Journal Policy

The journal is committed to maintaining the highest standards of academic integrity, transparency, and ethical publishing. The journal adopts internationally recognized best practices in scholarly publishing and follows the recommendations of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and the Principles of Transparency and Best Practice in Scholarly Publishing promoted by the Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ).
 
The following policies govern the publication process of the journal.

1. Authorship Policy

Authorship should accurately reflect each individual's contribution to the research and manuscript preparation.

Criteria for Authorship

An author should have made substantial contributions to one or more of the following:

  • Conception or design of the study;

  • Data collection, acquisition, or interpretation;

  • Legal analysis, drafting, or critical revision of the manuscript;

  • Approval of the final version for publication;

  • Agreement to be accountable for all aspects of the work.

Individuals who contribute to the research but do not meet the criteria for authorship should be acknowledged appropriately in the Acknowledgements section.

Corresponding Author

The corresponding author is responsible for:

  • Managing communication with the journal during submission, review, and publication;

  • Ensuring that all listed authors approve the manuscript and its submission;

  • Confirming the accuracy of authorship information;

  • Serving as the primary contact after publication.

Changes in Authorship

Requests to add, remove, or rearrange authors after submission must be submitted in writing and accompanied by:

  • A clear explanation for the change;

  • Written consent from all authors involved.

The Editorial Board reserves the right to reject requests that cannot be adequately justified.

Authorship Misconduct

The journal does not accept:

  • Ghost authorship;

  • Guest authorship;

  • Gift authorship;

  • Misrepresentation of contributions.

Any proven authorship misconduct may result in rejection, correction, or retraction of the article.

2. Retraction Policy

The journal is committed to preserving the integrity of the scholarly record and will issue retractions when necessary.

Grounds for Retraction

An article may be retracted if:

  • Evidence of plagiarism is identified;

  • Data fabrication or falsification is discovered;

  • Findings are proven to be unreliable due to serious errors;

  • Duplicate or redundant publication has occurred;

  • Ethical violations significantly affect the validity of the publication;

  • Peer-review manipulation or publication misconduct is established.

Retraction Procedure

When concerns arise, the Editorial Board will:

  1. Conduct a preliminary assessment;

  2. Contact the author(s) for clarification;

  3. Review all available evidence;

  4. Reach a decision based on the facts and applicable ethical standards.

If retraction is warranted:

  • A formal retraction notice will be published;

  • The original article will remain accessible to preserve the scholarly record;

  • The article will be clearly marked as retracted.

Retractions will be handled in accordance with COPE Retraction Guidelines.

3. Correction Policy

The journal recognizes the importance of correcting errors that may affect the interpretation of published work.

Minor Errors

Minor errors that do not affect the validity of the research findings may be corrected through an Erratum or Corrigendum.

Major Errors

Significant errors affecting the reliability or interpretation of the research may result in:

  • Publication of a correction notice;

  • Expression of concern;

  • Retraction when necessary.

4. Expression of Concern Policy

The journal may publish an Expression of Concern when:

  • Serious allegations of misconduct have been raised;

  • An investigation is ongoing;

  • Available evidence is inconclusive but raises substantial concerns about the integrity of the publication.

An Expression of Concern may be removed, updated, or replaced by a correction or retraction depending on the outcome of the investigation.

5. Withdrawal Policy

Withdrawal Before Publication

Authors may request withdrawal of a manuscript before acceptance by providing written justification to the Editorial Office.

Withdrawal After Acceptance

Requests for withdrawal after acceptance will only be considered under exceptional circumstances and must be approved by the Editor-in-Chief.

Published Articles

Once an article has been published, it cannot be withdrawn. Any necessary post-publication action will be addressed through corrections, expressions of concern, or retractions.

6. Complaints and Appeals Policy

Authors may appeal editorial decisions by submitting a written explanation to the Editor-in-Chief.

Appeals should provide:

  • Clear reasons for reconsideration;

  • Supporting evidence where applicable.

The Editorial Board will review the appeal independently and communicate its final decision. The decision of the Editor-in-Chief shall be final.

Complaints concerning editorial processes, ethical issues, or publication practices will be handled confidentially and fairly.

7. Conflict of Interest Policy

Authors, reviewers, and editors must disclose any actual or potential conflicts of interest that could influence the publication process.

Examples include:

  • Financial relationships;

  • Employment or institutional affiliations;

  • Professional collaborations;

  • Personal relationships;

  • Legal or political interests related to the manuscript.

Where conflicts exist, appropriate measures will be taken to ensure impartial decision-making.

8. Research Integrity Policy

The journal expects all submissions to adhere to the principles of responsible research and academic honesty.

The journal strictly prohibits:

  • Plagiarism;

  • Data fabrication;

  • Data falsification;

  • Citation manipulation;

  • Peer-review manipulation;

  • Misrepresentation of authorship.

Allegations of misconduct will be investigated according to COPE recommendations and may result in rejection, correction, retraction, or notification to relevant institutions.

9. Data and Reproducibility Policy

Authors are encouraged to maintain accurate research records and retain supporting data for a reasonable period after publication.

Where applicable, authors should:

  • Provide sufficient methodological details;

  • Make supporting data available upon reasonable request;

  • Disclose any limitations regarding data accessibility.

10. Archiving and Preservation Policy

The journal is committed to ensuring long-term preservation and accessibility of published content through institutional archiving, repository systems, and digital preservation mechanisms adopted by the journal.

Published articles remain part of the permanent scholarly record and will be preserved even in cases of correction or retraction.

Policy Review

These policies may be revised periodically to reflect developments in publication ethics, scholarly communication standards, and international best practices. Authors, reviewers, and editors are expected to comply with the most current version of the journal's policies.

By submitting, reviewing, or publishing with the journal, all parties agree to adhere to these policies and contribute to maintaining the integrity, quality, and credibility of scholarly publishing.