Ethical Principles

The Management, Education and Development in Digital Age journal is committed to upholding the highest standards of ethical publishing practices. In order to ensure the integrity, reliability, and credibility of the research it publishes, the journal adheres to internationally recognized ethical guidelines and standards set forth by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE), and other relevant professional bodies.

This document outlines the ethical expectations and responsibilities of all parties involved in the publication process, including authors, editors, reviewers, and the publisher.

1. Responsibilities of Authors

Authors submitting manuscripts to the journal must adhere to the following ethical guidelines:

1.1 Originality and Plagiarism

  • All submitted manuscripts must be the original work of the authors and must not contain plagiarized content.
  • Proper citation and acknowledgment of sources must be ensured.
  • The journal uses iThenticate software to screen all submissions for potential plagiarism before peer review.
  • Self-plagiarism, where authors reuse their previously published work without proper attribution, is strictly prohibited.

1.2 Authorship and Contribution

  • Authorship should be limited to individuals who have made significant contributions to the conception, design, data collection, analysis, or interpretation of the work.
  • All contributors who do not meet the criteria for authorship (e.g., those who provided technical or writing assistance) should be acknowledged in the acknowledgment section.
  • The corresponding author must ensure that all co-authors have seen and approved the final version of the manuscript and have agreed to its submission.

1.3 Data Integrity and Transparency

  • Authors are required to provide accurate and complete data, and to ensure that no data has been fabricated, manipulated, or omitted to influence results.
  • Raw data should be available upon request for editorial review and for replication of results.
  • Authors should disclose if data has been used from publicly available sources and provide proper citation.

1.4 Conflicts of Interest

  • Authors must disclose any potential conflicts of interest that could influence the interpretation of results, including financial interests, personal relationships, or affiliations.
  • If no conflicts of interest exist, authors must include a statement to that effect in the manuscript.

1.5 Ethical Approval for Studies Involving Humans or Animals

  • Any study involving human participants or animals must comply with ethical standards established by relevant institutional or national ethical review boards.
  • A statement regarding ethical approval and informed consent must be included in the manuscript.
  • For research involving vulnerable populations, additional safeguards must be implemented to ensure ethical compliance.

1.6 Acknowledgment of Funding Sources

  • Authors must disclose all funding sources and describe the role of the sponsor(s), if any, in the research process, including study design, data collection, and interpretation.

1.7 Duplicate and Redundant Publication

  • Submitting the same manuscript to multiple journals or publishing substantially overlapping work without proper disclosure is considered unethical.
  • Authors must clearly state whether any part of their manuscript has been published or submitted elsewhere.

1.8 Corrections and Retractions

  • If significant errors are discovered after publication, authors are required to notify the journal promptly.
  • If the errors affect the reliability or validity of the research, the article may be retracted or corrected in accordance with COPE guidelines.

2. Responsibilities of Reviewers

Peer reviewers play a crucial role in ensuring the quality and integrity of published research. Reviewers are expected to adhere to the following ethical standards:

2.1 Confidentiality

  • Reviewers must treat submitted manuscripts as confidential documents and must not discuss their contents with others.
  • Reviewers should not use unpublished information from a manuscript for their own research or personal advantage.

2.2 Objectivity and Fairness

  • Reviews should be conducted objectively, with constructive feedback provided to authors to help improve the quality of their work.
  • Reviewers should avoid personal criticism and should base their evaluation solely on scientific merit.

2.3 Conflict of Interest

  • Reviewers must disclose any potential conflicts of interest (e.g., financial, academic, or personal relationships) that may influence their review.
  • If a reviewer feels unqualified to evaluate a manuscript or perceives a conflict, they should decline the review request.

2.4 Timeliness

  • Reviewers should complete their reviews within the agreed timeframe to avoid unnecessary delays in the publication process.
  • If a reviewer cannot meet the deadline, they should notify the editor and withdraw from the review process.

2.5 Ethical Concerns

  • If reviewers suspect ethical misconduct (e.g., plagiarism, data manipulation, undisclosed conflicts of interest), they should report their concerns to the editorial team for further investigation.

3. Responsibilities of Editors

The editorial team is responsible for maintaining the integrity of the publication process and ensuring that ethical standards are upheld throughout the manuscript handling process.

3.1 Editorial Independence and Integrity

  • Editorial decisions should be based solely on the quality, originality, and significance of the submitted work, without influence from commercial or personal interests.
  • Editors should avoid conflicts of interest with authors and reviewers.

3.2 Confidentiality

  • Editors must maintain the confidentiality of all submissions and ensure that unpublished information is not disclosed or misused.
  • Manuscript details should only be shared with individuals directly involved in the publication process.

3.3 Fair and Timely Decision-Making

  • Editors should ensure that manuscripts are reviewed fairly and impartially and that authors receive prompt and constructive feedback.
  • Any undue delay in processing should be avoided.

3.4 Handling of Ethical Violations

  • Editors should respond to any allegations of misconduct promptly and transparently, in accordance with COPE guidelines.
  • If ethical breaches are confirmed, appropriate actions such as retractions or corrections should be taken.

3.5 Conflicts of Interest

  • Editors must disclose any conflicts of interest that may influence their decisions and recuse themselves from handling manuscripts where conflicts exist.

4. Handling Allegations of Misconduct

The journal takes all allegations of research misconduct seriously and follows COPE guidelines to investigate and address issues such as:

  • Plagiarism
  • Data fabrication or falsification
  • Authorship disputes
  • Unethical research practices

In cases of proven misconduct, the journal reserves the right to:

  • Reject or retract the article
  • Notify relevant institutions and funding bodies
  • Ban the authors from future submissions

5. Appeals and Complaints Process

Authors, reviewers, and readers have the right to appeal editorial decisions or raise complaints regarding ethical concerns. Appeals should be submitted in writing to the editorial office, providing a clear rationale and any supporting evidence.

The editorial team will review appeals impartially and respond in a timely manner.

6. Post-Publication Discussions and Corrections

The journal welcomes post-publication comments and constructive criticism, provided they are substantiated with evidence. If errors are identified in published articles, they will be corrected via an erratum, corrigendum, or, in severe cases, retraction.

7. Compliance with Ethical Standards

All authors, reviewers, and editors are expected to comply with the ethical standards outlined in this document. Failure to adhere to these guidelines may result in actions being taken to uphold the integrity of the journal.