Publication Ethics and Malpractice Statement

Raparin Journal of Humanities: Publication Ethics and Malpractice Statement

Raparin Journal of Humanities (RJH) is committed to upholding the highest standards of academic integrity, transparency, and ethical publishing. The journal therefore follows the principles of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and expects all authors, editors, and reviewers to abide by the same ethical standards. Additionally, the journal maintains transparency, anti-plagiarism measures, and strict research integrity standards.

Raparin Journal of Humanities: Publication Ethics and Malpractice Statement

Publication Ethics

The Raparin Journal of Humanities adheres to the highest standards of publication ethics, following the guidelines of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE). The journal is committed to maintaining academic integrity, transparency, and fairness in all stages of the publication process. Ethical principles apply to all parties involved: authors, editors, reviewers, and the publisher.

Ethics and Responsibilities of Authors

Originality and Plagiarism
• Authors must ensure that their work is entirely original and that all sources and ideas derived from others are properly cited or quoted in their manuscript.
• Submitting plagiarized content, in whole or in part, is considered as unethical behavior and therefore is unacceptable.
• Authors must be aware that the Raparin journal of Humanities uses plagiarism and Artificial Intelligence tools to verify and detect the originality of all submitted manuscripts.
Authorship and Contribution
• Authorship should be limited to those who have made a significant intellectual contribution to the conception, design, implementation, or interpretation of the research.
• All those who have made substantial contributions should be listed as co-authors, while others who have participated in certain aspects of the study should be acknowledged appropriately.
• The corresponding author bears responsibility for ensuring that all co-authors have approved the final version of the paper and have agreed to its submission.
Data Accuracy and Integrity
• Authors are responsible for presenting accurate and verifiable data.
• Fabrication, falsification, or selective manipulation of data is strictly prohibited.
• Authors may be requested to provide the raw data related to their study for editorial or peer review purposes, and they should be prepared to make such data publicly available if appropriate.
Multiple or Redundant Publication
• Authors must not submit the same manuscript to more than one journal simultaneously.
• Publishing the same research in more than one journal or publishing a substantially similar paper that overlaps with previously published work is considered unethical and will not be accepted.
Citation and Acknowledgment of Sources
• Proper acknowledgment of the work of others must always be given.
• Authors should cite publications that have been influential in determining the nature of the work reported.
• Information obtained privately (e.g., in conversation, correspondence, or discussion with third parties) should not be used without explicit written permission from the source.
Disclosure of Conflicts of Interest
• Authors must disclose any financial, institutional, or personal relationships that might influence or be perceived to influence the results or interpretation of their manuscript.
• All potential conflicts of interest must be declared at the time of submission.
Ethical Considerations in Research
• Research involving human participants, animals, or sensitive data must comply with institutional, national, and international ethical guidelines.
• Authors should include statements confirming that ethical approval was obtained (where applicable) and that participants provided informed consent.
Reporting of Errors
• If an author discovers a significant error or inaccuracy in their published work, they are obliged to promptly notify the journal editor or publisher and cooperate in correcting or retracting the paper if necessary.
• If the editor or publisher learns from a third party that a published work contains an error, the author must cooperate in verifying and correcting the issue.
Peer Review Cooperation
• Authors are expected to participate in the peer review process by responding promptly and professionally to reviewers’ comments.
• Revisions should be made carefully, transparently, and with full respect for academic discourse.

Ethical Responsibilities of Editors

Editors of the Raparin Journal of Humanities (RJH) hold a central role in ensuring the quality, integrity, and fairness of the journal’s publication process. They are responsible for maintaining editorial independence, protecting the confidentiality of submissions, and making publication decisions based solely on academic merit and ethical principles.
The editorial team is expected to act with honesty, impartiality, and professional integrity in every stage of the editorial and peer review process.

Editorial Independence and Fair Decision-Making
• Editors have full authority and responsibility for deciding which manuscripts will be published, based on their scholarly merit, originality, and relevance to the journal’s scope in the field of humanities.
• Decisions must not be influenced by the author’s gender, institutional affiliation, nationality, or personal beliefs.
• Editors must act independently and must not be influenced by the publisher, sponsors, or any other external parties.
• The University of Raparin, as the publisher, supports full editorial independence.
Confidentiality
• Editors and editorial staff must treat all submitted manuscripts as confidential documents.
• They must not disclose information about a manuscript to anyone other than the corresponding author, assigned reviewers, and (if necessary) other editorial advisers.
• The journal operates under a double-blind review process, and editors must ensure that the identities of both authors and reviewers remain confidential throughout the process.
Objectivity and Impartiality
• Editorial decisions should be based solely on the academic quality and relevance of the manuscript, not on commercial or personal considerations.
• Editors must ensure that all submissions receive fair and unbiased evaluation and that peer review comments are handled respectfully and constructively.
• Manuscripts should be evaluated without regard to race, ethnicity, religion, citizenship, or political ideology of the authors.
Peer Review Management
• Editors are responsible for ensuring that the double-blind peer review process is carried out with integrity and transparency.
• They must select qualified reviewers with expertise in the relevant field, avoiding conflicts of interest.
• Editors should provide reviewers with clear guidance about the review process, ethical expectations, and deadlines.
• The editor must evaluate reviewers’ reports objectively and make the final publication decision in light of those evaluations.
Conflict of Interest
• Editors must avoid handling manuscripts in which they have a personal, academic, or financial interest.
• If such a conflict arises, the editor must delegate responsibility for that submission to another qualified editor.
• Editors must also ensure that reviewers declare any potential conflicts of interest before accepting to review.
Handling of Misconduct and Complaints
• Editors are responsible for investigating any allegations of research or publication misconduct, including plagiarism, data fabrication, and unethical authorship.
• When misconduct is suspected, editors must follow COPE’s procedures and flowcharts to ensure fairness and confidentiality.
• If necessary, editors may request clarification from authors, consult reviewers, or communicate with the author’s institution.
• Proven cases of misconduct may result in manuscript rejection, publication retraction, or official notice of correction.
Correction and Retraction Policy
• Editors must ensure that corrections, clarifications, or retractions are published promptly when significant errors or ethical issues are discovered.
• Retractions or expressions of concern should follow COPE’s standards and be clearly linked to the original publication.
Continuous Improvement
• Editors are encouraged to contribute to the ongoing development of the journal by promoting transparency, ethical awareness, and scholarly excellence.
• They must also keep their knowledge of publication ethics and editorial best practices up to date.

Ethical Responsibilities of Reviewers

Peer review is an essential part of maintaining the quality, integrity, and credibility of scholarly publications. Reviewers for the Raparin Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities are expected to adhere to the highest standards of ethical conduct and professional responsibility throughout the review process.

Confidentiality
• The Raparin Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities follows a double-blind review process, in which both authors’ and reviewers’ identities are kept strictly confidential.
• Reviewers must not attempt to discover the identity of the authors, nor should they disclose their own identity at any stage of the review.
• All manuscripts and supplementary materials received for review must be treated as confidential documents. They must not be shared, discussed, or used for any personal advantage.
Objectivity and Fairness
• Reviews must be conducted objectively and impartially, focusing solely on the scholarly quality of the manuscript.
• Personal criticism of the author is inappropriate.
• Reviewers should evaluate manuscripts on the basis of academic merit, originality, clarity, and contribution to the field, without bias related to the author’s gender, nationality, institutional affiliation, or beliefs.
Constructive Feedback
• Reviewers should provide clear, constructive, and evidence-based comments to help authors improve their manuscripts.
• Criticism should be expressed respectfully and professionally, with the intention of supporting academic improvement rather than discouragement.
Conflict of Interest
• Reviewers must declare any potential conflict of interest before accepting to review a manuscript.
• A conflict of interest may arise if the reviewer has a personal, professional, or financial relationship with any of the authors or the work itself.
• If a conflict exists, the reviewer should decline the invitation and inform the editor immediately.
Timeliness and Responsibility
• Reviewers are expected to complete their reviews within the agreed timeframe to ensure a fair and efficient publication process.
• If a reviewer cannot complete the review on time, they should notify the editor promptly and, if possible, suggest an alternative qualified reviewer.
Recognition of Sources
• Reviewers should identify relevant published work that has not been cited by the authors.
• If the reviewer notices any form of plagiarism, data manipulation, or ethical misconduct, they should confidentially inform the editor.
• Reviewers must not use any unpublished data or ideas obtained through the review process for personal research or professional gain.
Respect for Editorial Decisions
• Reviewers are expected to support the editorial process by providing balanced and reasoned evaluations.
• While their recommendations are essential, the final decision regarding publication rests with the editor, and reviewers should respect this editorial authority.

Ethical Responsibilities of the Publisher

The Raparin Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities and its publisher, the University of Raparin, are committed to upholding the highest ethical standards throughout all stages of the publication process. The publisher bears a fundamental responsibility for maintaining academic integrity, supporting editorial independence, and ensuring that the journal operates in a transparent and ethical manner.

Editorial Independence
• The publisher guarantees the independence and autonomy of the editorial board and ensures that editorial decisions are made without interference or influence from any external party, including financial or institutional pressures.
• Editors have full authority over the editorial content and publication decisions, which are based solely on the scholarly merit of the work.
Support for Ethical Publication Practices
• The publisher is responsible for ensuring that the journal follows international ethical guidelines, such as those of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and other recognized academic standards.
• It is the publisher’s duty to support editors, reviewers, and authors in resolving ethical issues, including plagiarism, data falsification, duplicate publication, or conflicts of interest.
Transparency and Accountability
• The publisher ensures that all policies regarding editorial procedures, peer review, open access, copyright, and authorship are clearly documented and publicly available.
• The publisher maintains accurate and transparent records of editorial and publishing activities and ensures that corrections, retractions, and clarifications are issued when necessary.
Fair and Ethical Management of the Peer Review Process
• The University of Raparin, as the publisher of the Raparin Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities, ensures that the journal follows a double-blind peer review system, in which the identities of both reviewers and authors are kept confidential throughout the review process.
• This process is designed to ensure objectivity, impartiality, and academic fairness.
• The publisher supports the editorial board in maintaining the integrity and confidentiality of all submitted manuscripts and reviewer reports.
• All submissions are evaluated solely on their academic merit, originality, and relevance to the journal’s scope, without discrimination based on gender, ethnicity, religion, or institutional affiliation.
Handling of Misconduct and Complaints
• The publisher, in collaboration with the editor-in-chief, is responsible for investigating allegations of research or publication misconduct (such as plagiarism, data fabrication, or unethical research practices).
• When ethical misconduct is confirmed, the publisher ensures that appropriate actions are taken, including publication of retractions, corrections, or expressions of concern.
Archiving and Preservation
• The publisher guarantees the permanent availability and accessibility of all published content by maintaining proper digital archiving systems.
• Even in cases where the journal ceases publication, all previously published materials remain securely accessible.
Intellectual Property and Copyright
• The publisher protects the intellectual property rights of authors and ensures that published content is not used or reproduced without proper authorization.
• It promotes the ethical use and citation of all published materials and respects the principles of open access in accordance with the journal’s policies.
Commitment to Academic Integrity and Quality
• The publisher ensures that every publication meets high standards of academic and technical quality.
• It provides necessary resources and support to editors and reviewers to uphold these standards consistently.
Conflicts of Interest
• The publisher must disclose any potential conflicts of interest related to editorial decisions or publication practices.
• In all matters, fairness, transparency, and integrity must guide the publisher’s actions.

Publication Ethics and Malpractice Statement