions
The peer-review process aids editors in making informed decisions and provides authors with constructive feedback to improve their work.
2. Timeliness
Reviewers who feel unqualified to evaluate a manuscript or anticipate delays in completing the review should promptly notify the editor and withdraw from the process.
3. Confidentiality
Manuscripts under review must be treated as confidential documents. They should not be shared or discussed with others unless authorized by the editor.
4. Objectivity
Reviews should be conducted objectively, with constructive feedback supported by evidence. Personal criticism of the author(s) is inappropriate.
5. Acknowledgment of Sources
Reviewers should identify any relevant published works that have not been cited in the manuscript. They should also alert the editor to any substantial overlap or similarity between the manuscript under review and other published works.
6. Disclosure and Conflicts of Interest
Reviewers must not use privileged information obtained during the review process for personal gain. They should decline to review manuscripts where conflicts of interest exist due to competitive, collaborative, or other relationships with the authors, institutions, or organizations involved.
Responsibilities of Authors
1. Reporting Standards
Authors must provide an accurate and objective account of their research, including sufficient detail to allow others to replicate the study. Fraudulent or knowingly inaccurate statements are unethical and unacceptable.
2. Data Access and Retention
Authors may be required to provide raw data for editorial review and should ensure that such data is accessible to other professionals for at least ten years after publication, provided confidentiality and legal rights are not compromised.
3. Originality and Plagiarism
Authors must ensure that their work is entirely original. Proper citation or quotation is required for any content derived from the work of others.
4. Multiple or Concurrent Publication
Submitting the same manuscript to multiple journals is unethical. Manuscripts previously published as copyrighted material cannot be submitted. Authors retain the rights to their work and agree to its use under a CC-BY license upon publication, allowing others to share, adapt, and use the work commercially.
5. Acknowledgment of Sources
Authors must properly acknowledge the work of others that has influenced their research.
6. Authorship
Authorship should be limited to individuals who have made significant contributions to the research. The corresponding author must ensure that all co-authors have approved the final version of the manuscript and agree to its submission.
7. Disclosure and Conflicts of Interest
Authors must disclose any financial or other conflicts of interest that could influence the research or its interpretation. All sources of funding should be declared.
8. Fundamental Errors in Published Works
Authors are obligated to promptly notify the journal of any significant errors or inaccuracies in their published work and cooperate with the editor to correct or retract the paper.
Responsibilities of the Publisher
1. Handling Unethical Behavior
In cases of scientific misconduct, fraudulent publication, or plagiarism, the publisher, in collaboration with the editors, will take appropriate measures to address the issue. This may include publishing an erratum, clarification, or retraction of the affected work. The publisher is committed to preventing unethical practices and ensuring the integrity of published research.
2. Access to Journal Content
The publisher is dedicated to the long-term preservation and accessibility of scholarly research. This is achieved through partnerships with archival organizations and the maintenance of a digital archive.
