Publication Ethics and Research Integrity

Publication Ethics and Research Integrity Policy

Diligentia: Journal of Theology and Christian Education

1. Publication Ethics Statement

Diligentia: Journal of Theology and Christian Education is committed to upholding the principles of integrity, honesty, objectivity, transparency, and accountability throughout the scholarly publishing process.

This policy applies to authors, editors, peer reviewers, journal managers, and all other parties involved in scholarly publication.

Diligentia: Journal of Theology and Christian Education follows the principles and guidelines of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) as a reference for addressing publication ethics issues, allegations of research misconduct, conflicts of interest, and other matters concerning the integrity of scholarly work.

2. Allegations of Research Misconduct

Research and publication misconduct refers to actions that violate the principles of academic integrity and may compromise the validity or reliability of scientific findings.

Forms of suspected misconduct include:

  1. Fabrication: The creation of data, results, or research information that were never actually obtained.

  2. Falsification: The alteration, manipulation, or omission of data and research results in a way that misrepresents the actual findings.

  3. Plagiarism: The use of another party's work, ideas, or research findings without appropriate acknowledgment.

  4. Duplicate Publication: The republication of the same or substantially overlapping work without adequate disclosure or justification.

  5. Citation Manipulation: The inappropriate use of citations to influence citation metrics or obtain other improper advantages.

  6. Peer Review Manipulation: Attempts to improperly influence the peer review process through false identities, unauthorized reviewer nominations, or other manipulative practices.

  7. Authorship Misconduct: The unauthorized inclusion, omission, or alteration of authorship.

  8. Other unethical practices, including the concealment of material conflicts of interest, unauthorized use of data, breaches of confidentiality, or other actions that may compromise research integrity.

3. Reporting Mechanism

Any individual with information or evidence concerning suspected research or publication misconduct may submit a report to the Editor-in-Chief through the official communication channels listed on the journal's contact page.

Reports should include the article or manuscript identification, a description of the suspected misconduct, and supporting evidence.

The journal may also consider anonymous reports when they contain sufficient information to support an investigation.

The identity of the complainant and any sensitive information will be handled confidentially to the extent permitted by the investigation process and applicable laws and regulations.

4. Investigation of Alleged Misconduct

All reports received will be handled through the following procedures:

  1. Receipt and Registration of the Report. The editor records the information and preliminary evidence submitted.

  2. Initial Assessment. The editor evaluates the relevance of the report, the sufficiency of the information provided, and the potential impact on the integrity of the article.

  3. Clarification. The parties concerned are given an opportunity to provide explanations or supporting evidence.

  4. Further Investigation. Where necessary, the editor may seek advice from independent experts, the publisher, or the institution where the research was conducted.

  5. Determination of Appropriate Action. The editor or other authorized party determines the appropriate editorial action based on the findings of the investigation.

  6. Documentation and Follow-up. The process, evidence, communications, and decisions are documented to ensure accountability.

Reports will be handled proportionately and fairly. Decisions will not be based solely on allegations that have not been verified.

5. Actions in Response to Misconduct

Editorial actions may include requests for clarification, manuscript revision, temporary suspension of the editorial process, manuscript rejection, article correction, publication of an expression of concern, or article retraction.

The choice of action will depend on the seriousness of the issue, the strength of the available evidence, the impact on research validity, and applicable publication ethics guidelines.

Article retraction will not automatically be applied to every instance of misconduct. Decisions will be based on an assessment of the substance, reliability, and integrity of the scholarly record.

6. Conflict of Interest

A conflict of interest arises when personal, financial, professional, institutional, or other relationships may influence, or be perceived to influence, the objectivity of research, peer review, or editorial decisions.

Conflicts of interest may be actual, potential, or perceived.

All parties involved in the publication process are required to disclose relevant conflicts of interest transparently.

7. Authors' Responsibilities

Authors must disclose any relationships or interests that may influence the conduct, analysis, reporting, or interpretation of their research.

Such disclosures may include funding sources, relationships with sponsors, paid employment or consultancy, commercial interests, and relevant personal or professional relationships.

If there are no conflicts of interest to disclose, authors may use the following statement:

"The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest related to this research and publication."

This statement must be accurate and agreed upon by all authors.

8. Editors' Responsibilities

Editors must maintain editorial independence and avoid handling manuscripts when a conflict of interest could compromise their objectivity.

If an editor has a relationship that may create a conflict of interest, the manuscript will be assigned to another independent editor.

Editorial decisions must not be influenced by personal relationships, institutional pressure, financial interests, or publication fees.

9. Peer Reviewers' Responsibilities

Peer reviewers must provide objective, professional, and scientifically grounded assessments of submitted manuscripts.

Reviewers must disclose any potential conflicts of interest before accepting a review assignment. If a conflict could compromise the independence of their assessment, reviewers must inform the editor and may be required to decline the assignment.

Reviewers must not use unpublished information contained in manuscripts for their own benefit or the benefit of others.

10. Management of Conflicts of Interest

The disclosure of a conflict of interest does not automatically result in manuscript rejection or the termination of the review process.

The editor will assess the nature and potential impact of the conflict and determine appropriate measures, including reassignment of the manuscript, appointment of independent reviewers, or requests for additional disclosures.

If a significant conflict of interest is discovered after publication, the journal will investigate the matter and issue an appropriate notice or take other necessary editorial action.

11. Research Ethics Involving Human Participants

Research involving human participants, including interviews, observations, surveys, language experiments, or the collection of personal data, must comply with the principles of informed consent, confidentiality, privacy, protection of vulnerable groups, and applicable ethical requirements.

Where approval from a research ethics committee is required, authors must provide relevant information or supporting documentation.

Participants' identities and sensitive personal data must not be published without appropriate consent or another valid legal basis.

12. Complaints and Appeals

Authors or other relevant parties may appeal decisions concerning the handling of alleged misconduct by providing reasons and relevant supporting evidence.

Appeals will be reviewed by editorial personnel who have no conflicts of interest in the matter. Where necessary, the publisher or an independent party may be involved in the review.

Final decisions will be based on the investigation findings, the integrity of the scholarly record, and applicable publication ethics requirements.

Diligentia: Journal of Theology and Christian Education is committed to handling publication ethics issues fairly, objectively, confidentially, and accountably.