Publication Ethics

DOP Journal is a peer-reviewed journal published by Dialectica Online Publishing (DOP). This journal is available in print and online, and strictly upholds publication ethics while avoiding all forms of plagiarism. This statement explains the ethical responsibilities of all parties involved in the publication process of an article in this journal, including the author, the editor-in-chief, the editorial board, the peer-reviewers, and the publisher (Dialectica Online Publishing). This statement is based on COPE’s Best Practice Guidelines for Journal Editors.

Ethical Guideline for Journal Publication

The publication of an article in a peer-reviewed journal such as DOP Journal is an essential building block in the development of a coherent and respected network of knowledge. It reflects directly the quality of the work of the authors and the institutions that support them. Peer-reviewed articles embody and support the scientific method. Therefore, it is important to agree upon standards of expected ethical behavior for all parties involved in the publishing process: the author, the journal editor, the peer reviewer, the publisher, and the academic community.

Dialectica Online Publishing (DOP), as the publisher of DOP Journal, takes its duties of guardianship over all publishing stages seriously and recognizes its ethical responsibilities. The publisher is committed to ensuring that advertising, reprints, or other commercial revenue has no impact or influence on editorial decisions. In addition, DOP and the Editorial Board will assist in communication with other journals and/or publishers whenever it is useful and necessary.

Publication Decisions

The editor of DOP Journal is responsible for deciding which articles submitted to the journal should be published. The validation of the work and its importance to researchers and readers must always drive such decisions. The editors may be guided by the policies of the editorial board and constrained by applicable legal requirements regarding libel, copyright infringement, and plagiarism. Editors may also consult with other editors or reviewers in making final decisions.

Fair Play

Editors evaluate manuscripts at any time for their intellectual content without consideration of the authors’ race, gender, sexual orientation, religious belief, ethnic origin, citizenship, or political philosophy.

Confidentiality

The editor and any editorial staff must not disclose information about a submitted manuscript to anyone other than the corresponding author, reviewers, potential reviewers, editorial advisers, and the publisher, as appropriate.

Disclosure and Conflicts of Interest

Unpublished materials disclosed in a submitted manuscript must not be used in an editor’s own research without the express written consent of the author.

Duties of Reviewers

  • Contribution to Editorial Decisions
    Peer review assists the editor in making editorial decisions and, through communication with authors, may help improve the manuscript.

  • Promptness
    Any selected referee who feels unqualified to review the research or knows that timely review is not possible should notify the editor and withdraw from the review process.

  • Confidentiality
    Manuscripts received for review must be treated as confidential documents and must not be shown to or discussed with others except as authorized by the editor.

  • Standards of Objectivity
    Reviews should be conducted objectively, and personal criticism of the author is inappropriate. Referees should express their views clearly with supporting arguments.

  • Acknowledgement of Sources
    Reviewers should identify relevant published work that has not been cited by the authors. Any similarity or overlap with other published papers should be reported to the editor.

  • Disclosure and Conflicts of Interest
    Privileged information obtained through peer review must be kept confidential and not used for personal advantage. Reviewers should not consider manuscripts where conflicts of interest exist.

Duties of Authors

  • Reporting Standards
    Authors of original research reports should present an accurate account of the work performed and an objective discussion of its significance. Sufficient detail and references should be provided to allow replication. Fraudulent or knowingly inaccurate statements are unethical and unacceptable.

  • Data Access and Retention
    Authors may be asked to provide the raw data for editorial review and should be prepared to provide public access when appropriate, while retaining data for a reasonable time after publication.

  • Originality and Plagiarism
    Authors must ensure their work is entirely original, and where others’ works are used, these must be properly cited or quoted.

  • Multiple, Redundant, or Concurrent Publication
    Authors should not publish manuscripts describing essentially the same research in more than one journal or primary publication. Submitting the same manuscript to multiple journals concurrently is unacceptable.

  • Acknowledgement of Sources
    Proper acknowledgment of the work of others must always be given. Influential publications must be cited.

  • Authorship of the Paper
    Authorship should be limited to those who have made a significant contribution to the conception, design, execution, or interpretation of the study. All significant contributors must be listed as co-authors, while others may be acknowledged. The corresponding author must ensure that all co-authors have approved the final manuscript and agreed to submission.

  • Disclosure and Conflicts of Interest
    All authors must disclose any financial or substantive conflicts of interest that could influence the results or interpretation of their work. Sources of financial support should also be acknowledged.

  • Fundamental Errors in Published Works
    When an author discovers a significant error or inaccuracy in their own published work, it is their obligation to promptly notify the journal editor or publisher and cooperate to retract or correct the paper.