Editorial Ethics Policy

Editorial Ethics

The journal adheres to the principles and guidelines established by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), internationally recognized as a framework for academic integrity, editorial transparency, institutional responsibility, and the promotion of best practices in scholarly communication. These principles guide all stages of the editorial process, from manuscript submission to publication and post-publication follow-up, ensuring independent, ethically grounded decisions consistent with contemporary standards of academic publishing.

Authorship and Contribution

Authors and reviewers must manage all submissions and evaluations through the journal’s editorial system. In cases where inconsistencies, discrepancies, or indications of identity misrepresentation are detected between registered credentials and declared identity, formal verification mechanisms will be activated. If identity cannot be reliably and documentarily confirmed, the editorial process will be suspended. If such situations are identified after publication, the article may be subject to correction, expression of concern, or retraction, depending on the severity of the case.

Authorship criteria are defined in the author guidelines and aligned with international standards of scientific publishing. Authorship is restricted exclusively to those who have made substantial intellectual contributions to the work. Each author must have significantly contributed to at least one of the following stages: study conception or design; data acquisition, analysis, or interpretation; development of software, models, or tools where applicable; drafting of the manuscript or critical revision with relevant intellectual content. All authors must approve the submitted version and assume public responsibility for both their individual contributions and the overall integrity of the work.

Individual contributions must be explicitly declared during submission, using full names or initials of the authors. These statements must clearly detail each author’s role in study design, data collection and analysis, manuscript drafting, and critical revisions. The inclusion of authors who have not effectively contributed to the final version of the work constitutes a breach of editorial ethics.

Before manuscript submission, authors must meet the following conditions: properly acknowledge prior academic literature through appropriate citations; ensure the originality of the work and that it has not been published or simultaneously submitted elsewhere; obtain explicit approval from all authors; and hold the necessary legal rights to submit the work and grant the journal publication rights under an open-access license. Any third-party material must have the appropriate permissions, which may be requested by the journal. All information presented must be truthful, complete, and consistent with current scientific and ethical standards, and all data and materials must have been obtained in accordance with applicable legal regulations. Authors agree that their names, affiliations, and contact details may be displayed on the journal’s website and indexing platforms.

Authorship-related issues are monitored throughout all stages of the editorial process. Any changes after submission, including modifications in authorship order or the addition or removal of authors, require written consent from all parties involved. In the event of unresolved disputes, the editorial process will be suspended until a formal resolution is reached.

Research Ethics Statement

All research submitted must comply with recognized ethical principles applicable to the relevant discipline. Manuscripts involving human or animal participants must explicitly indicate, in the Methods section, approval granted by a competent ethics committee or institutional review board. When no formal ethical review process exists, authors must justify this and describe in detail the safeguards implemented to ensure compliance with relevant ethical principles. Informed consent from human participants is mandatory, except in cases where a justified and documented exception applies.

Conflicts of Interest

All authors must transparently disclose any financial, professional, or personal relationships that could be perceived as influencing the research or interpretation of results. Conflict of interest statements must be submitted at the time of manuscript submission. The identification of undisclosed conflicts during the review process will result in temporary suspension until clarification is provided. Conflicts identified after publication may lead to corrections, expressions of concern, or retractions, depending on the nature and severity of the case.

Disclosure of Financial Support and Funding Sources

Authors must fully and transparently disclose all sources of funding related to the research presented. This information must include the official name of funding entities, grant or project numbers where applicable, and a clear description of the funders’ involvement in study design, data collection and analysis, interpretation of results, manuscript preparation, or publication decisions.

If the research did not receive external funding, this must be explicitly stated. Disclosure of funding sources ensures academic transparency and does not imply any influence on the editorial process. The journal does not charge article processing fees nor derive financial benefits from funded projects; all editorial decisions are made independently and based solely on academic, scientific, and ethical criteria. Omission or misrepresentation of funding information constitutes a breach of publication ethics.

Acknowledgment of Non-Author Contributions

Individuals who contributed to the development of the work without meeting authorship criteria must be acknowledged in an Acknowledgments section. These contributions may include technical support, methodological advice, language editing, or academic feedback, without implying responsibility for the article’s content. Inclusion of names requires prior explicit consent. Acknowledgments must be concise and limited to relevant contributions.

Data and Reproducibility

The journal actively promotes transparency, openness, and reproducibility in scientific research. Manuscripts will only be considered for publication when data, methods, materials, and analytical procedures are described in sufficient detail to allow verification or replication. Authors using public datasets must provide the necessary documentation, code, and scripts to reproduce analyses. Authors generating original data must deposit them in reliable digital repositories, unless ethical or legal restrictions apply. In such cases, limitations must be explained, and access procedures described.

Ethical Oversight

All research must comply with ethical, legal, and regulatory frameworks in force in the country where the study was conducted, especially in cases involving vulnerable populations or contexts. Authors must ensure the protection of participants’ rights, dignity, and confidentiality, as well as proper data anonymization. Any concerns regarding ethical compliance will be evaluated through formal, transparent, and proportionate procedures, allowing authors the opportunity to respond. Outcomes may include manuscript rejection, corrections, or notification to relevant institutions.

Preprints

Authors are permitted to disseminate preliminary versions of their manuscripts (preprints) through personal websites, institutional repositories, or non-commercial preprint servers. Preprint dissemination is not considered prior publication and does not preclude subsequent evaluation by the journal. Authors retain copyright over such versions and must update the preprint record by including a link to the final published version once available.

Profiles and Responsibilities

Reviewer Profile
Reviewers are researchers and professionals with demonstrated expertise in the journal’s subject areas. They must possess advanced academic training and relevant scientific experience, evidenced by peer-reviewed publications and active engagement in the academic community. Their work is governed by principles of independence, objectivity, and confidentiality, and they must not have conflicts of interest with authors, institutions, or manuscript outcomes.

Reviewer Responsibilities
Reviewers are responsible for:
– Critically, impartially, and constructively evaluating manuscripts based solely on academic quality, methodological rigor, originality, and scientific relevance.
– Strictly preserving the confidentiality of reviewed content.
– Declaring any real or potential conflicts of interest.
– Providing clear, respectful, and well-justified reports within established deadlines.
– Identifying potential ethical concerns such as plagiarism, data manipulation, or redundant publication.
– Refraining from using generative AI tools to produce review reports or substantive evaluations.
– Contributing to manuscript improvement without assuming editorial or authorship roles.

Authors
Authors are responsible for:
– Ensuring originality and exclusive submission.
– Confirming that all listed authors meet authorship criteria and approve the final version.
– Accurately declaring contributions using the CRediT taxonomy.
– Ensuring accuracy, integrity, and traceability of data and results.
– Complying with ethical standards, including approvals and informed consent.
– Disclosing conflicts of interest and funding sources.
– Obtaining permissions for third-party materials.
– Responding to editorial and reviewer comments appropriately.
– Assuming full responsibility for the content, including when AI tools are used.
– Cooperating in post-publication processes when required.

Editors and Editorial Board

Editors and Editorial Board members are academics with recognized expertise and editorial experience in the journal’s fields. Their work is based on academic independence, professional integrity, and commitment to scientific excellence.

The Editorial Board advises on editorial policy, thematic scope, and academic strategy, contributing to strengthening scientific and ethical standards.

Responsibilities of Editors and the Editorial Board
– Ensure a fair, rigorous, and transparent peer review process.
– Make decisions based solely on scientific quality, originality, and relevance.
– Appoint qualified reviewers and prevent conflicts of interest.
– Protect confidentiality.
– Oversee ethical compliance and responsible use of emerging technologies, including AI.
– Act on misconduct allegations using clear procedures.
– Manage corrections, expressions of concern, and retractions.
– Preserve editorial independence.
– Promote continuous improvement of the journal.

Misconduct Allegations

Allegations of scientific or editorial misconduct are handled confidentially, diligently, and fairly, in accordance with internationally recognized ethical standards and COPE principles.

Each case is assessed individually. All parties are given the opportunity to respond. Confirmed misconduct may result in rejection, corrections, expressions of concern, retraction, or notification to relevant institutions.

Reports should be sent to: editorial@jogbeditorial.ec

Complaints

Complaints regarding editorial decisions, peer review processes, or journal conduct are handled seriously and evaluated transparently and impartially. Valid complaints lead to corrective actions.

Complaints should be sent to: editorial@jogbeditorial.ec

Post-Publication Policies

Published articles constitute the official academic record and are not modified except in exceptional, justified cases. When necessary, the journal may issue corrections, expressions of concern, or retractions following ethical procedures. Retracted articles remain accessible and clearly marked.

The journal encourages post-publication academic debate. Comments, replies, or discussions may be considered for publication after editorial evaluation and, when appropriate, peer review. Post-publication concerns may lead to editorial actions to protect the integrity and reliability of the scientific record.