Publication Ethics

Journal of Social Transformation and Community Service is a peer-reviewed international journal. This statement clarifies the ethical behavior of all parties involved in the publication process of articles in this journal, including allegations of research misconduct. These parties include authors, the Editor-in-Chief, Editorial Board members, peer reviewers, and the publisher. This statement is based on the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) Best Practice Guidelines for Journal Editors.

Ethical Guidelines for Journal Publication

The publication of an article in a peer-reviewed Journal of Social Transformation and Community Service is an essential contribution to the development of a reliable and respected body of knowledge in the fields of social transformation, community empowerment, and community service. Published articles reflect the quality of the work conducted by authors and the institutions supporting them. Peer-reviewed publications uphold and embody the scientific method and contribute to the advancement of knowledge and societal development.

Therefore, it is important to establish standards of ethical behavior for all parties involved in the publishing process, including authors, editors, reviewers, publishers, and the academic community.

The publisher of Journal of Social Transformation and Community Service takes its responsibilities throughout all stages of publication very seriously and recognizes its ethical obligations. The publisher is committed to ensuring that advertising, sponsorship, commercial interests, or other sources of revenue do not influence editorial decisions. The publisher and Editorial Board are also committed to cooperating with other journals and publishers whenever necessary to maintain the integrity of the scholarly record.

Allegations of Research Misconduct

Research misconduct includes fabrication, falsification, citation manipulation, plagiarism, or other unethical practices in conducting, reporting, reviewing, or publishing research. When authors are found to have engaged in research misconduct or serious irregularities concerning published articles, the Editors have a responsibility to protect the accuracy and integrity of the scholarly record.

In cases of suspected misconduct, the Editors and Editorial Board will follow the guidelines and best practices established by COPE to investigate and resolve allegations fairly and transparently. Manuscripts found to contain research misconduct will be rejected. If misconduct is discovered after publication, the journal may issue a correction, expression of concern, or retraction, which will be linked to the original article.

The investigation process begins by assessing the validity of the allegation and determining whether it falls within the definition of research misconduct. Consideration will also be given to potential conflicts of interest involving those raising the allegation.

If there is a reasonable possibility that misconduct has occurred, the corresponding author will be contacted and asked to provide a detailed explanation on behalf of all co-authors. Following review of the response, additional evaluations may be conducted by independent experts when necessary. If misconduct is unlikely, appropriate clarifications, corrections, or editorial notes may be published to maintain the integrity of the scholarly record.

Authors, institutions, editors, and publishers share responsibility for maintaining research integrity. Through appropriate investigation and corrective actions, including corrections and retractions where necessary, Journal of Social Transformation and Community Service is committed to preserving the validity and reliability of published research.

Publication Decisions

The Editor-in-Chief of Journal of Social Transformation and Community Service is responsible for deciding which submitted articles will be published. Editorial decisions are based on the manuscript’s originality, scholarly quality, significance, relevance to the journal’s scope, and contribution to the fields of social transformation and community service.

Editors may consult with members of the Editorial Board or external reviewers in making publication decisions. Editorial decisions shall be guided by the journal’s policies and legal requirements regarding libel, copyright infringement, plagiarism, and ethical standards.

Complaints and Appeals

Journal of Social Transformation and Community Service provides a transparent procedure for handling complaints and appeals concerning editorial decisions, peer review processes, publication ethics, citation manipulation, reviewer misconduct, editorial misconduct, or other matters related to journal operations.

All complaints will be investigated according to COPE guidelines and handled fairly and confidentially. Complaints and appeals may be submitted to the editorial office through the journal's official email address.

Fair Play

Editors evaluate manuscripts solely on their academic merit, originality, relevance, and intellectual content without discrimination based on race, ethnicity, nationality, gender, religious belief, political philosophy, institutional affiliation, or other personal characteristics of the authors.

Confidentiality

Editors and editorial staff must not disclose information concerning a submitted manuscript to anyone other than the corresponding author, reviewers, potential reviewers, editorial advisors, and the publisher, as appropriate.

Disclosure and Conflicts of Interest

Unpublished information disclosed in a submitted manuscript must not be used in an editor's own research without the explicit written consent of the author.