Publication Ethics

Publication Ethics

This publication ethics statement is based on the principles of transparency, academic integrity, and internationally recognized best practices in scholarly publishing. All parties involved in the publication process—including authors, editors, reviewers, and the publisher—are required to adhere to the following ethical standards.

1. Author Responsibilities

Authors are required to:

a. Reporting Standards

  • Present community service activities accurately, objectively, and transparently.

  • Clearly describe the methodology, implementation process, and the impact of the activities.

  • Avoid fabrication, falsification, or manipulation of data.

b. Originality and Plagiarism

  • Ensure that the manuscript is an original work.

  • Properly cite and acknowledge all sources of information.

  • Avoid plagiarism in any form, including self-plagiarism.

c. Multiple or Redundant Publication

  • Do not submit the same manuscript to more than one journal simultaneously.

  • Do not republish previously published work without proper permission and clear acknowledgment.

d. Authorship

  • Only individuals who have made significant contributions should be listed as authors.

  • All authors must approve the final version of the manuscript before publication.

e. Disclosure of Conflicts of Interest

  • Authors must disclose any financial or non-financial conflicts of interest that could influence the results or interpretation of the article.

f. Errors in Published Works

  • If authors discover significant errors after publication, they must promptly notify the editor so that corrections or retractions can be made.

2. Editor Responsibilities

Editors are responsible for:

a. Publication Decisions

  • Determining which submitted manuscripts should be published based on their scientific validity, contribution, and relevance to the journal’s focus and scope.

b. Fairness and Objectivity

  • Evaluating manuscripts without discrimination based on race, gender, religion, nationality, or institutional affiliation of the authors.

c. Confidentiality

  • Maintaining the confidentiality of all information related to submitted manuscripts.

d. Conflicts of Interest

  • Not using unpublished materials for personal research without the author's written consent.

  • Avoiding handling manuscripts in which they have conflicts of interest.

3. Reviewer Responsibilities

Reviewers are required to:

a. Contribution to Editorial Decisions

  • Provide objective, constructive, and timely evaluations of manuscripts.

b. Confidentiality

  • Treat manuscripts as confidential documents and not disclose any information regarding the manuscript.

c. Standards of Objectivity

  • Provide clear and reasoned critiques supported by scientific arguments rather than personal criticism.

d. Acknowledgment of Sources

  • Identify relevant published work that has not been cited by the authors.

  • Inform the editor if any indication of plagiarism or duplicate publication is found.

e. Conflicts of Interest

  • Decline to review manuscripts if there is any conflict of interest with the authors or related institutions.

4. Publisher Responsibilities

The publisher is committed to:

  • Supporting academic integrity and editorial independence.

  • Not interfering with editorial decisions.

  • Ensuring the sustainability and digital archiving of the journal.

5. Research Ethics in Community Service

As Independent Service Journal (ISJ) publishes community service-based articles:

  • Activities must follow ethical principles, including obtaining consent from partners or community participants.

  • Activities must not harm individuals or target groups involved.

  • Researchers must respect cultural values, social norms, and the rights of local communities.

  • If the research involves sensitive data or human participants, appropriate informed consent must be obtained.

6. Actions Against Ethical Violations

If violations of publication ethics are identified, the editorial board may take the following actions:

  • Request clarification from the authors

  • Issue corrections (corrigendum)

  • Retract the article (retraction)

  • Publish an official statement regarding the ethical violation

Decisions will be made based on the severity of the violation and the available evidence.