Publication Ethics and Malpractice Statement

Frontiers in Social Sciences Research (FSSR) is committed to upholding the highest ethical standards in scholarly publishing. The journal follows the guidelines of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) to ensure transparency, fairness, and academic integrity in all stages of publication.

Responsibilities of Authors

  • Authors must submit original, unpublished work that is not under consideration elsewhere.
  • All sources used must be properly cited following APA 7th edition style.
  • Authors must disclose any conflicts of interest.
  • Plagiarism, self-plagiarism, data fabrication, or falsification are strictly prohibited.
  • Authors are responsible for obtaining permissions for copyrighted materials.

Responsibilities of Editors

  • Editors evaluate manuscripts solely on academic merit, without bias regarding gender, race, religion, institutional affiliation, or political views.
  • Editors ensure that the peer review process is confidential, fair, and timely.
  • Editorial decisions are based on originality, clarity, relevance, and contribution to the field.
  • Editors must not use unpublished material from submissions for their own research.

Responsibilities of Reviewers

  • Reviewers must provide constructive, objective, and timely feedback.
  • They must maintain confidentiality of the manuscripts under review.
  • Reviewers should declare any conflicts of interest and decline assignments if necessary.
  • They must identify relevant published work not cited by the authors.

Responsibilities of the Publisher

  • The publisher ensures that the journal operates with academic independence and without undue influence.
  • Cases of suspected misconduct (plagiarism, duplicate publication, unethical research practices) will be investigated in accordance with COPE guidelines.
  • Retractions, corrections, or expressions of concern will be issued when necessary.

Dealing with Misconduct

  • Allegations of misconduct are handled according to COPE flowcharts.
  • Proven cases of plagiarism or unethical conduct may result in rejection, retraction, or institutional notification.