Publication Ethics and Publication Malpractice Statement
Journal of Psychological Science adheres to the highest standards of publication ethics. Our publication practices are based on the principles established by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE). This statement outlines our policies on publication ethics, misconduct, and the steps taken to address any concerns related to malpractice in the publication process.
Editors are responsible for the content of the journal and must ensure that all manuscripts submitted to Psychological Science are evaluated fairly and objectively. The following principles guide the editorial process:
· Fairness: Editors must evaluate manuscripts solely on their intellectual merit, without regard to the authors' race, gender, religious beliefs, ethnic origin, citizenship, or political philosophy.
· Confidentiality: Editors must not disclose any information about a manuscript or its submission process to anyone other than the corresponding author, reviewers, and other editorial staff.
· Transparency: Any conflicts of interest affecting editors or reviewers must be disclosed. Editors must recuse themselves from handling manuscripts where they have conflicts of interest.
Reviewers are essential to the quality control process. They are responsible for providing unbiased, constructive feedback to help editors make informed decisions. The key responsibilities of reviewers are:
· Confidentiality: Reviewers must treat all manuscripts as confidential documents and not share them with others unless authorized.
· Objectivity: Reviews should be based on the manuscript's quality and relevance to the field, avoiding personal bias or conflicts of interest.
· Constructive Feedback: Reviewers are expected to provide clear, evidence-based feedback that will assist authors in improving their work.
· Disclosure of Conflicts of Interest: If a reviewer has a conflict of interest regarding the manuscript, they must notify the editor and recuse themselves from the review process.
Authors are expected to adhere to the highest standards of research and publication ethics. Their responsibilities include:
· Originality: Manuscripts must be original and should not have been published or under consideration for publication elsewhere.
· Accurate Citation: Authors must accurately cite all sources and ensure that the research is properly referenced. Plagiarism or self-plagiarism will not be tolerated.
· Authorship: Only individuals who have made substantial contributions to the research should be listed as authors. All co-authors must approve the final manuscript.
· Data Integrity: Authors must ensure that data presented in the manuscript are accurate and that all results are reported honestly. Fabrication, falsification, or selective reporting of data is strictly prohibited.
· Conflict of Interest: Authors must disclose any potential conflicts of interest that could influence the research or its interpretation.
· Ethical Approval: Research involving human participants or animals must have received appropriate ethical approval from an institutional review board or equivalent body.
Journal of Psychological Science takes instances of research misconduct seriously and follows COPE guidelines in addressing such issues. This includes:
· Plagiarism: Any form of plagiarism, including duplicate publication, self-plagiarism, and the use of others' ideas or words without proper attribution, will result in rejection of the manuscript and may lead to further actions.
· Fabrication and Falsification: Any manipulation or alteration of research data, whether intentional or unintentional, will be considered serious misconduct. This may include manipulating images or misreporting data.
· Duplicate Publication: Manuscripts that have been submitted or published in another journal will not be considered unless clearly stated and with proper permission.
· Redundant Publication: Authors must not submit manuscripts that are substantially the same as previously published work without disclosure and proper citation.
· Inappropriate Authorship: The authorship of a manuscript must reflect those who have made substantial contributions to the research. Authors must avoid “ghost authorship” or “guest authorship.”
If an allegation of misconduct arises, we will follow COPE's flowchart to investigate the issue and take appropriate corrective action, which may include retraction, correction, or other measures depending on the severity of the situation.
Journal of Psychological Science aims to maintain the integrity of the scientific record. In cases where a published article is found to contain significant errors, or if misconduct is identified, the following steps will be taken:
· Retraction: If a manuscript is found to have serious ethical violations, including plagiarism, data fabrication, or falsification, a retraction will be issued. The article will be removed from the journal's website, and a retraction notice will be published.
· Correction: If minor errors or inaccuracies are identified after publication, we will publish a correction notice to clarify or amend the content of the article.
Authors, reviewers, and other stakeholders are encouraged to raise concerns regarding publication ethics directly with the editorial office. Any complaints related to editorial decisions, publication practices, or ethical concerns will be investigated thoroughly. If an individual disagrees with the editorial decision, they have the right to appeal, and the case will be reviewed by a senior editor or an independent committee.
We are committed to upholding ethical standards in publishing and maintaining the integrity of scientific research. By adhering to these ethical guidelines, Psychological Science aims to foster an environment of trust, transparency, and accountability in the research community.