Publication Ethics and Malpractice Statement

The International Journal of Educational Contemporary Explorations (IJECE) is committed to upholding the highest standards of ethical conduct in all stages of scholarly publishing. The journal follows the principles and guidelines set by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and expects authors, reviewers, and editors to adhere to established international standards of integrity, transparency, and responsibility.

This statement outlines the ethical obligations and malpractice policies observed by IJECE.

  1. Responsibilities of Authors
    1.1 Originality and Integrity

Authors must ensure that their submissions are entirely original and that any use of the work or ideas of others is properly cited. Manuscripts containing plagiarism, falsified data, fabricated results, or unethical research practices are rejected outright.

1.2 Multiple or Redundant Publication

Authors should not submit manuscripts that substantially overlap with previously published work. Simultaneous submission to multiple journals is prohibited.

1.3 Authorship and Contributor Roles

Authorship must reflect significant contributions to the study’s conception, design, execution, analysis, or interpretation. All authors must approve the final version of the manuscript. Ghostwriting, guest authorship, and honorary authorship are strictly prohibited.

1.4 Data Transparency

Authors must present accurate data and be prepared to provide raw data upon editorial request. Manipulated or misrepresented data constitute unethical practice.

1.5 Ethical Research Compliance

Studies involving human participants, institutions, or sensitive data must include clear evidence of ethics approval and participant consent. Research that violates ethical standards is not considered for publication.

1.6 Disclosure of Conflicts of Interest

Authors must disclose all financial, institutional, or personal relationships that may influence the research.

  1. Responsibilities of Reviewers
    2.1 Confidentiality

Reviewers must treat all manuscripts as confidential documents. They must not share or discuss the content with others unless authorized by the Editor-in-Chief.

2.2 Objectivity and Fairness

Reviews should be conducted objectively, with clear, constructive comments that help authors improve their work. Personal criticism of authors is inappropriate.

2.3 Conflict of Interest

Reviewers must decline assignments where conflicts exist, including competitive, collaborative, or personal relationships with the authors.

2.4 Promptness

Reviewers are expected to complete evaluations within the agreed timeframe. Delay should be communicated immediately to the editorial office.

  1. Responsibilities of Editors
    3.1 Editorial Independence

The Editor-in-Chief and Editorial Board make decisions based solely on scholarly merit and journal relevance. Editorial decisions are not influenced by authors’ identity, affiliation, nationality, gender, or personal beliefs.

3.2 Fair and Transparent Process

Editors ensure a rigorous evaluation procedure, including initial screening, plagiarism checking, and double-blind peer review. Manuscripts are evaluated impartially.

3.3 Confidentiality

Editors must protect the confidentiality of submitted manuscripts and reviewer identities.

3.4 Ethical Oversight

Editors act promptly when ethical concerns arise. Allegations of plagiarism, data fabrication, authorship disputes, or other misconduct are investigated thoroughly.

  1. Plagiarism and Misconduct Policy

All submissions undergo plagiarism screening using reliable software. The journal rejects manuscripts containing:

Plagiarism (textual or conceptual)

Self-plagiarism without proper citation

Data manipulation or fabrication

Misleading or inaccurate reporting

Ethical violations involving human or institutional subjects

Confirmed cases of misconduct after publication result in retraction.

  1. Retraction, Correction, and Withdrawal Policies
    5.1 Retraction

The journal retracts articles when:

Data are proven fraudulent

Plagiarism is confirmed

Major errors invalidate findings

Ethical violations are identified

Retractions follow COPE Retraction Guidelines.

5.2 Corrections

Minor errors that do not alter the scientific integrity of the work result in formal corrections or errata.

5.3 Withdrawal

Authors may request withdrawal before acceptance; however, unethical withdrawal after peer review is discouraged.

  1. Archiving and Access

All published articles are permanently accessible on the journal’s website under an open-access license and stored in secure digital repositories to ensure long-term preservation.

  1. Ethical Compliance

IJECE affirms its adherence to COPE’s Core Practices, DOAJ’s Transparency Guidelines, and international standards of scholarly publishing. The journal is committed to maintaining an ethical, transparent, and responsible environment for authors, reviewers, editors, and readers.