Publication Ethics

Journal of Science Education Literacy (JSEL), managed by the Science Education Study Program, FKIP Universitas Mulawarman, is a peer-reviewed electronic journal committed to maintaining the highest standards of publication ethics. This statement clarifies the ethical expectations for all parties involved in the publishing process, including authors, editors, peer reviewers, and the publisher. Our policies are strictly aligned with the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) Best Practice Guidelines.

1. Editorial Responsibilities

  • Publication Decisions: The Editor-in-Chief is responsible for selecting manuscripts for publication based on academic merit, validity, and relevance to the journal’s scope. This process is governed by legal standards regarding libel, copyright, and plagiarism.
  • Fair Play & Independence: Editors evaluate submissions exclusively on their intellectual content without discrimination regarding the authors' race, gender, religious beliefs, ethnic origin, citizenship, or political philosophy.
  • Confidentiality: The editorial team must safeguard the confidentiality of all submitted manuscripts and only disclose information to authorized reviewers and the publisher.
  • Conflicts of Interest: Editors will recuse themselves from handling manuscripts where they have a conflict of interest. Unpublished materials from a submission must not be used for an editor’s personal research without explicit written consent.

2. Peer Review Obligations

  • Contribution to Decisions: Peer review provides critical feedback to editors for decision-making and assists authors in refining the scientific quality of their manuscripts.
  • Promptness & Integrity: Invited reviewers who feel unqualified or unable to provide a timely assessment must immediately notify the editor and decline the invitation.
  • Objectivity & Recognition: Assessments must be objective and formulate clear arguments. Reviewers are responsible for flagging uncited relevant works or substantial similarities with existing publications.
  • Conflict Disclosure: Reviewers must not assess manuscripts where they have competing, collaborative, or other institutional connections with the authors.

3. Ethical Standards for Authors

  • Reporting & Accuracy: Authors must provide a truthful account of original research and an objective interpretation of its results. Fraudulent or inaccurate data is considered unethical and unacceptable.
  • Originality & Plagiarism: Authors must ensure that their work is entirely original. JSEL strictly prohibits all forms of plagiarism and redundant (duplicate) submission.
  • Human Subjects & Hazards: Research involving human participants must ensure anonymity and informed consent. Any chemicals, procedures, or equipment that have unusual hazards must be clearly identified.
  • Authorship & Disclosure: Authorship is limited to those who made significant contributions. All authors must disclose financial or other substantive conflicts of interest that might influence the results.

4. Citation and Scientific Integrity

  • Anti-Manipulation: JSEL prohibits coercive citation and regularly monitors citation patterns to prevent manipulation. References must be scientifically relevant.
  • Post-Publication Correction: If authors discover significant errors in their published work, they are obligated to notify the editor promptly to initiate a retraction or formal correction.

5. Publisher Obligations

The Science Education Study Program ensures the permanent preservation of research and will take decisive measures, including the publication of errata or retractions, in cases of proven misconduct or fraudulent publication.