The Journal of Socio-Educational Dynamics (JSED) is committed to upholding the highest standards of academic publishing. By being transparent about conflicts of interest, we can ensure that the research we publish is rigorous, unbiased, and of the highest quality. We rely on our community of authors, reviewers, and editors to support us in this endeavor and to maintain the trust of our readers and the broader academic community.
In the realm of academic publishing, transparency and integrity serve as the bedrock upon which the credibility of a research paper stands. One vital aspect of ensuring this transparency is understanding and declaring any potential Conflict of Interest (CoI).
Definition:
A Conflict of Interest arises when an author, reviewer, or editor has financial, personal, or professional affiliations that could potentially influence (or be perceived to influence) his or her actions. Such affiliations might bias an individual's judgments, compromise the trustworthiness of a publication, or benefit the individual unfairly.
For Authors:
- Full Disclosure: Authors must disclose any financial, personal, or professional relationships that could be viewed as presenting a potential conflict.
- Acknowledgment: In cases where a conflict exists, authors must include a statement in their submission detailing the nature of the conflict.
- Transparency: Even if authors believe that their affiliations do not constitute a conflict, it's essential to provide a clear statement to that effect.
For Reviewers:
- Recusal: If reviewers recognize any potential conflict of interest with a submitted manuscript, they should recuse themselves from the review process.
- Confidentiality: Reviewers should maintain confidentiality concerning the manuscript and should not use any part of the work for personal advantage.
For Editors:
- Impartiality: Editors should evaluate manuscripts solely on their academic merit and should not allow any commercial or personal relationships to influence their decisions.
- Openness: If editors identify a potential conflict of interest, they should seek advice from a range of sources and should ensure that the process remains transparent to all parties involved.
Handling Undeclared Conflicts:
Should any undeclared potential conflicts of interest come to light after a manuscript's publication, the journal will take appropriate action, which may include publishing a correction or retracting the paper.