International Journal of Social Sciences and Management Research (IJSSMR) is committed to maintaining the highest standards of ethical behavior in all aspects of publishing. This policy is based on the COPE (Committee on Publication Ethics) guidelines and aims to ensure the integrity and quality of scholarly content published in the journal.
Ethical Oversight:
The editorial board, including the Editor-in-Chief and Managing Editors, oversees the ethical standards and ensures that all publications adhere to the principles of academic integrity, transparency, and fairness. The journal strives to provide an open, unbiased, and transparent process for authors, reviewers, and editors.
Author Responsibilities:
Originality and Plagiarism: Authors must ensure that their work is original and free from plagiarism. Proper citation of previous works and acknowledgment of others’ contributions is required. Self-plagiarism is also prohibited.
Accuracy and Honesty: Authors should provide accurate representations of their research findings. Fabrication, falsification of data, or manipulation of results will not be tolerated.
Disclosure of Conflicts of Interest: Authors are required to disclose any financial, personal, or professional conflicts of interest that may influence the content of the manuscript.
Ethical Approval: Authors must ensure that their research adheres to ethical guidelines, including obtaining approval from relevant ethical committees for studies involving human or animal subjects.
Peer Review Process:
Double-Blind Review: Manuscripts are subjected to a double-blind peer review process, where both authors and reviewers remain anonymous to ensure impartiality and objectivity.
Reviewer Responsibilities: Reviewers must provide constructive feedback and evaluate manuscripts based on their scientific quality, originality, and relevance to the journal’s scope. Reviewers are prohibited from using the content of a manuscript before its publication for personal gain or to harm the author’s work.
Confidentiality: Reviewers are required to treat all manuscripts as confidential. They should not share, discuss, or use the contents of manuscripts under review for any purpose other than for evaluating the manuscript.
Editorial Responsibilities:
Fairness and Impartiality: Editors must ensure that all manuscripts are reviewed based on their academic merit and relevance to the field, without any bias related to the author’s identity, nationality, institutional affiliation, or personal relationships.
Timely and Transparent Decision-Making: Editors are committed to making timely decisions on manuscripts and providing authors with clear, constructive feedback based on the peer review process.
Conflict of Interest: Editors must recuse themselves from handling manuscripts in which they have a conflict of interest. A conflict of interest exists when editors have financial, personal, or professional interests that may influence their judgment.
Handling of Research Misconduct:
Investigation of Misconduct: In cases of suspected misconduct, including plagiarism, falsification of data, or unethical research practices, the journal will conduct a thorough investigation in collaboration with the involved authors, reviewers, and relevant institutions.
Sanctions for Misconduct: If misconduct is confirmed, appropriate actions will be taken, including retraction of the article, formal apologies, or reporting the matter to the author’s institution or relevant academic bodies.
Copyright and Licensing:
Copyright Transfer: Authors must agree to transfer the copyright of their published work to the journal, or, where applicable, grant the journal a license to publish. Authors retain the right to use their work for non-commercial purposes, provided proper attribution is given to the original publication in IJSSMR.
Open Access: IJSSMR is an open-access journal, meaning that all published articles are freely accessible online. Authors are encouraged to share their work with the global research community, promoting wider dissemination and impact.
Retraction and Correction:
Retraction of Articles: In cases where articles are found to have significant ethical issues (e.g., falsification of data, plagiarism), the journal will issue a retraction. A retraction notice will be published alongside the article, explaining the reason for the retraction.
Corrections: Minor errors, such as typographical mistakes, can be corrected via errata. Major errors that affect the scientific integrity of the article will be corrected through a formal corrigendum.
Ethical Considerations in Research and Publishing:
IJSSMR upholds ethical practices in all aspects of research and publishing, including the responsible conduct of research, authorship, peer review, and editorial practices. The journal encourages authors, reviewers, and editors to adhere to the highest standards of honesty, transparency, and accountability.
