Publication Ethics
Publication Ethics
The Sinergi International Journal of Education is deeply committed to maintaining the highest standards of publication ethics. Our Editorial Board vigorously upholds these principles and proactively works to prevent all forms of publication malpractice. We adhere strictly to the COPE Code of Conduct for Journal Editors, ensuring that all editors, authors, and reviewers follow ethical guidelines meticulously.
Key ethical principles include:
- Authorship Integrity:
- All listed authors must have made significant contributions to the work.
- Each author is expected to have participated sufficiently in the work to take public responsibility for appropriate portions of the content.
- The corresponding author ensures that all co-authors have reviewed and approved the final version of the manuscript.
- Ghost authorship and gift authorship are strictly prohibited.
- Disclosure and Transparency:
- Authors must declare any potential conflicts of interest, whether financial, personal, or professional.
- All sources of funding must be clearly stated in the manuscript.
- Any ethical approvals for research involving human subjects or animals must be disclosed.
- The use of any specialized software, data sets, or materials must be acknowledged.
- Confidentiality:
- All communications with the journal, including reviewer reports and editorial decisions, are to be treated as strictly confidential.
- Reviewers must not share or discuss the manuscript with colleagues or use the information for personal advantage.
- Editors must not disclose information about submitted manuscripts to anyone other than the authors and reviewers.
- Handling Disputes and Misconduct:
- We have a clear procedure for handling allegations of misconduct, following COPE guidelines.
- Authors are expected to resolve authorship disputes internally, but the journal reserves the right to withdraw manuscripts if conflicts persist.
- Plagiarism, data fabrication, and image manipulation are grounds for immediate rejection or retraction.
- Use of Artificial Intelligence:
- The use of AI tools in research or manuscript preparation must be transparently described in the methods section.
- AI cannot be listed as an author, as it cannot take responsibility for the content.
- Authors are responsible for the accuracy of AI-generated content and must thoroughly review and edit any AI-assisted text.
- Scientific Integrity:
- Authors are expected to present their results clearly, honestly, and without fabrication, falsification, or inappropriate data manipulation.
- Negative results should not be excluded when they are relevant to the research hypothesis.
- Authors should not fragment their research into multiple papers to increase publication count ("salami slicing").
- Error Correction and Retractions:
- Authors are obligated to promptly notify the journal and cooperate with editors if significant errors are discovered post-publication.
- The journal follows a clear policy for corrections, retractions, and expressions of concern.
- Ethical Review Process:
- Editors and reviewers are expected to declare any conflicts of interest that might influence their evaluation of the manuscript.
- Reviewers must provide objective, constructive, and timely feedback.
- Editors ensure a fair and unbiased peer review process, selecting reviewers with suitable expertise.
- Intellectual Property and Copyright:
- Authors must obtain permission to reproduce any previously published material and acknowledge the source.
- The journal respects intellectual property rights and expects authors to do the same.
- Ethical Research Practices:
- Research involving human subjects must comply with the Declaration of Helsinki and obtain appropriate informed consent.
- Animal research must adhere to institutional and national guidelines for the care and use of laboratory animals.
- Any research that could harm vulnerable groups or the environment must be justified and conducted with utmost care.
- Dual Submission and Redundant Publication:
- Authors must not submit the same manuscript to more than one journal simultaneously.
- Previously published work should not be submitted unless it is a substantial revision or extension of the original work.
- Peer Review Integrity:
- The journal employs a double-blind peer review process to ensure unbiased evaluation.
- Reviewers are selected based on their expertise and are expected to provide comprehensive, constructive feedback.
- Authors are encouraged to suggest potential reviewers but are also allowed to indicate individuals they prefer not to review their work, providing valid reasons.