Publication Ethics

The Fari Journal of Social Sciences and Law is committed to upholding the highest standards of academic integrity and ethical publishing. This Publication Ethics policy outlines the responsibilities of authors, reviewers, editors, and the journal’s editorial board to ensure the integrity, transparency, and fairness of the publishing process. The policy aims to promote a responsible and ethical approach to publishing and is based on international standards set by organizations such as the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).

1. Authorship and Acknowledgment

  • Authorship: Authors must ensure that all individuals who have made substantial contributions to the research are listed as co-authors. These contributions include the conception, design, execution, analysis, and interpretation of data. All co-authors must have seen and approved the final manuscript before submission.
  • Acknowledgment of Contributions: Individuals who have contributed to the research but not to the level required for authorship should be acknowledged in the Acknowledgments section. This includes technical assistance, financial support, and other contributions.
  • Corresponding Author: The corresponding author is responsible for ensuring that all co-authors approve of the final manuscript and for submitting the manuscript to the journal.

2. Originality and Plagiarism

  • Originality: Authors must submit original research that has not been previously published or is not currently under consideration elsewhere. Any work that has been previously published must be clearly cited or referenced.
  • Plagiarism: Plagiarism, including self-plagiarism (reusing one’s own previously published work without acknowledgment), is strictly prohibited. Authors should properly attribute all ideas, data, or content that is not their own. Any form of plagiarism will result in immediate rejection of the manuscript.
  • Plagiarism Detection: All manuscripts are subject to plagiarism checks using reputable plagiarism detection software (e.g., Turnitin, iThenticate). Manuscripts with significant overlap with previously published work will not be accepted.

3. Research Ethics

  • Ethical Approval: Authors are responsible for ensuring that their research follows ethical guidelines, particularly in research involving human or animal subjects. Manuscripts involving human subjects must provide evidence of ethical approval from an appropriate ethics committee or institutional review board (IRB).
  • Informed Consent: In research involving human participants, authors must obtain informed consent from all participants. The manuscript should include a statement confirming that consent was obtained.
  • Confidentiality and Privacy: Authors must respect the confidentiality and privacy of participants. Personal data must be anonymized and protected according to ethical standards and legal regulations.

4. Conflict of Interest

  • Authors must disclose any financial, professional, or personal relationships that may present a conflict of interest in the research or its publication. This includes funding sources, affiliations, and any relationships with organizations that may benefit from the publication.
  • Conflict of Interest Declaration: A statement of potential conflicts of interest should be included in the manuscript submission. If no conflict exists, authors should explicitly state "The author(s) declare no conflict of interest."

5. Peer Review Process

  • Fairness and Confidentiality: The journal follows a double-blind peer review process, ensuring impartiality and confidentiality in the review process. Reviewers should not disclose the identities of the authors or use the manuscript for personal gain.
  • Constructive Feedback: Reviewers are expected to provide objective, constructive feedback to authors, identifying strengths and areas for improvement in the manuscript.
  • Ethical Conduct of Reviewers: Reviewers should not accept manuscripts in which they have a conflict of interest, nor should they use any unpublished data from the manuscripts under review for personal research.

6. Reviewer Responsibilities

  • Reviewers should assess manuscripts based on their scientific merit, originality, clarity, and contribution to the field of social sciences and law.
  • Reviewers must respect the confidentiality of the manuscripts and are prohibited from sharing or discussing the manuscripts with anyone outside of the editorial board and the peer-review process.
  • Reviewers should avoid bias and conflicts of interest. If a conflict arises, they must recuse themselves from the review process.

7. Editorial Responsibilities

  • Impartiality: Editors are responsible for making unbiased decisions based on the quality and significance of the research. Editorial decisions should not be influenced by the author's background, nationality, institutional affiliation, or personal relationships.
  • Transparency and Accountability: Editors should act transparently, ensuring that all manuscripts are treated with fairness and consistent ethical standards. Editors are responsible for communicating with authors, reviewers, and other stakeholders in a timely and clear manner.
  • Ethical Issues: Editors must ensure that ethical concerns, such as plagiarism, research misconduct, or conflicts of interest, are identified and addressed. If ethical violations are detected, the editor must take appropriate action, including notifying the author and implementing necessary corrective measures.
  • Publication Decision: Editors make the final decision on whether a manuscript is accepted, revised, or rejected. Decisions should be based on the peer review process, the quality of the research, and the relevance to the journal's scope.

8. Retraction and Correction

  • Retraction: If a published article is found to contain significant errors, fraud, or ethical violations, the article will be retracted. A formal retraction notice will be published explaining the reasons for withdrawal.
  • Corrections: In cases of minor errors or omissions in a published article, the journal will issue a correction or update to ensure the accuracy and integrity of the research. This will be clearly marked in the article.

9. Transparency in Data and Methodology

  • Authors are required to provide transparent, accurate, and detailed descriptions of their methodology and data. This ensures that the research can be replicated and verified by others in the field.
  • Authors must make their data publicly available in open-access data repositories where possible, or provide access to data upon request.

10. Ethical Guidelines Compliance

  • The Fari Journal of Social Sciences and Law adheres to the ethical guidelines established by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), Elsevier, and other relevant international organizations. The journal aims to foster a scholarly environment where academic research is conducted and disseminated ethically, responsibly, and transparently.

11. Appeals Process

  • Authors who disagree with the editorial decision regarding their manuscript may appeal by submitting a formal appeal to the editorial board. The appeal should include a clear explanation of the reasons for challenging the decision.
  • The editorial board will review the appeal and provide a final, reasoned decision.

12. Policy Review and Updates

  • This Publication Ethics policy will be reviewed periodically to ensure compliance with evolving best practices in academic publishing.
  • Any updates to the policy will be communicated to authors, editors, reviewers, and other stakeholders via the journal’s website.

By adhering to this Publication Ethics policy, the Fari Journal of Social Sciences and Law strives to ensure that all research published in the journal meets the highest standards of academic integrity, transparency, and ethical conduct, contributing to the advancement of knowledge in the fields of social sciences and law.