Publication Etics

 

Impacta: Journal of Community Impact and Social Transformation

1. Ethical Standards

Impacta: Journal of Community Impact and Social Transformation is committed to upholding the highest standards of publication ethics and takes all possible measures against publication malpractice. This statement is based on the principles of transparency, integrity, accountability, and academic honesty, and refers to best practices promoted by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).

All parties involved in the publication process—authors, editors, reviewers, and the publisher—are expected to adhere to these ethical standards.

2. Duties and Responsibilities of Authors

Authors who submit manuscripts to Impacta must ensure that:

1.      Originality and Plagiarism

o   Manuscripts are original works and have not been published or submitted elsewhere.

o   Any use of other authors’ work must be properly cited.

o   Plagiarism in any form, including self-plagiarism, is strictly prohibited.

2.      Multiple, Redundant, or Concurrent Publication

o   Authors must not submit the same manuscript to more than one journal simultaneously.

o   Redundant or overlapping publications without proper justification and citation are unethical.

3.      Authorship and Contribution

o   Authorship should reflect significant contributions to the conception, design, execution, or interpretation of the study.

o   All individuals who made significant contributions must be listed as authors.

o   Others who contributed but do not meet authorship criteria should be acknowledged appropriately.

4.      Data Accuracy and Integrity

o   Authors must present accurate data and results.

o   Fabrication, falsification, or selective reporting of data is unethical.

o   Raw data should be retained and provided if requested by the editor.

5.      Research Ethics and Human Subjects

o   Research involving human participants must comply with ethical standards.

o   Informed consent must be obtained, and confidentiality of participants must be protected.

o   Ethical clearance should be stated where applicable.

6.      Conflict of Interest Disclosure

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

7.      Acknowledgement of Sources

o   Proper acknowledgment of all sources influencing the research is mandatory.

3. Duties and Responsibilities of Editors

Editors of Impacta are responsible for:

1.      Publication Decisions

o   Deciding which manuscripts are suitable for publication based on academic merit, relevance, originality, and contribution to social impact.

2.      Fair Play

o   Evaluating manuscripts without discrimination based on race, gender, religion, nationality, or institutional affiliation.

3.      Confidentiality

o   Ensuring the confidentiality of submitted manuscripts and related correspondence.

4.      Conflict of Interest

o   Refraining from handling manuscripts in which they have conflicts of interest.

5.      Handling Ethical Issues

o   Taking appropriate action in cases of suspected misconduct, including plagiarism, data fabrication, or unethical research practices.

4. Duties and Responsibilities of Reviewers

Reviewers are expected to:

1.      Contribution to Editorial Decisions

o   Provide objective, constructive, and timely reviews to assist editorial decisions.

2.      Confidentiality

o   Treat all manuscripts as confidential documents.

3.      Objectivity and Integrity

o   Evaluate manuscripts fairly and avoid personal criticism.

4.      Acknowledgement of Sources

o   Identify relevant published work not cited by the authors.

5.      Conflict of Interest

o   Decline review assignments when conflicts of interest exist.

5. Duties and Responsibilities of the Publisher

The publisher of Impacta is responsible for:

·       Ensuring that editorial decisions are not influenced by commercial interests.

·       Supporting editors in handling ethical issues.

·       Maintaining the integrity of the academic record.

6. Ethical Oversight

Impacta takes allegations of ethical misconduct seriously. If misconduct is identified, the journal may take actions including:

·       Requesting clarification or correction from authors.

·       Publishing corrections, retractions, or expressions of concern.

·       Rejecting or retracting articles proven to involve unethical practices.

7. Retraction and Correction Policy

·       Articles may be retracted if found to contain serious ethical violations, unreliable data, or plagiarism.

·       Minor errors that do not affect the integrity of the work may be corrected through corrigenda or errata.

8. Open Access and Licensing Ethics

Impacta supports ethical open-access publishing and ensures that all published articles are freely accessible while respecting authors’ intellectual property rights.

9. Complaints and Appeals

Authors may submit complaints or appeals regarding editorial decisions. All complaints will be handled fairly, transparently, and in accordance with ethical guidelines.

10. Continuous Improvement

This publication ethics statement may be updated periodically to align with international best practices and indexing requirements.

Impacta: Journal of Community Impact and Social Transformation is committed to fostering ethical, responsible, and impactful scholarly communication.