Publishing Ethics and Malpractice Statement

The Journal of Elementary Education (JEE) is strongly committed to meeting and maintaining high standards of ethical behaviour at all stages of the publication process. Our Publication Ethics and Malpractice Statement is based on COPE’s Guidelines and Publishing Ethics and Malpractice Policies. The key expectations and responsibilities of editors, peer reviewers, authors, and the publisher are outlined below.

Duties of Editors

Editors are responsible for deciding which of the articles submitted to the journal are appropriate for publication. In taking decisions about the acceptance of a manuscript, the Editors may consult the Editorial Board or the reviewers. Editors must:

  • Act in an unbiased and balanced manner and consider articles solely on their academic merit.
  • Preclude commercial needs from compromising intellectual standards.
  • Not disclose any information about a submitted manuscript to anyone other than those directly involved in the publication process.
  • Be willing to publish corrections, clarifications, retractions and apologies when needed.
  • Take appropriate measures when ethical complaints are presented concerning a submitted manuscript or published paper, in accordance with COPE procedures.

Duties of Authors

Authors must ensure that:

  • They submit entirely original works and attest that their manuscript has not been previously published, accepted, or considered for publication elsewhere.
  • All sources are duly cited and third-party materials appropriately referenced to avoid plagiarism.
  • The manuscript contains sufficient detail and references to permit replication of the work.
  • Fraudulent or knowingly inaccurate statements are not included.
  • Any significant errors discovered after publication are promptly reported to the Editor.
  • All potential conflicts of interest (such as grants, employment, consultancies, or patents) are disclosed.
  • Research involving human or animal participants complies with institutional and national ethical standards and includes statements of informed consent.

Authorship Policy

  • Authorship should be limited to those who have made a significant intellectual contribution to the conception, design, execution, or interpretation of the study.
  • All co-authors must approve the final version of the paper and agree to its submission.
  • The corresponding author must ensure that all appropriate co-authors are included and that no inappropriate co-authors are listed.
  • Requests to add, remove, or rearrange authors after submission must be approved by all authors and justified to the Editor-in-Chief.
  • The journal may request an Author Contributions Statement to clarify each author’s role.

Publishing Malpractice Policy

The Journal of Elementary Education considers any form of publishing malpractice as a serious breach of academic integrity. The following actions are strictly prohibited and will result in appropriate measures:

  1. Plagiarism: The use of others’ work or ideas without proper attribution.
  2. Data Fabrication or Falsification: The invention or manipulation of research data or results.
  3. Duplicate or Redundant Publication: Submitting or publishing the same work in more than one journal without disclosure.
  4. Improper Authorship: Inclusion of individuals who did not contribute to the research or exclusion of those who did.
  5. Undisclosed Conflicts of Interest: Failure to disclose financial or personal relationships that may bias research.
  6. Unethical Research: Conducting studies without proper ethical approval or informed consent.

Procedures for Dealing with Malpractice:

  • All allegations of misconduct will be investigated following COPE’s flowcharts and publishing ethics guidelines.
  • The Editors will contact the author(s) for explanation and may request evidence.
  • If malpractice is confirmed, the journal will take corrective actions that may include:
    • Rejection or retraction of the article.
    • Publication of a correction or notice of concern.
    • Notification to the authors’ institution or funding body.
    • Temporary or permanent submission ban for the responsible author(s).

All investigations will be conducted confidentially, fairly, and in accordance with due process.

Duties of Reviewers

Reviewers assist the Editor in making editorial decisions and improving the quality of manuscripts. Reviewers must:

  • Notify the Editor if they feel unqualified to review or unable to meet the review deadline.
  • Treat all manuscripts as confidential documents.
  • Provide objective and constructive feedback without personal criticism.
  • Identify relevant published work not cited by the authors.
  • Inform the Editor of any suspected plagiarism, data manipulation, or substantial overlap with other works, or disregard for ethical principles.

Duties of Publishers

The publisher shall ensure adherence to and maintenance of the principles and standards outlined above. In collaboration with the Editors, the publisher supports the investigation of ethical or malpractice cases, ensures transparency in corrections and retractions, and promotes ethical research and publication practices.

Procedures for Dealing with Unethical Behaviour

Anyone may inform the Editors or the Editorial Board of suspected unethical behaviour or any type of misconduct by providing sufficient information and evidence to initiate an investigation.
All allegations will be handled seriously and consistently. Proven cases of unethical behaviour or malpractice will lead to appropriate corrective actions such as retraction, correction, or institutional notification.

Disclaimer

Neither the Editors nor the Editorial Board are responsible for authors’ expressed opinions, views, or the contents of published manuscripts in the journal. The originality, proofreading, and accuracy of manuscripts are the sole responsibility of the individual authors. All manuscripts undergo double-blind peer review for authenticity, ethical compliance, and contribution to the field. Decisions of the reviewers are final.