Commitment to ethical publishing

IJSS Intercontinental Journal of Social Sciences is committed to maintaining high standards of ethical practice in scholarly publishing. The journal follows the core principles and best practice guidelines of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) to guide editorial decision-making, peer review conduct, and the handling of misconduct. All parties involved in the publication process, including authors, editors, reviewers, and the publisher, are expected to act with integrity, transparency, and academic responsibility.

Editorial responsibilities

Editors of IJSS Intercontinental Journal of Social Sciences are responsible for ensuring that all manuscripts are evaluated fairly, objectively, and solely on scholarly merit, originality, methodological quality, and relevance to the journal’s scope. Editorial decisions are not influenced by authors’ gender, ethnicity, institutional affiliation, nationality, or political beliefs.

Editors maintain strict confidentiality of submitted manuscripts and related correspondence. Unpublished materials disclosed in submissions must not be used by editors for their own research or personal advantage. Editors are also responsible for responding appropriately to ethical concerns and allegations of misconduct in line with COPE flowcharts and guidance.

Responsibilities of authors

Authors must submit original work that has not been published previously and is not under consideration elsewhere. Proper acknowledgement of sources is mandatory. Any form of plagiarism, data fabrication, data falsification, or misrepresentation constitutes unethical behaviour and is unacceptable.

Authorship should accurately reflect individual contributions, and all listed authors must approve the final manuscript before submission. Authors are required to disclose any financial or non-financial interests that could influence the interpretation of their findings.

For research involving human participants, authors must confirm that the study was conducted in accordance with recognised ethical standards and that ethical approval and informed consent were obtained where required.

Use of artificial intelligence tools

IJSS Intercontinental Journal of Social Sciences recognises the growing role of artificial intelligence tools in research and academic writing. Authors may use AI-assisted tools for language editing, idea organisation, or preliminary drafting, provided that such use does not replace scholarly judgement or intellectual contribution.

AI tools must not be listed as authors. Authors remain fully responsible for the accuracy, originality, and integrity of the submitted work, including ensuring that AI-assisted content does not contain plagiarism, fabricated references, or biased outputs. Any substantial use of AI tools must be transparently disclosed in the manuscript.

The journal reserves the right to request clarification regarding AI use and to take action if AI tools are used in ways that breach ethical standards.

Responsibilities of reviewers

Reviewers are expected to contribute to the peer review process in an objective, constructive, and timely manner. Manuscripts received for review must be treated as confidential and must not be shared or used for personal advantage.

Reviewers should identify relevant published work that has not been cited and notify the editor of any substantial similarity between the manuscript under review and other works. Reviewers must decline review invitations where a conflict of interest exists.

Peer review integrity

IJSS Intercontinental Journal of Social Sciences applies a rigorous peer review process consistent with COPE guidance. Review is conducted by subject specialists to support informed editorial decisions. The process is designed to ensure fairness, academic rigour, and respect for diverse scholarly perspectives.

Plagiarism and originality

The journal applies a strict policy against plagiarism, including self-plagiarism. Submitted manuscripts may be screened using plagiarism detection software. Where plagiarism or unethical conduct is identified before or after publication, appropriate action will be taken, which may include rejection, correction, or retraction of the article.

Research involving human participants

Research involving human participants must respect participants’ dignity, privacy, and rights. Authors must clearly state that ethical approval was obtained and that consent procedures complied with institutional, national, or international ethical guidelines.

Corrections, retractions, and expressions of concern

In accordance with COPE recommendations, IJSS Intercontinental Journal of Social Sciences is committed to preserving the integrity of the scholarly record. Corrections, retractions, or expressions of concern will be issued when necessary and handled transparently.

Handling of malpractice and complaints

Allegations of publication or research misconduct are investigated carefully, fairly, and confidentially. The journal follows COPE guidance when handling complaints and ethical concerns. Where misconduct is confirmed, appropriate corrective actions will be taken.

Publisher’s responsibility

The publisher of IJSS Intercontinental Journal of Social Sciences supports editorial independence and ensures that ethical standards are upheld throughout the publication process. Commercial interests do not influence editorial decisions. The publisher collaborates with the editorial team to address ethical issues responsibly and consistently.