Publication Ethics

Publication Ethics for "Research Journal for Social Affairs"

Introduction

"Research Journal for Social Affairs" (RJSA) is committed to the highest standards of ethical publishing and scholarly conduct. These guidelines are intended to ensure the integrity of the research published in the journal and to provide a transparent and fair environment for authors, reviewers, and editors.

Responsibilities of Authors

  • Originality and Authorship: Authors must ensure that their work is original and that all co-authors have significantly contributed to the research and manuscript. Plagiarism and self-plagiarism are strictly prohibited.
  • Reporting Standards: Authors must present their research accurately and objectively, avoiding any fabrication, falsification, or misleading statements. Data should be presented transparently and in sufficient detail to allow others to replicate the findings.
  • Authorship and Contributorship: Authorship should be based on substantial contributions to the conception, design, execution, and interpretation of the study. All contributors who meet authorship criteria should be listed as authors. Ghost authorship and honorary authorship are not allowed.
  • Conflict of Interest: Authors must disclose any potential conflicts of interest that could have influenced their research or the interpretation of their findings.
  • Data Availability and Sharing: Authors should be prepared to share their data upon reasonable request, in accordance with ethical and legal restrictions.
  • Ethical Approval: Authors must ensure that their research has been conducted in accordance with relevant ethical guidelines and regulations, and that appropriate ethical approval has been obtained where necessary.

Responsibilities of Reviewers

  • Confidentiality: Reviewers must treat the manuscript and any associated information as confidential. They should not discuss the manuscript with anyone outside the review process.
  • Objectivity and Fairness: Reviewers must provide fair and impartial feedback on the manuscript, based on its scientific merit and relevance to the journal. Personal opinions and biases should not influence the review.
  • Expertise and Qualifications: Reviewers should only agree to review manuscripts within their area of expertise.
  • Timeliness: Reviewers should complete their reviews within the agreed timeframe.

Responsibilities of Editors

  • Fairness and Editorial Decisions: Editors must make editorial decisions based solely on the scientific merit of the manuscript and the journal's policies. Personal opinions, biases, and commercial considerations should not influence the decision-making process.
  • Conflict of Interest: Editors must declare any potential conflicts of interest that could influence their editorial decisions.
  • Manuscript Handling: Editors must ensure that manuscripts are handled fairly and efficiently, following the journal's established procedures.
  • Retraction and Correction: Editors have a responsibility to retract articles that are found to be fraudulent or contain serious errors. They should also publish corrections if necessary.

Additional Considerations

  • RJSA adheres to the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) guidelines on publication ethics. Authors, reviewers, and editors are encouraged to familiarize themselves with these guidelines.
  • RJSA reserves the right to investigate any allegations of misconduct and to take appropriate action, including retraction of articles.
  • RJSA is committed to promoting transparency and open access. Authors are encouraged to make their research data and other relevant materials publicly available.