Research Integrity & Publication Ethics

Publication Ethics and Publication Malpractice Statement (COPE)

The International Journal of Human and Social Dynamics (IJHSD) is committed to maintaining high standards of publication ethics and scholarly integrity. The journal follows the principles and best practices established by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and expects authors, editors, reviewers, and the publisher to uphold integrity, transparency, accountability, fairness, and responsible scholarly conduct throughout the publication process.

Editorial Responsibilities

The editorial team of IJHSD is responsible for:

  • Maintaining the confidentiality of submitted manuscripts and author information.
  • Ensuring fair, impartial, and timely peer review.
  • Making editorial decisions independently and based on the scholarly quality, originality, relevance, and integrity of submitted work.
  • Identifying and managing potential conflicts of interest.
  • Protecting the integrity of the journal's peer-review and publication processes.
  • Investigating allegations of research or publication misconduct.
  • Issuing corrections, retractions, or expressions of concern when necessary to maintain the integrity of the scholarly record.

Author Responsibilities

Authors submitting manuscripts to IJHSD are expected to:

  • Submit original work that has not been published previously and is not under consideration by another journal.
  • Ensure that the manuscript accurately represents the research conducted and its findings.
  • Properly cite and acknowledge all sources, ideas, data, and materials used in the research.
  • Avoid plagiarism, self-plagiarism, fabrication, falsification, data manipulation, duplicate publication, and redundant publication.
  • Ensure that all individuals listed as authors have made substantial scholarly contributions to the work.
  • Obtain appropriate permission for the use of copyrighted material where required.
  • Disclose relevant financial, institutional, professional, or personal conflicts of interest.
  • Provide information regarding funding and other forms of research support where applicable.
  • Obtain appropriate ethical approval and informed consent for research involving human participants, personal information, interviews, surveys, or other sensitive materials, where required.
  • Cooperate with the editorial team in addressing questions concerning the accuracy, integrity, or ethical conduct of submitted or published research.

Reviewer Responsibilities

Reviewers are expected to:

  • Evaluate manuscripts objectively, fairly, and constructively.
  • Maintain strict confidentiality regarding manuscripts and unpublished information.
  • Provide clear and evidence-based comments that can assist authors in improving their work.
  • Identify relevant published research that has not been appropriately cited.
  • Notify the editors of any suspected plagiarism, duplicate publication, research misconduct, or other ethical concerns.
  • Decline a review assignment when a personal, professional, institutional, financial, or other conflict of interest could affect impartiality.
  • Complete reviews within the agreed timeframe or promptly inform the editorial office if additional time is required.

Publisher Responsibilities

The publisher of IJHSD supports editorial independence and works collaboratively with the editorial team to maintain responsible and ethical publishing practices. The publisher supports appropriate action when allegations of misconduct arise and encourages the application of recognized publication-ethics principles and COPE recommendations.

Research and Publication Misconduct

IJHSD considers the following to be serious forms of research or publication misconduct:

  • Plagiarism and substantial self-plagiarism
  • Duplicate or simultaneous submission
  • Duplicate or redundant publication
  • Fabrication or falsification of research data
  • Manipulation or inappropriate alteration of research materials or images
  • Citation manipulation
  • Authorship manipulation or inappropriate attribution
  • Undisclosed conflicts of interest
  • Misrepresentation of research findings
  • Failure to obtain required ethical approval or participant consent

Depending on the nature and seriousness of the concern, possible actions may include manuscript rejection, publication of a correction, expression of concern, article retraction, notification of the author's institution, or communication with relevant organizations or funding bodies where appropriate.

Conflict of Interest

Authors, reviewers, editors, and editorial board members should disclose any financial, professional, institutional, personal, or other relationships that could reasonably be perceived as influencing the research, review, or editorial decision-making process.

Editors will take appropriate measures to manage disclosed conflicts and preserve the impartiality of the editorial process.

Data Integrity and Reproducibility

Authors are responsible for maintaining appropriate records and, where applicable, original research data supporting their published work. Data and supporting materials should be made available upon reasonable request when necessary to verify research findings, subject to ethical, legal, privacy, confidentiality, and institutional restrictions.

Where appropriate, authors are encouraged to use recognized data repositories and provide access to supporting materials that can improve research transparency and reproducibility.

Corrections, Retractions, and Expressions of Concern

IJHSD is committed to maintaining the accuracy and integrity of the published scholarly record. When significant errors, inaccuracies, or ethical concerns are identified after publication, the journal may issue:

  • Corrections or amendments
  • Expressions of concern
  • Retractions
  • Editorial notes or other appropriate notices

Such actions will be considered based on the nature and significance of the issue and in accordance with recognized publication-ethics principles.

Appeals, Complaints, and Ethical Oversight

Authors may appeal an editorial decision by providing a clear explanation and relevant supporting evidence. Appeals will be considered according to the journal's editorial procedures and will be handled as fairly and transparently as possible.

Complaints concerning editorial decisions, peer review, authorship, research integrity, or publication ethics may be submitted to the journal's editorial office for appropriate consideration.

Research involving human participants, personal data, interviews, surveys, vulnerable populations, or other sensitive information must comply with applicable ethical standards and, where required, obtain approval from an appropriate institutional or research ethics committee.

Commitment to Ethical Publishing

The International Journal of Human and Social Dynamics (IJHSD) is committed to promoting responsible, transparent, and ethical scholarly communication in the human and social sciences. By submitting a manuscript to IJHSD, authors acknowledge their responsibility to comply with this publication ethics statement and with applicable ethical standards and principles established by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).

The journal reserves the right to take appropriate action whenever ethical or publication-related concerns are identified, both before and after publication.