Publication Ethics and Malpractice Statement

The International Journal of Discourse in Social Science Research (IJDSSR) is committed to upholding the highest standards of publication ethics and integrity. The journal follows the principles and best practices established by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).

All parties involved in the publication process—authors, reviewers, editors, and the publisher—are expected to adhere to these standards to ensure the quality and credibility of scholarly publishing.

Editorial Responsibilities

Editors play a central role in maintaining journal integrity.

• Make publication decisions based on academic merit, originality, and relevance
• Evaluate manuscripts without discrimination
• Maintain confidentiality of submissions
• Do not use unpublished material without consent
• Recuse themselves in case of conflicts of interest
• Address ethical concerns through investigation and appropriate action

Author Responsibilities

Authors must adhere to the following principles:

Originality and Plagiarism

• Submit original work with proper citation
• Avoid all forms of plagiarism
• Submissions may be screened for similarity

Multiple and Concurrent Submissions

• Do not submit to multiple journals simultaneously
• Previously published work must be clearly disclosed

Data Integrity

• Present accurate and honest data
• Follow discipline-specific research standards

Authorship

• Include only contributors with significant input
• Ensure all authors approve the submission
• Justify any authorship changes

Acknowledgement of Sources

• Properly credit all sources
• Obtain permissions where required

Conflict of Interest

• Disclose financial or personal conflicts

Ethical Compliance

• Ensure ethical approval for research involving humans or sensitive data

Corrections and Retractions

• Report errors and cooperate in corrections or retractions

Funding Disclosure

• Clearly acknowledge funding sources

Reviewer Responsibilities

Reviewers contribute to maintaining publication quality.

• Provide objective and constructive evaluations
• Maintain confidentiality
• Disclose conflicts of interest
• Identify missing citations or ethical concerns
• Do not use unpublished material
• Complete reviews within the timeframe

Peer Review Process

The journal follows a double-blind peer review system.

• Manuscripts are reviewed by qualified experts
• Decisions are based on merit and reviewer feedback
• The process ensures fairness and transparency

Ethical Misconduct and Handling

The journal takes all allegations of misconduct seriously.

Examples include:

• Plagiarism
• Data fabrication or falsification
• Duplicate publication
• Unethical authorship practices

In such cases, the journal will:

• Conduct investigations
• Communicate with authors and institutions
• Take actions such as rejection, correction, or retraction

All actions follow COPE guidelines.

Confidentiality

All manuscripts are treated as confidential. Information must not be shared or used for personal advantage.

Conflict of Interest

All participants must disclose competing interests.

• Authors must declare conflicts
• Reviewers must recuse themselves if necessary
• Editors must avoid conflicted decisions

Appeals and Complaints

Authors have the right to appeal decisions.

• Appeals must include justification
• Complaints are handled transparently
• COPE procedures are followed

Final Statement

The International Journal of Discourse in Social Science Research (IJDSSR) is dedicated to ethical publishing and advancing responsible scholarship in social sciences.