Publication Ethics & Malpractice Statement

Publication Ethics and Malpractice Statement

INKLUSI: Journal of Disability Studies is committed to upholding the highest standards of publication ethics and academic integrity. The journal adopts internationally recognised best practices in scholarly publishing and refers to the principles and guidelines of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) in addressing ethical issues, alleged misconduct, and publication disputes.

Duties and Responsibilities of the Editor-in-Chief

The Editor-in-Chief has overall responsibility for the journal’s academic quality, editorial integrity, and strategic direction. The Editor-in-Chief oversees editorial policies, ensures compliance with ethical standards, makes final decisions on manuscripts, and leads the handling of ethical issues, appeals, and serious cases of publication misconduct in accordance with COPE guidelines.

Duties and Responsibilities of Editors

Editors are responsible for ensuring a fair, independent, and confidential editorial process through a double-blind peer review system. Editorial decisions are based on scholarly merit, originality, relevance to the journal’s scope, and methodological rigor. Editors manage conflicts of interest, safeguard confidentiality, and support the resolution of ethical concerns.

Duties and Responsibilities of the Managing Editor

The Managing Editor is responsible for coordinating the day-to-day editorial workflow, ensuring adherence to journal policies, ethical standards, and publication schedules. The Managing Editor facilitates communication among authors, reviewers, and editors, maintains editorial records, and supports the implementation of editorial decisions.

Duties and Responsibilities of Authors

Authors are responsible for submitting original work, accurately reporting research data and findings, and properly acknowledging all sources. Manuscripts must not be under consideration or published elsewhere. Authors must disclose any conflicts of interest, obtain appropriate ethical approval for research involving human participants, and cooperate with the editorial process, including revisions or post-publication corrections.

Duties and Responsibilities of Reviewers

Reviewers are responsible for providing objective, constructive, and timely evaluations based on academic merit. Reviewers must maintain confidentiality, disclose any conflicts of interest, and inform editors of any suspected ethical issues, including plagiarism or research misconduct.

Plagiarism Policy

INKLUSI applies a zero-tolerance policy toward plagiarism, including self-plagiarism and redundant publication. All submissions are screened using Turnitin. The maximum allowable similarity index is 25%, excluding references, properly cited quotations, and commonly used methodological expressions. Manuscripts exceeding this threshold may be rejected or withdrawn in line with COPE recommendations.

Conflict of Interest

All parties involved in the publication process (authors, editors, managing editors, reviewers, and the Editor-in-Chief) must disclose any financial, institutional, or personal relationships that could influence the research or editorial process. Any identified conflicts of interest are managed transparently to protect the integrity of the journal.

Corrections, Retractions, and Misconduct

The journal will issue corrections, retractions, or expressions of concern when significant errors or ethical breaches are identified after publication. All allegations of misconduct are handled in accordance with COPE procedures.

Withdrawal Policy

Authors are expected to demonstrate a strong commitment to the publication process once a manuscript has been submitted to the journal. Withdrawal of a manuscript is only permitted under limited and justifiable circumstances and must follow the formal procedures established by the journal.

1. Withdrawal Before Peer Review

Authors may request withdrawal of their manuscript before it is sent for peer review. Such requests must be submitted in writing to the editorial office, stating clear and reasonable grounds. The withdrawal will be processed upon editorial confirmation.

2. Withdrawal During Peer Review

Withdrawal of a manuscript during the peer review process is not permitted.

Once a manuscript has entered the review stage, the evaluation process involves significant time, effort, and commitment from reviewers and editors. Therefore, withdrawal at this stage is considered to undermine the integrity of the editorial process.

Exceptions may only be granted under very limited and urgent circumstances, with strong justification and subject to formal approval by the Editor-in-Chief.

3. Withdrawal After Acceptance (Post-Acceptance Stage)

Once a manuscript has been formally accepted for publication, withdrawal is generally not permitted. At this stage, the manuscript has undergone substantial editorial and peer review processes, and the journal has committed resources to its publication.

4. Withdrawal at Final Production Stage

Manuscripts that have entered the final stages of publication including copyediting, layout, proofreading, and final preparation for publication cannot be withdrawn.

Withdrawal at this stage is considered a breach of publication ethics, as it disregards the significant time, effort, and resources invested by reviewers, editors, and journal management.

Exceptions may only be granted under extraordinary circumstances, subject to formal evaluation and approval by the Editor-in-Chief.

5. Procedure for Withdrawal Requests

All withdrawal requests must:

Be submitted in writing by the corresponding author;
Include a clear and detailed justification;
Be confirmed by all co-authors;
Be addressed to the editorial office through the journal’s official communication channels (OJS or email).

Each request will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis, and the final decision will be communicated to the author(s) by the editorial team.

6. Ethical Implications and Sanctions

Unjustified withdrawal, including during the peer review stage or advanced stages of the editorial and production process, may be considered a violation of publication ethics.

In such cases, the journal reserves the right to: