Ethical Considerations and Plagiarism Policy

The Journal of Sustainable Development and Policy (JSDP) is committed to upholding the highest standards of ethical publishing and academic integrity. As an interdisciplinary platform that bridges academic inquiry with real-world policy applications, we recognize the importance of transparency, accountability, and fairness in the publication process. Our ethical policies are guided by international best practices, particularly those outlined by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and aligned with the Principles of Transparency and Best Practice in Scholarly Publishing.

This section sets out the ethical responsibilities of authors, editors, reviewers, and publishers, with a specific focus on originality, authorship, conflict of interest, data integrity, and plagiarism prevention.

 

1. Responsibilities of Authors

Authors submitting to JSDP must ensure that their work meets the following ethical standards:

a. Originality and Plagiarism

All submissions must be the author’s original work and must not contain material that has been copied, paraphrased, or adapted from other sources without appropriate citation. The journal defines plagiarism to include:

  • Direct copying of text from another source without quotation or citation
  • Substantial paraphrasing of another work without credit
  • Reuse of published figures, data, or tables without permission
  • Self-plagiarism or redundant publication of one’s previously published work

All manuscripts are screened using plagiarism detection software before peer review. Manuscripts that exceed acceptable similarity thresholds (typically >15% unquoted, unattributed material) may be returned, revised, or rejected.

b. Authorship Criteria

Authorship should be limited to individuals who have made a significant contribution to the conception, design, execution, or interpretation of the reported study. All authors must:

  • Approve the final version of the manuscript
  • Agree to be accountable for the content
  • Provide their full name, institutional affiliation, and contribution details
  • Identify a corresponding author responsible for communication with the journal

Contributors who do not meet authorship criteria (e.g., language editors, data collectors, funders) should be acknowledged appropriately in a footnote or acknowledgments section.

c. Multiple, Redundant, or Concurrent Submissions

JSDP does not permit the simultaneous submission of the same manuscript to more than one journal. Authors must disclose any related work under consideration or in press elsewhere. Duplicate submissions will result in immediate rejection and possible reporting to the other journal or the author's institution.

 

2. Research Ethics and Data Integrity

a. Human and Animal Subjects

For research involving human participants, authors must confirm that:

  • The study received ethical approval from an institutional review board or ethics committee
  • Informed consent was obtained from all participants
  • Confidentiality and data protection standards were upheld

Where relevant, the manuscript must include the name of the approving body and approval number. For studies involving vulnerable populations, such as minors, refugees, or marginalized groups, additional safeguards should be disclosed.

For research involving animals, the authors must demonstrate compliance with internationally accepted animal welfare guidelines and provide ethics approval documentation.

b. Data Accuracy and Reproducibility

Authors are expected to report data accurately and transparently. Fabrication, falsification, or selective reporting of data constitutes a serious breach of ethics. Authors should be prepared to:

  • Provide raw data or supplementary materials upon request
  • Describe methods in sufficient detail to allow reproducibility
  • Correct any errors discovered after publication

If data has been re-used from another project, it must be clearly cited and permissions obtained where applicable.

 

3. Conflict of Interest Disclosure

Authors, reviewers, and editors are expected to disclose any financial, institutional, or personal relationships that may influence the objectivity or interpretation of their work. Conflicts of interest may include:

  • Financial support from a third party (e.g., corporations, NGOs)
  • Advisory or consultancy roles
  • Intellectual property or patent ownership
  • Personal relationships or rivalries that may bias evaluation

A clear conflict of interest statement must be included in the manuscript under a separate heading. If there are no conflicts, authors should declare: “The authors declare no conflicts of interest.”

 

4. Peer Review Ethics

All submitted manuscripts are subject to double-blind peer review to ensure objectivity and scholarly rigor. Reviewers must:

  • Maintain confidentiality and not disclose any manuscript content
  • Provide fair, evidence-based, and respectful evaluations
  • Recuse themselves from reviewing if a conflict of interest exists
  • Avoid using unpublished material from the manuscript for their own benefit

Editors are responsible for selecting qualified reviewers, ensuring reviewer anonymity, and safeguarding against any bias, favoritism, or unethical behavior during the review process.

 

5. Post-Publication Corrections, Retractions, and Complaints

JSDP takes allegations of research misconduct seriously and will act promptly when ethical concerns are raised about published work.

a. Corrections

If an error is discovered post-publication (e.g., mislabeling, authorship mistake, or citation error), the editorial office will publish a correction (erratum or corrigendum) to ensure scholarly transparency.

b. Retractions

Retractions will be issued if an article is found to contain:

  • Plagiarized content
  • Falsified or fabricated data
  • Undisclosed conflicts of interest
  • Ethical violations involving human or animal subjects

The original article will be marked as retracted but remain accessible with a linked retraction notice.

c. Complaints and Appeals

Authors, reviewers, or readers may submit complaints about unethical behavior, editorial bias, or procedural errors by contacting:
ethics@americanscholarly.us

All complaints will be investigated in accordance with COPE procedures and, where necessary, institutional cooperation may be sought.

 

6. Publisher Responsibilities

The publisher of JSDP is committed to ethical transparency, fair editorial oversight, and long-term scholarly stewardship. The publisher:

  • Ensures proper digital archiving and data security
  • Maintains the integrity of the academic record
  • Supports editorial independence and editorial board autonomy
  • Responds to ethical allegations with due diligence and neutrality

 

7. Ethical Education and Capacity Building

In support of inclusive and responsible publishing, JSDP offers:

  • Editorial guidance and templates for ethical declarations
  • Author workshops on avoiding plagiarism and responsible writing
  • Resources for early-career researchers on peer review and publication standards
  • Transparent waiver policies to reduce financial barriers to ethical publication