Publication Ethics

The publication ethics of the JIFKA are based on the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) Core Practices and the COPE Best Practice Guidelines for Journal Editors. These ethical guidelines are intended to ensure the integrity, transparency, and quality of scholarly publishing.

Editorial Responsibilities

Publication Decisions

The Editor-in-Chief is responsible for deciding which submitted manuscripts should be published in the journal. Editorial decisions are based on the manuscript's scholarly merit, originality, significance, and relevance to the journal's scope. Editors may consult with Associate Editors or reviewers before making a final decision. Such decisions are made in accordance with the journal's editorial policies and applicable legal requirements regarding defamation, copyright infringement, and plagiarism.

Fair Play

Editors evaluate manuscripts solely on the basis of their intellectual content without regard to the authors' race, gender, sexual orientation, religious beliefs, ethnic origin, nationality, institutional affiliation, or political philosophy.

Confidentiality

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

Disclosure and Conflicts of Interest

Unpublished materials disclosed in a submitted manuscript must not be used in an editor's own research without the express written consent of the author(s). Editors must avoid any conflicts of interest concerning manuscripts under consideration.

Reviewer Responsibilities

Contribution to Editorial Decisions

Peer review assists editors in making editorial decisions and, through constructive communication with authors, contributes to improving the quality of published manuscripts.

Promptness

Any invited reviewer who feels unqualified to review the research reported in a manuscript, or who knows that a timely review cannot be completed, should promptly notify the editor and decline the review invitation.

Confidentiality

Manuscripts received for review must be treated as confidential documents. They must not be shown to or discussed with others except as authorized by the editor.

Standards of Objectivity

Reviews should be conducted objectively and professionally. Personal criticism of the authors is inappropriate. Reviewers should express their views clearly and support their evaluations with appropriate arguments and evidence.

Acknowledgement of Sources

Reviewers should identify relevant published work that has not been cited by the authors. Any statement that an observation, derivation, or argument has been previously reported should be accompanied by an appropriate citation. Reviewers should also inform the editor of any substantial similarity or overlap between the manuscript under review and any other published work of which they have personal knowledge.

Disclosure and Conflicts of Interest

Privileged information or ideas obtained through peer review must be kept confidential and must not be used for personal advantage. Reviewers should not evaluate manuscripts in which they have conflicts of interest arising from competitive, collaborative, financial, institutional, or other relationships with any of the authors, organizations, or institutions connected with the manuscript.

Author Responsibilities

Reporting Standards

Authors of original research articles should present an accurate account of the work performed and an objective discussion of its significance. The underlying data should be accurately represented in the manuscript. A paper should contain sufficient detail and references to enable others to replicate the work. Fraudulent or knowingly inaccurate statements constitute unethical behavior and are unacceptable.

Originality and Plagiarism

Authors must ensure that their manuscripts are entirely original. If the work or words of others have been used, they must be appropriately cited or quoted.

Multiple, Redundant, or Concurrent Publication

Authors should not submit or publish manuscripts describing essentially the same research in more than one journal or primary publication. Simultaneous submission of the same manuscript to more than one journal constitutes unethical publishing behavior and is unacceptable.

Acknowledgement of Sources

Proper acknowledgement of the work of others must always be provided. Authors should cite publications that have significantly influenced the reported research.

Authorship of the Manuscript

Authorship should be limited to individuals who have made significant contributions to the conception, design, execution, or interpretation of the reported study. All individuals who have made substantial contributions should be listed as co-authors. Those who have contributed to certain substantive aspects of the research but do not meet the criteria for authorship should be acknowledged appropriately. The corresponding author is responsible for ensuring that all appropriate co-authors are included in the manuscript, that no inappropriate authors are listed, and that all co-authors have reviewed and approved the final version of the manuscript and agreed to its submission for publication.

Disclosure and Conflicts of Interest

All authors must disclose any financial or other substantive conflicts of interest that could reasonably be perceived as influencing the results or interpretation of their manuscript. All sources of financial support for the research must also be disclosed.

Fundamental Errors in Published Works

If an author discovers a significant error or inaccuracy in a published work, it is the author's responsibility to promptly notify the journal editor or publisher and cooperate with the editor in correcting or retracting the publication as appropriate.