3.Publication Ethics Policy

Objective: Uphold the highest standards of research integrity.

3.1 Preface

The International Journal of Business and Social Dynamics (IJBSD) is committed to upholding the highest standards of ethical conduct in scholarly publishing. Publication ethics are essential for:

  • Maintaining the integrity of academic work
  • Fostering trust in research
  • Ensuring the credibility of authorship
  • Protecting the public record of knowledge

This policy outlines the responsibilities and ethical principles expected of all participants in the publishing process authors, reviewers, editors, editorial board members, and the publisher and aligns with COPE Core Practices, Open Access principles, HEC, DOAJ.

3.2 Principles of Ethical Publishing

IJBSD supports ethical publishing based on these core principles:

  • Honesty in research and reporting
  • Transparency in authorship, contributions, and conflicts of interest
  • Integrity in the peer review process
  • Accountability for corrections, retractions, and clarifications
  • Respect for intellectual property, data privacy, and publication norms
  • Fairness and equality in editorial decisions, irrespective of race, gender, nationality, or institutional affiliation

3.3 Responsibilities of Authors

3.3.1 Originality and Plagiarism

  • All submitted work must be original and free from plagiarism
  • Proper citations and references must be provided for all sources, including paraphrased content
  • Self-plagiarism must be identified and justified
  • Manuscripts are screened with plagiarism detection tools (Turnitin)

3.3.2 Authorship and Contributions

  • Only individuals with substantial contributions are listed as authors
  • Authors must:
    • Contribute to conception, design, execution, or interpretation
    • Approve the final version
    • Accept accountability for all aspects of the work

3.3.3 Data Accuracy and Availability

  • Authors must present accurate, verifiable data and methods
  • Fabrication, falsification, or selective reporting is prohibited
  • Raw data should be retained and may be requested during review

3.3.4 Redundant or Duplicate Publication

  • Manuscripts must not be under review elsewhere
  • Any overlapping content must be disclosed with proper citation

3.3.5 Acknowledgment of Sources and Funding

  • All funding, institutional support, and prior research must be acknowledged
  • Contributions from non-authors should be listed in acknowledgments

3.3.6 Conflicts of Interest

  • Authors must declare financial, institutional, or personal conflicts
  • Formal disclosure is required at submission

3.4 Responsibilities of Editors and Editorial Board

3.4.1 Editorial Independence

  • Decisions are based on academic merit, not personal or commercial interests
  • Editorial independence from advertising or sponsorship is maintained

3.4.2 Confidentiality

  • Manuscripts and reviewer identities are confidential
  • Information is shared only with the corresponding author, reviewers, and journal staff

3.4.3 Fair and Impartial Decision-Making

  • Submissions receive unbiased, rigorous, and timely review
  • Discrimination based on gender, ethnicity, nationality, or affiliation is strictly prohibited

3.4.4 Handling of Misconduct

  • Suspected plagiarism, fabrication, duplicate publication, or unethical behavior is investigated thoroughly
  • Corrections or retractions are issued following COPE guidelines

3.5 Responsibilities of Peer Reviewers

3.5.1 Confidentiality

  • Manuscripts are treated as confidential documents
  • Reviewers may not share or use the material for personal advantage

3.5.2 Objectivity

  • Reviews must be constructive, objective, and respectful
  • Personal criticism of authors is prohibited

3.5.3 Timeliness

  • Reviewers must respond promptly and complete reviews within timelines
  • If unable to review, notify the editor immediately

3.5.4 Disclosure of Conflicts

  • Any conflicts of interest must be disclosed to maintain objectivity

3.6 Ethical Issues in the Publication Lifecycle

3.6.1 Plagiarism and Misconduct

  • IJBSD has a zero-tolerance approach to plagiarism, fabrication, or other misconduct
  • Possible actions include:
    • Rejection of manuscript
    • Retraction of published article
    • Notification to the author’s institution or funder
    • Blacklisting in severe cases

3.6.2 Retractions and Corrections

  • Serious errors or misconduct result in retractions
  • Minor errors result in corrections or errata linked to the original article

3.6.3 Complaints and Appeals

  • Authors may appeal decisions with reasoned arguments
  • Complaints are handled per COPE guidelines

3.7 Human Subjects and Ethical Approval

  • Research involving human participants must:
    • Have Ethics Committee/IRB approval
    • Obtain informed consent
    • Ensure confidentiality and data protection

3.8 Intellectual Property and Copyright

  • All included content (tables, figures, images) must be original or used with permission
  • Copyrighted material must comply with IJBSD Copyright & Licensing Policy

3.9 Conflicts of Interest and Financial Disclosures

  • All participants (authors, editors, reviewers) must declare real or perceived conflicts
  • Includes:
    • Financial ties, employment, consultancies, grants, or personal relationships
  • COI statements are published with relevant articles

3.10 Data Transparency and Sharing

  • Authors are encouraged to:
    • Deposit datasets in public repositories following FAIR principles
    • Provide replication codes or supplementary material
    • State any limitations on data sharing for privacy or legal reasons

3.11 Post-Publication Responsibilities

3.11.1 Sharing and Reuse

  • Authors may:
    • Deposit final published articles in repositories
    • Use work in teaching, presentations, or academic networks
    • Respect copyright and licensing terms

3.11.2 Post-Publication Critique

  • Readers may submit critiques or letters to the editor
  • Authors may respond respectfully and with evidence

3.12 Responsibilities of the Publisher

  • Maintain digital archiving and access systems
  • Ensure transparency in fees, licensing, and policies
  • Support editorial independence
  • Enforce legal and ethical compliance for misconduct

3.13 Compliance with International Standards

  • Aligned with COPE Core Practices and Open Access principles
  • Provides global benchmarks for ethical publishing, dispute resolution, and misconduct handling