Publication Ethics

Magistra Andalusia: Jurnal Ilmu Sastra is dedicated to upholding the highest standards of ethical behavior at all stages of the publication process, in full compliance with the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) Core Practices. We are committed to ensuring the integrity of research, maintaining the transparency of editorial decisions, and safeguarding the scholarly record. Below is a comprehensive overview of our policies regarding ethical responsibilities for editors, authors, reviewers, and the publisher.

1. Allegations of Misconduct

Magistra Andalusia takes all allegations of misconduct seriously, whether raised before or after publication. This includes, but is not limited to, issues of plagiarism, data falsification, duplicate submissions, and ethical breaches in research involving human or animal subjects. We have a clear process for handling such allegations:

  • Pre-publication Misconduct: Allegations raised before publication will prompt an immediate investigation. Manuscripts will be put on hold while the investigation is conducted.
  • Post-publication Misconduct: If an allegation arises after publication, we will follow COPE guidelines for investigation. If necessary, we will issue corrections, retractions, or expressions of concern.
  • Whistleblowers: We encourage whistleblowers to report ethical breaches and assure that their concerns will be addressed confidentially.

For detailed guidance, we follow COPE's resources, such as handling cases of concurrent submissions of a manuscript to multiple journals.

2. Authorship and Contributorship

Clear policies on authorship and contributorship are essential to ensure transparency regarding who contributed to the work and in what capacity. All authors listed on a manuscript must have made a substantial contribution to the research and approved the final version of the manuscript. Disputes over authorship will be resolved by following COPE’s recommended practices.

  • Contributor Roles: Authors must specify the contributions of each co-author during the submission process to maintain transparency.
  • Authorship Disputes: In case of disputes, we will refer to COPE’s guidelines to resolve disagreements amicably.

For further resources, refer to contributor roles of contributing authors.

3. Complaints and Appeals

We have established a transparent process for handling complaints about the journal, its staff, or its editorial decisions. Authors, reviewers, and readers may raise complaints, and we commit to resolving them fairly and promptly. Appeals related to editorial decisions must be submitted in writing, and a panel of editors will review the case impartially.

  • Handling Complaints: Complaints about editorial practices or ethical concerns will be reviewed by the editor-in-chief, and actions will be taken in accordance with COPE guidelines.
  • Appeal Process: Authors may appeal decisions by providing substantial evidence for reconsideration.

For additional resources, see how to handle an undisclosed conflict of interest.

4. Conflicts of Interest / Competing Interests

Conflicts of interest (COI) must be declared by all parties involved in the publication process, including authors, reviewers, editors, and the journal’s staff. We define COIs as any situation where personal or financial interests may influence judgment or objectivity.

  • Authors: Authors must disclose any funding sources, institutional affiliations, or financial relationships that could be perceived as influencing their research.
  • Editors and Reviewers: Editors and reviewers must declare any COIs and recuse themselves from handling manuscripts where such conflicts exist.

For more information, please refer to COPE's cases on handling undisclosed conflicts of interest.

5. Data and Reproducibility

We encourage the highest standards of data transparency and reproducibility. Authors are encouraged to share their datasets when possible, ensuring that their research can be independently verified and reproduced.

  • Data Availability: Authors must clearly state whether their data is available, and where applicable, provide links to publicly accessible datasets.
  • Reporting Guidelines: Authors are required to follow reporting guidelines relevant to their field and ensure transparency in their research methods and findings.

For detailed resources, see how to handle potential image integrity flags.

6. Ethical Oversight

We are committed to ensuring that all research published in Magistra Andalusia adheres to the highest ethical standards, particularly in research involving human or animal subjects.

  • Informed Consent: Authors must confirm that informed consent was obtained for research involving human participants.
  • Vulnerable Populations: Special consideration is given to research involving vulnerable populations, and authors must provide detailed ethical justifications for such studies.

For additional guidance, refer to the COPE case on suspicion that signed informed consent forms are forged.

7. Intellectual Property

All submissions to Magistra Andalusia must be original and free from plagiarism. Authors are required to properly attribute the work of others and ensure that their manuscript does not infringe on the intellectual property rights of others.

  • Plagiarism Detection: All manuscripts are screened for plagiarism using industry-standard plagiarism detection software.
  • Redundant Publication: Manuscripts submitted to Magistra Andalusia must not be under consideration by any other journal. Redundant publication will result in immediate rejection or retraction.

For further resources, see how to handle plagiarism by a possible predatory journal.

8. Journal Management

Magistra Andalusia is managed by an editorial board of subject-area experts, with clear and transparent editorial policies. The journal is editorially independent, and all decisions are made without any influence from business or financial interests.

  • Business Model: The journal follows a clear open-access business model, supported by Universitas Andalas. There are no hidden fees, and all publishing charges (if applicable) are transparent.
  • Training: We provide regular training to our editorial board and staff to ensure they are up to date with the latest publication ethics and best practices.

For additional guidance, refer to COPE’s resources on developing policies.

9. Peer Review Processes

Magistra Andalusia follows a double-blind peer review process, where both the authors and the reviewers remain anonymous to ensure fairness and impartiality. Peer reviewers are selected based on their expertise, and all reviews are conducted with a focus on providing constructive feedback.

  • Transparency in Review: The peer review process is clearly described on the journal’s website, and we provide regular feedback to reviewers to maintain high standards of quality.
  • Handling Disputes: In cases of disagreement between reviewers or disputes over reviews, we follow COPE guidelines to ensure fair resolution.

For more information, refer to the COPE case on citation manipulation in a conference proceeding.

10. Post-publication Discussions and Corrections

We allow for and encourage post-publication discussions and debates regarding published articles, both through letters to the editor and external moderated platforms like PubPeer. Furthermore, we have a clear process for issuing corrections, retractions, or expressions of concern if issues are identified in published content.

  • Corrections and Retractions: If a significant error or ethical issue is identified in a published article, the journal will issue a correction, retraction, or expression of concern following COPE’s best practices.
  • Post-publication Commentary: Readers are encouraged to engage with the journal’s content, and we welcome constructive criticism and discussions post-publication.

For more details, see how to handle duplicate publication of the same article.

By adhering to these publication ethics, Magistra Andalusia ensures the highest level of academic integrity and fosters trust among authors, reviewers, and readers. We remain dedicated to promoting ethical research and maintaining transparency at every stage of the publication process.