Policies
Research Integrity and Plagiarism Policy
The journal maintains a zero-tolerance policy regarding research misconduct to uphold the highest academic standards. Upon submission, every manuscript is rigorously screened using Turnitin to identify any instances of Plagiarism, which includes the appropriation of another's work or "text recycling" (self-plagiarism); such findings result in immediate rejection. Furthermore, we strictly adhere to the COPE Core Practices to address and manage any potential cases of data fabrication, falsification, or improper authorship attribution.
Peer Review Policy
To ensure superior academic quality, the journal employs a double-blind peer review process, where both the reviewer and the author remain anonymous throughout the evaluation. Each submission first undergoes a triage phase via an initial desk review by the Editor-in-Chief. Manuscripts deemed suitable are then forwarded to at least two independent subject-matter experts for detailed assessment. For those seeking more information, a comprehensive breakdown of our review stages is available in our Editorial Workflow.
Open Access Statement
As a gold open-access journal, all our content is freely available to users and their institutions without charge. This policy ensures maximum Accessibility, allowing the public to read, download, copy, distribute, and link to the full texts of our articles. All works are published under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) license, which empowers authors to retain their copyright while facilitating the widest possible dissemination of their research.
Privacy and Data Protection (GDPR Compliance)
We are fully committed to protecting the personal data of our users in strict compliance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Any personal details collected, such as names, institutional affiliations, and email addresses, are used exclusively for the journal's stated purposes and are never shared with third parties. Additionally, authors maintain their rights to request access to, correction of, or the permanent deletion of their personal information from our systems at any time.
Appeals and Complaints Procedure
Authors have a formal right to appeal editorial decisions if they believe a rejection was rooted in a misunderstanding of the manuscript's technical or scientific aspects. In such cases, a formal appeal may be submitted directly to the Editor-in-Chief. For grievances regarding staff conduct or publication ethics, the journal follows the COPE Guidelines for Complaints. All complaints are investigated with strict impartiality to ensure a fair resolution for all parties involved.
Corrections, Retractions, and Expressions of Concern
The journal is dedicated to preserving the integrity of the scholarly record. If significant errors are identified that do not invalidate the overall results, they are addressed through an official Erratum or Corrigendum. However, if research is found to be fundamentally flawed or ethically unsound, a formal retraction will be issued in accordance with the COPE Retraction Guidelines. In instances where an investigation is ongoing but inconclusive, the journal may issue an Expression of Concern to alert the community.
Archiving and Digital Preservation
To guarantee the long-term availability and permanent accessibility of our research, we utilize robust digital preservation services. Our content is archived in global "dark archives" including CLOCKSS and LOCKSS, ensuring that data remains available even if the journal ceases operations. Additionally, as an OJS-powered publication, our data is digitally preserved through the PKP Preservation Network (PN) infrastructure.
Advertising and Sponsorship Policy
To safeguard our editorial independence, all decisions to accept or reject manuscripts are made entirely without influence from advertisers or sponsors. All advertisements are clearly identified and kept separate from academic content to ensure transparency. Furthermore, the direct sponsorship of specific articles is strictly prohibited to prevent any perception of a conflict of interest, as detailed in our Sponsorship Disclosure Policy.
