Ethical Principles

The Journal of General Psychology and Educational Sciences Studies is firmly committed to maintaining the highest standards of publication ethics and academic integrity. The journal adheres to internationally recognized ethical guidelines and best practices in scholarly publishing, particularly those established by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE). All parties involved in the publication process—including authors, reviewers, editors, and the publisher—are expected to comply fully with the ethical standards outlined below.

The purpose of this Publication Ethics statement is to ensure transparency, accountability, fairness, and trust in the dissemination of scientific knowledge, and to safeguard the credibility of the scholarly record.

Ethical Responsibilities of Authors

Originality and Authorship

Authors must ensure that all submitted manuscripts represent original scholarly work that has not been previously published and is not under consideration for publication elsewhere. Submissions must not contain fabricated, falsified, or manipulated data.

Authorship should be limited to individuals who have made a substantial intellectual contribution to the conception, design, execution, or interpretation of the study. All individuals who meet authorship criteria must be listed as authors, and all listed authors must approve the final version of the manuscript prior to submission.

Contributors who do not meet authorship criteria (e.g., technical assistance, language editing, funding acquisition) should be acknowledged appropriately but not listed as authors.

Plagiarism and Redundant Publication

Plagiarism in any form is strictly prohibited. This includes direct copying, improper paraphrasing, unattributed use of ideas, and self-plagiarism (duplicate or redundant publication of the author’s own previously published work).

All manuscripts submitted to the journal are screened using iThenticate plagiarism detection software. Manuscripts with unacceptable similarity levels or evidence of unethical writing practices will be rejected or returned for clarification. In severe cases, further action may be taken in accordance with COPE guidelines.

Data Integrity and Transparency

Authors are responsible for ensuring the accuracy, integrity, and reproducibility of the data reported in their manuscripts. Data must be collected, analyzed, and reported honestly and transparently. Where applicable, authors should retain original data and be prepared to provide access to data for editorial review or post-publication verification.

Selective reporting, data manipulation, or suppression of unfavorable results constitutes unethical conduct and is unacceptable.

Ethical Approval and Informed Consent

Research involving human participants must comply with internationally accepted ethical standards, including institutional review board (IRB) or ethics committee approval where required. Authors must clearly state that informed consent was obtained from participants and that confidentiality and anonymity were preserved.

Studies involving vulnerable populations (e.g., children, individuals with disabilities) must demonstrate heightened ethical safeguards.

Conflicts of Interest

Authors must disclose any financial, institutional, or personal conflicts of interest that could influence the interpretation of their findings. If no conflicts exist, authors should explicitly state that there are no conflicts of interest to declare.

Ethical Responsibilities of Reviewers

Confidentiality

Reviewers must treat all manuscripts as confidential documents. Manuscripts and associated data may not be shared, discussed, or used for personal or professional advantage outside the review process.

Objectivity and Fairness

Reviews must be conducted objectively, constructively, and professionally. Personal criticism of authors is inappropriate. Reviewers should provide clear, evidence-based evaluations that help improve the quality of the manuscript.

Competence and Timeliness

Reviewers should only accept review assignments for manuscripts within their area of expertise and should complete reviews within the agreed timeframe. If a reviewer feels unqualified or unable to complete the review, they must notify the editorial office promptly.

Conflicts of Interest

Reviewers must disclose any conflicts of interest that could compromise impartiality. If a conflict exists, the reviewer should decline the review invitation.

Ethical Responsibilities of Editors

Editorial Independence and Fair Decision-Making

Editorial decisions are based solely on the scholarly merit, originality, relevance, and methodological quality of manuscripts. Editors evaluate submissions without regard to authors’ race, gender, nationality, institutional affiliation, or political or religious beliefs.

The editorial process is conducted independently and free from commercial or personal influence.

Confidentiality

Editors must ensure that all submitted manuscripts are handled confidentially. Information about manuscripts must not be disclosed to anyone other than corresponding authors, reviewers, and relevant editorial staff.

Managing Conflicts of Interest

Editors must recuse themselves from handling manuscripts in which they have conflicts of interest. Such manuscripts are assigned to another qualified editor to ensure impartial evaluation.

Ethical Oversight

Editors are responsible for identifying potential ethical issues, including plagiarism, data fabrication, and unethical research practices. When ethical concerns arise, editors follow COPE procedures for investigation and resolution.

Peer-Review Ethics

The journal employs a double-blind peer-review process, ensuring that neither authors nor reviewers know each other’s identities. This model promotes fairness, minimizes bias, and strengthens the credibility of editorial decisions.

Each manuscript is reviewed by two or three independent experts. Editorial decisions are based on reviewers’ recommendations and the editor’s scholarly judgment.

Handling Allegations of Misconduct

The journal takes all allegations of research misconduct seriously. Misconduct includes, but is not limited to:

  • Plagiarism

  • Data fabrication or falsification

  • Duplicate publication

  • Undisclosed conflicts of interest

  • Unethical research practices

When allegations arise, the editorial team conducts a thorough investigation in accordance with COPE guidelines. Authors are given an opportunity to respond. Depending on the outcome, actions may include manuscript rejection, publication of corrections or retractions, and notification of relevant institutions.

Retractions, Corrections, and Expressions of Concern

If a published article is found to contain significant errors or ethical violations, the journal may issue:

  • Corrections for honest errors that do not invalidate findings

  • Retractions for unreliable or unethical research

  • Expressions of Concern when investigations are ongoing

All such notices are published transparently and linked to the original article.

Open Access Ethics and Licensing

As an open access journal, the Journal of General Psychology and Educational Sciences Studies ensures that all published content is freely available under the CC BY-NC 4.0 license. Ethical standards apply equally to open access publishing, and the payment of Article Processing Charges (APCs) does not influence editorial decisions.

Commitment to Ethical Publishing

The Journal of General Psychology and Educational Sciences Studies is dedicated to fostering ethical research practices, promoting academic honesty, and maintaining the integrity of the scholarly record. By submitting to or participating in the journal’s publication process, all parties agree to uphold the ethical principles outlined in this statement.