Ethical Principles
At Legal Studies in Digital Age, we are committed to maintaining the highest ethical standards in the publication of academic research. This page outlines the ethical responsibilities of all parties involved in the publishing process, including authors, reviewers, editors, and the journal itself. We adhere to internationally recognized guidelines and standards to ensure transparency, integrity, and fairness in the research and publication process.
Our editorial policies are informed by the principles set forth by organizations such as the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE), and the Open Access Scholarly Publishers Association (OASPA). By following these ethical guidelines, we aim to foster trust and credibility in the scholarly community, ensuring that the journal’s content is of the highest academic quality and reflects the values of ethical research and publishing.
Ethical Guidelines for Authors
Authors submitting their work to Legal Studies in Digital Age are expected to uphold the highest standards of research integrity and academic ethics. Below are the core ethical guidelines that authors must adhere to when submitting manuscripts:
1. Originality and Plagiarism
Authors must submit original work that has not been published elsewhere. Plagiarism in any form, whether it involves copying someone else's ideas, text, data, or figures, is strictly prohibited. All sources must be properly acknowledged and cited. Authors should ensure that their work is free from plagiarism, self-plagiarism (i.e., submitting their own previously published work without appropriate citation), and duplicate publication (i.e., submitting the same paper to multiple journals simultaneously).
To detect potential plagiarism, we use iThenticate software, which compares submitted manuscripts against a vast database of academic papers, books, websites, and other sources. If plagiarism is detected, the manuscript will be rejected, and the author will be notified accordingly.
2. Data Accuracy and Reproducibility
Authors must ensure that their research data is accurate and verifiable. The research findings should be presented transparently, with clear methodology and results that can be reproduced by others. Authors should avoid fabrication, falsification, or manipulation of data. If errors are discovered after publication, authors are expected to promptly notify the journal and work collaboratively to correct or retract the paper if necessary.
3. Conflicts of Interest
Authors must disclose any financial or non-financial conflicts of interest that may influence or bias their work. A conflict of interest includes, but is not limited to, any financial support, consultancy agreements, employment, or personal relationships that could influence the interpretation or reporting of the research. Full disclosure helps maintain transparency and ensures that readers can critically assess the results of the research.
4. Authorship
Authorship should accurately reflect the individuals who made significant contributions to the research. All authors must have made substantial intellectual contributions to the work and should be listed in the correct order, based on their contribution. Individuals who have not contributed significantly to the research should not be included as authors. Additionally, authors must ensure that all co-authors have approved the final version of the manuscript and have agreed to its submission and publication.
5. Ethical Approval and Informed Consent
If the research involves human participants, animals, or sensitive data, authors must ensure that appropriate ethical approvals were obtained from relevant ethics committees or review boards. Authors must also obtain informed consent from participants, where applicable, and adhere to privacy laws and regulations regarding data protection.
6. Citation and Acknowledgement
Proper citation of the work of others is essential. Authors should give credit to previous research by citing relevant studies and acknowledging any contributions made by others that informed their research. Additionally, authors should acknowledge any financial or institutional support in the form of grants, funding, or assistance.
7. Retractions and Corrections
In the event of significant errors or unethical practices being discovered in a published article, the authors must take immediate action to correct the error or retract the paper. Legal Studies in Digital Age follows a transparent and responsible approach to article retraction and correction, in line with COPE guidelines. If a paper needs to be retracted, a notice will be issued, and the article will be removed from the journal’s website. In cases of minor errors or inaccuracies, authors are encouraged to submit a correction or erratum.
Ethical Guidelines for Reviewers
The peer-review process is a critical component of ensuring the quality and credibility of the articles published in Legal Studies in Digital Age. Reviewers play a vital role in evaluating the validity, originality, and significance of submitted work. Reviewers are expected to adhere to the following ethical standards:
1. Confidentiality
Reviewers must treat all manuscripts as confidential documents. They should not share, discuss, or distribute the content of a manuscript with others unless authorized by the editor. Reviewers are prohibited from using the information in the manuscript to gain personal advantages or to influence their own research.
2. Objectivity and Fairness
Reviewers must evaluate manuscripts based solely on their academic merit, without regard to personal interests or biases. Reviews should be objective and constructive, providing the author with helpful feedback. Any criticism should be respectful and focused on improving the quality of the manuscript. Reviewers should not allow personal, political, or financial interests to affect their assessment of the work.
3. Conflict of Interest
Reviewers should disclose any potential conflicts of interest that could compromise their impartiality in reviewing a manuscript. If the reviewer has a close relationship with the authors, has worked on similar research, or has any other conflict of interest, they should recuse themselves from reviewing the manuscript and inform the journal editor.
4. Timeliness
Reviewers are expected to complete their reviews within the stipulated time frame. If a reviewer is unable to complete the review due to time constraints or any other reason, they should inform the editor as soon as possible. Prompt reviews ensure that the publication process is efficient and timely.
5. Respect for Authors’ Rights
Reviewers should respect the intellectual property rights of the authors. They should not copy, quote, or incorporate ideas from the manuscript into their own research without proper attribution. Reviewers must treat the manuscript as confidential and should not use the ideas or findings in the manuscript for their own benefit before it is published.
Ethical Guidelines for Editors
The editorial team at Legal Studies in Digital Age is responsible for overseeing the journal’s peer-review process, ensuring that published content meets the highest ethical standards, and upholding the integrity of the research published. Editors are held to the following ethical standards:
1. Editorial Independence
Editors must make decisions on manuscripts based solely on academic criteria, without any influence from personal, political, or commercial considerations. Editorial decisions should be made based on the quality, relevance, and rigor of the submitted research, and not be influenced by relationships with authors or funding bodies.
2. Fairness and Transparency
Editors are responsible for ensuring that all manuscripts are evaluated fairly and impartially. Manuscripts should be reviewed based on their academic merit, without any discrimination based on the author’s nationality, gender, race, or institutional affiliation. The peer-review process should be conducted transparently, with clear communication between the authors, reviewers, and editors.
3. Confidentiality
Editors must ensure the confidentiality of all manuscript submissions. They must not disclose any information regarding the manuscript to anyone other than the reviewers, unless required by law. The identities of authors and reviewers should remain anonymous during the review process (double-blind peer review).
4. Conflict of Interest
Editors should declare any potential conflicts of interest related to manuscripts they are overseeing. If an editor has a conflict of interest, such as a personal or professional relationship with the authors, they should recuse themselves from the decision-making process and assign the manuscript to another editor.
5. Handling Complaints and Appeals
Editors should establish a clear process for handling complaints and appeals from authors, reviewers, or readers regarding the content of published papers or the editorial process. If ethical misconduct is identified (e.g., plagiarism, falsification of data), editors must investigate the issue thoroughly and take appropriate action, including retracting or correcting the paper if necessary.
6. Promoting Ethical Publishing
Editors should actively promote ethical publishing practices and work to ensure that all authors, reviewers, and editorial board members adhere to the publication ethics outlined by the journal. They should encourage transparency, honesty, and fairness in all aspects of the publication process.
Ethical Guidelines for the Journal
As the publisher of Legal Studies in Digital Age, the journal is committed to maintaining high standards of academic publishing and adhering to ethical guidelines throughout the publication process. The journal takes responsibility for ensuring that all published research complies with ethical standards and is free from bias, misconduct, or unethical practices.
1. Promoting Integrity and Transparency
The journal promotes a transparent, accountable, and fair publishing process. We ensure that the authorship, review, and editorial processes are clearly explained to all stakeholders and are accessible for scrutiny.
2. Ensuring Academic Quality
The journal is committed to publishing only high-quality research that meets academic standards. To achieve this, we employ rigorous peer review and editorial processes to maintain academic integrity and uphold the credibility of the journal.
3. Addressing Ethical Violations
The journal has a clear and structured process for addressing any ethical violations that may arise in the publication process. This includes instances of plagiarism, data fabrication, and conflicts of interest. We adhere to the COPE guidelines for retractions and corrections and take swift action to address any misconduct.
4. Promoting Equal Access and Inclusion
We are committed to providing an equal opportunity for all researchers, regardless of their background, nationality, or institution. We encourage diversity and inclusivity in our editorial and review processes and aim to publish work from a wide range of perspectives and experiences.
By following these ethical guidelines, Legal Studies in Digital Age seeks to foster a trustworthy, transparent, and fair academic environment. We believe that adhering to these ethical principles is essential for maintaining the quality and integrity of the journal and ensuring that the research we publish makes a meaningful contribution to the field of legal studies in the digital age.
