Ethics, Conflict of Interest & Consent Policy

Advances in Educational Studies and Inclusive Practices (AESIP) is committed to maintaining the highest standards of research integrity, transparency, and ethical publishing. The journal adheres to internationally recognized principles of publication ethics to ensure the quality, credibility, and reliability of the scholarly record.

The journal's editorial and publication practices are guided by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) Core Practices, the recommendations of the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE), and the ethical guidance of the World Association of Medical Editors (WAME). Research involving human participants should comply with applicable institutional, national, and international ethical standards, including the principles outlined in the Declaration of Helsinki, where appropriate.

1. Responsibilities of Authors

Originality and Plagiarism

Authors must ensure that submitted manuscripts are original works that have not been published previously and are not under consideration elsewhere. All submissions are screened using iThenticate plagiarism detection software provided through Crossref. Manuscripts containing plagiarism, duplicate publication, or unacceptable textual overlap may be rejected at any stage of the editorial process.

Multiple or Concurrent Submission

Authors must not submit the same manuscript simultaneously to more than one journal. Multiple or redundant publication is considered unethical and is not permitted.

Authorship Criteria

Authorship should be limited to individuals who have made substantial scholarly contributions to the conception or design of the work, data collection, analysis or interpretation, drafting or revising the manuscript, and approval of the final version. All authors share responsibility for the integrity of the published work.

See the Author Guidelines for Authorship and Ethical Responsibilities

Data Integrity

Authors must present research findings honestly and accurately. Fabrication, falsification, selective reporting, or inappropriate manipulation of data constitute research misconduct. Authors may be requested to provide original data or supporting documentation during editorial assessment.

Disclosure of Conflicts of Interest

All authors must disclose any financial, institutional, professional, or personal relationships that could influence or appear to influence the interpretation of the research.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) Tools

If generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools are used during manuscript preparation, authors must disclose their use appropriately within the manuscript. AI tools may assist with language editing or drafting support but cannot be listed as authors or assume responsibility for the published work. Authors remain fully accountable for the accuracy, originality, integrity, and ethical compliance of their manuscript.

Data Availability

Authors are encouraged to include a Data Availability Statement describing where supporting data may be accessed. Where appropriate, datasets should be deposited in trusted public repositories to promote research transparency, reproducibility, and reuse.

2. Ethical Considerations in Research

Research Involving Human Participants

Research involving human participants must comply with applicable ethical standards and institutional requirements.

Where applicable, authors should provide:

  • Name of the Institutional Review Board (IRB) or Ethics Committee.
  • Ethics approval or reference number.
  • Confirmation that informed consent was obtained from participants.

Studies involving children or vulnerable populations must include confirmation that consent was obtained from parents, legal guardians, or other authorized representatives, where required.

Research in Educational Settings

Research involving students, teachers, educational institutions, administrators, or classroom settings must ensure voluntary participation, informed consent, confidentiality, and protection from harm. Participation should never influence academic assessment, employment, or institutional relationships.

Privacy and Confidentiality

Authors must protect participants' privacy and confidentiality. Personally identifiable information, including names, photographs, institutional records, or other identifying details, must not be published without explicit written consent.

3. Responsibilities of Editors

Fair and Impartial Editorial Decisions

Editors evaluate manuscripts solely on their academic merit, originality, methodological quality, clarity, significance, ethical compliance, and relevance to the journal's aims and scope.

Confidentiality

Editors must maintain the confidentiality of all submitted manuscripts and related correspondence throughout the editorial process.

Conflict of Interest

Editors must disclose and avoid any conflicts of interest that could influence editorial decisions. Editors with conflicts must recuse themselves from handling the manuscript. The journal follows COPE guidance on competing interests.

Ethical Oversight

Editors are responsible for identifying and addressing potential cases of publication misconduct, including plagiarism, fabricated data, citation manipulation, duplicate publication, authorship disputes, and unethical research practices.

4. Responsibilities of Reviewers

Confidentiality

Reviewers must treat all manuscripts as confidential documents and must not share or discuss submitted work with others without authorization from the editorial office.

Objectivity

Reviews should be objective, constructive, evidence-based, and focused on improving the scholarly quality of the manuscript.

Conflict of Interest

Reviewers should decline invitations if any conflict of interest could affect their impartiality.

Timeliness

Reviewers are expected to complete reviews within the agreed timeframe and promptly notify the editorial office if they cannot do so.

5. Peer Review Process

The journal follows a double-blind peer review process in which the identities of authors and reviewers remain confidential throughout the review process to ensure impartial evaluation.

Each eligible manuscript is reviewed by at least two independent experts in the relevant field. Final publication decisions are made by the Editor-in-Chief based on reviewer recommendations, editorial assessment, and compliance with the journal's ethical and scholarly standards.

Reviewers are expected to follow the COPE Ethical Guidelines for Peer Reviewers. For additional information, please refer to the journal's Peer Review Policy.

6. Handling Allegations of Misconduct

The journal investigates all allegations of research or publication misconduct seriously and fairly. Cases involving plagiarism, data fabrication, data falsification, duplicate publication, unethical research, citation manipulation, authorship disputes, or undisclosed conflicts of interest will be handled according to COPE recommendations.

Where appropriate, the journal may contact authors' institutions, funding agencies, or relevant organizations during investigations.

7. Corrections, Retractions, and Post-Publication Updates

The journal is committed to maintaining the integrity of the scholarly record through transparent post-publication corrections when necessary.

Depending on the nature of the issue, the journal may publish:

These notices may be issued in cases involving serious methodological errors, plagiarism, fabricated data, ethical violations, duplicate publication, or other circumstances affecting the reliability of the published record.

8. Editorial Independence

Editorial decisions are made independently of the publisher, sponsors, advertisers, or commercial interests. The Editor-in-Chief has full editorial authority over manuscript evaluation, peer review, and publication decisions.

9. Appeals and Complaints

Authors may appeal editorial decisions by submitting a written explanation supported by appropriate evidence. Complaints relating to editorial procedures, peer review, or publication ethics are handled fairly, confidentially, and in accordance with the recommendations of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).

10. Publisher Responsibilities

The publisher supports the editorial team in maintaining ethical publishing standards, preserving editorial independence, and ensuring the integrity of the scholarly record. The publisher works collaboratively with editors to investigate and address allegations of publication misconduct while safeguarding the transparency and credibility of the publication process.