Publication Ethics

The Social and Management Sciences Research Journal (SMSRJ) is committed to maintaining the highest ethical standards in publishing. This Publication Ethics Policy outlines the principles and practices followed by the journal’s editorial team, reviewers, and authors to ensure transparency, integrity, and the quality of published research.

1. Ethical Responsibilities of Authors:

• Originality: Authors must ensure that the work submitted to SMSRJ is original and has not been published or under consideration elsewhere. Any use of third-party material, including text, data, or figures, must be properly cited and acknowledged.

• Accurate Data: Authors are responsible for the accuracy and integrity of the data presented in their research. Manipulation or falsification of data is strictly prohibited, and all research should be conducted honestly and transparently.

• Authorship: Only those who have made significant intellectual contributions to the research should be listed as authors. All individuals who contributed to the research must be properly acknowledged in the author list. Authors should also disclose any financial or non-financial interests that might influence the research.

• Conflict of Interest: Authors must disclose any potential conflicts of interest that could influence their research. This includes financial, professional, or personal relationships that might affect the objectivity of the study.

• Human and Animal Rights: Authors must ensure that their research involving humans or animals adheres to ethical guidelines. The research should have received proper ethical approval from relevant institutions or committees, and informed consent must be obtained from participants where applicable.

• Plagiarism and Self-Plagiarism: Authors must avoid plagiarism and self-plagiarism. Proper citations must be provided for all sources used. Recycling one’s own previous work without proper citation is also considered unethical.

• Disclosure of Errors: If significant errors or inaccuracies are discovered in the manuscript after submission or publication, authors are responsible for promptly informing the journal and working with the editorial team to correct the issue, which may include issuing corrections or retractions.

2. Ethical Responsibilities of Reviewers:

• Confidentiality: Reviewers must treat all submitted manuscripts as confidential. Information regarding the manuscript should not be disclosed to anyone else without the permission of the editor.

• Impartiality: Reviewers should evaluate manuscripts objectively, based on scientific merit and relevance to the field, without bias towards the author’s identity, affiliation, nationality, or personal beliefs. Reviews should be based solely on the content of the manuscript.

• Conflict of Interest: Reviewers must disclose any conflicts of interest that could influence their judgment during the review process. If a reviewer feels they are not suitable to review a manuscript due to personal or professional conflicts, they should decline the review.

• Constructive Feedback: Reviewers should provide constructive feedback to authors, focusing on improving the manuscript. Criticism should be framed in a helpful manner and aimed at enhancing the quality of the work.

• Timeliness: Reviewers must adhere to the deadlines provided by the editorial team. If reviewers are unable to provide timely feedback, they should notify the editorial office as early as possible.

3. Ethical Responsibilities of Editors:

• Fair Evaluation: Editors are responsible for making fair and unbiased decisions regarding the acceptance or rejection of manuscripts. Manuscripts should be evaluated based on their scientific merit, originality, and relevance to the scope of the journal, without discrimination.

• Confidentiality: Editors must ensure that all manuscripts are handled confidentially and that no information about submitted manuscripts is disclosed to unauthorized individuals, including the identities of reviewers or authors, unless required for the publication process.

• Conflict of Interest: Editors must disclose any potential conflicts of interest related to the manuscript they are handling. If an editor has a conflict of interest with a manuscript, they should recuse themselves from the decision-making process and assign the manuscript to another editor.

• Ensuring Transparency: Editors should ensure that the review and publication processes are transparent. This includes clear communication with authors and reviewers, and providing feedback in a constructive and timely manner.

• Promoting Ethical Publishing: Editors must promote adherence to ethical publishing standards and take appropriate action in cases of ethical misconduct, including plagiarism, research fraud, or unethical behavior by authors or reviewers.

4. Ethical Responsibilities of the Publisher:

• Supporting Academic Integrity: The publisher is committed to supporting the journal's editorial board in upholding the highest standards of academic integrity. This includes ensuring that the peer review process is fair, transparent, and impartial.

• Copyright and Licensing: The publisher ensures that proper copyright procedures are followed and that all authors’ rights are respected. The journal operates under an open access policy, and authors retain copyright for their work while granting the publisher the right to publish.

• Retraction and Correction: The publisher is responsible for handling retractions and corrections. If a published article is found to contain errors, the publisher will work with the editorial team and authors to issue corrections or retractions as necessary. In cases of research misconduct, the publisher will take appropriate steps to address the issue, including retracting the article if necessary.

• Protection of Personal Data: The publisher ensures compliance with data protection regulations and ensures the confidentiality of authors, reviewers, and editors' personal data during the submission, review, and publication processes.

5. Handling of Complaints:
SMSRJ has a clear procedure for handling complaints related to unethical practices. Authors, reviewers, or any other stakeholders may submit complaints regarding ethical misconduct, including plagiarism, conflicts of interest, or breaches of academic integrity. These complaints will be handled by the editorial board, and necessary actions will be taken to resolve the issues. If the issue involves serious misconduct, the article may be retracted, and the author may face sanctions.

6. Commitment to Continuous Improvement:
SMSRJ is committed to continuously improving its publication ethics and ensuring that the journal adheres to the best practices in academic publishing. The journal regularly reviews and updates its publication ethics policies to align with evolving standards in academic publishing and research integrity.