Publication Ethics

PUBLICATION ETHICS

The Journal of Physics in Teaching, Educational Research, and Applications (JPTERA) is committed to maintaining the highest standards of publication ethics. This statement is based on the guidelines of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE). All parties involved in the publication process—authors, editors, reviewers, and the publisher—must comply with the following ethical responsibilities:

1. Ethical Responsibilities of Authors

- Submit original and unpublished manuscripts not under consideration elsewhere.

- Ensure that data presented are accurate, valid, and ethically obtained.

- Avoid all forms of plagiarism, including self-plagiarism.

- Cite all sources and previous relevant works properly.

- Ensure all listed authors have significantly contributed to the research.

- Disclose any potential conflicts of interest.

- Provide additional data or clarification when requested.

- Report any significant errors found after submission or publication.

2. Ethical Responsibilities of Editors

- Make publication decisions based on academic merit, originality, and relevance.

- Ensure a fair, unbiased, and timely review process.

- Maintain confidentiality of all submitted manuscripts and reviewer identities.

- Avoid conflicts of interest when handling manuscripts.

- Address ethical issues, including plagiarism and misconduct.

- Ensure published articles meet scientific and ethical standards.

3. Ethical Responsibilities of Reviewers

- Provide objective, constructive, and timely reviews.

- Maintain confidentiality of the manuscript.

- Declare any conflicts of interest before reviewing.

- Not use manuscript information for personal gain.

- Identify relevant literature not cited by authors and report ethical concerns.

4. Ethical Responsibilities of the Publisher

- Support the editorial process to ensure integrity of published content.

- Cooperate with editors in handling ethical issues, corrections, and retractions.

- Ensure digital preservation and long-term accessibility of published manuscripts.

5. Handling of Ethical Issues and Complaints

Ethical violations such as plagiarism, data fabrication, duplicate publication, or unethical research practices follow COPE flowcharts. Actions may include:

- Requesting author clarification

- Revisions or corrections

- Retraction of the article

- Notification to the author’s institution

6. Plagiarism Screening

All manuscripts are screened using Turnitin or similar tools. Manuscripts with similarity above 20% (excluding references) may be returned or rejected.

7. Research Ethics and Informed Consent

Studies involving human subjects, animals, or sensitive data must:

- Obtain approval from an institutional ethics committee

- Include informed consent where applicable

8. Retraction Policy

Articles may be retracted for ethical violations, major errors, fabricated data, or duplicate publication. Retraction notices follow COPE guidelines.