Publication Ethics

The International Journal of Innovative Studies (IJIS) is committed to upholding the highest standards of ethical conduct in all aspects of the publication process. Our publication ethics policy is based on the guidelines established by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and reflects our commitment to integrity, transparency, and scholarly excellence.

1. Responsibilities of Authors

Originality and Plagiarism: Authors must ensure that their work is original, free from plagiarism, and has not been published or submitted elsewhere. All sources must be properly cited.
Authorship Criteria: Only individuals who have made significant contributions to the research should be listed as authors. All authors must approve the final version of the manuscript.
Data Accuracy and Integrity: Authors are responsible for the accuracy of data, results, and references. Fabrication, falsification, or manipulation of data is strictly prohibited.
Conflict of Interest: Authors must disclose any financial or personal relationships that may influence their research.
Ethical Clearance: Where research involves human participants, animals, or sensitive data, ethical approval must be obtained and documented.

2. Responsibilities of Editors

Editorial Independence: Editors make publication decisions based solely on the quality, originality, and relevance of the manuscript to the journal’s scope.
Confidentiality: Editors must maintain confidentiality regarding submitted manuscripts and the identity of reviewers and authors.
Fair Review Process: Editors must ensure a fair, unbiased, and timely peer review process.
Conflict of Interest: Editors must recuse themselves from handling manuscripts where they have a conflict of interest.
Dealing with Misconduct: Editors will investigate any allegations of research or publication misconduct and act accordingly, which may include corrections, retractions, or reporting to institutions.

3. Responsibilities of Reviewers

Confidentiality: Reviewers must treat all manuscripts as confidential documents and not disclose or discuss their content with others.
Objectivity and Constructiveness: Reviews should be objective, respectful, and provide constructive feedback to help authors improve their work.
Timeliness: Reviewers should complete reviews within the stipulated timeframe or inform the editor if they are unable to meet the deadline.
Conflict of Interest: Reviewers must declare any conflict of interest that might bias their evaluation and recuse themselves from the review if necessary.

4. Handling of Misconduct

IJIS takes allegations of misconduct seriously. Suspected cases of plagiarism, data fabrication, unethical research, duplicate submission, or other forms of misconduct will be thoroughly investigated. Where evidence of misconduct is found, appropriate corrective actions will be taken, including but not limited to:

Retraction or correction of published articles
Notification to authors’ institutions
Rejection of current and future submissions

5. Corrections and Retractions

If errors or ethical issues are identified in published articles, IJIS will publish corrections, expressions of concern, or retractions as appropriate to maintain the integrity of the academic record.

6. Transparency and Accountability

IJIS is dedicated to promoting transparency in all aspects of scholarly publishing. We aim to foster a responsible research culture and encourage authors, reviewers, and editors to uphold ethical standards at all times.