Publication Ethics

Journal of Education Policy and Management Studies (JEPaMS) is a peer-reviewed journal committed to upholding the highest standards of publication ethics. This statement outlines the ethical responsibilities of authors, editors, reviewers, and the publisher in alignment with the COPE Best Practice Guidelines for Journal Editors. All parties involved in the publication process are expected to act with integrity, transparency, and professionalism to maintain the credibility of the scholarly record.

Ethical Principles for Publication
The publication of an article in JEPaMS contributes to the development of a reliable and coherent body of knowledge in the fields of education policy and management. Editorial decisions are made independently and are not influenced by commercial interests. JEPaMS ensures that all submitted manuscripts are evaluated fairly and solely on their scholarly value.

Research Misconduct and Investigation
Research misconduct refers to fabrication, falsification, plagiarism, citation manipulation, or other unethical practices that compromise the integrity of scholarly work. When concerns or allegations arise, the editorial team will assess their validity and follow COPE procedures in investigating and resolving the issue. Manuscripts containing confirmed misconduct will be rejected, while published articles found to contain ethical violations may be corrected or retracted. Authors may be asked to provide clarification or raw data, and institutions may be contacted when further investigation is required.

Editorial Decision-Making
Editors are responsible for selecting manuscripts that align with the aims and scope of the journal and demonstrate academic rigor. Decisions are based on the manuscript’s originality, clarity, methodological soundness, and contribution to the discipline. Editorial judgments are made without discrimination based on the authors’ background, institutional affiliation, nationality, gender, or personal beliefs.

Complaints and Appeals
JEPaMS maintains a transparent procedure for addressing complaints regarding editorial decisions, review processes, ethical concerns, or other journal-related matters. All complaints are handled confidentially, promptly, and objectively in accordance with COPE guidelines. Authors have the right to appeal editorial decisions with clear justification.

Confidentiality
The editorial team and reviewers are required to treat all submitted manuscripts as confidential documents. Manuscript content may not be shared, discussed, or used outside the editorial and review process. Unpublished materials must not be used by editors or reviewers for personal research without written permission from the authors.

Conflict of Interest
All parties involved in the publication process must disclose any financial, personal, or professional relationships that could influence their judgment. Editors and reviewers must decline handling manuscripts in which they have competing interests. Authors are required to disclose all sources of funding and any potential conflicts in their manuscripts.

Responsibilities of Reviewers
Reviewers play a critical role in supporting editorial decisions and enhancing the quality of manuscripts. They are expected to provide objective, constructive, and timely evaluations. Manuscripts under review must remain confidential, and reviewers should identify relevant literature not cited by the authors. Any suspicion of overlapping or plagiarized work should be reported to the editor. Reviewers must withdraw from the review process if a conflict of interest exists.

Responsibilities of Authors
Authors must present accurate and original research results. Manuscripts should include sufficient detail to allow others to replicate the work. Plagiarism in any form is unacceptable. Authors must ensure that their submission has not been previously published or concurrently submitted elsewhere. All cited works must be properly acknowledged. Authorship should reflect substantial contributions to the research, and all listed authors must approve the final manuscript. Authors are responsible for disclosing funding sources, potential conflicts of interest, and providing data for verification when requested. When research involves human subjects, animals, or sensitive data, authors must comply with ethical standards and provide ethical clearance when required.

Correction and Retraction Policy
If significant errors or inaccuracies are discovered after publication, authors are obliged to promptly notify the editors. Corrections, expressions of concern, or retractions will be issued based on the severity of the issue, following COPE standards to maintain the integrity of the scholarly record.