Publication Ethics and Misconduct

Journal of Earth, Environment, and Sustainability Education (JEESE) is a peer-reviewed scholarly journal. This statement outlines the ethical standards expected of all parties involved in the publication process, including authors, the Editor-in-Chief, Editorial Board members, reviewers, and the publisher, CV. Dharma Samakta Edukhatulistiwa. It also explains how the journal handles allegations of research misconduct. This policy is guided by the principles and best practices of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).


Ethical Guidelines for Journal Publication

The publication of articles in JEESE contributes to the development of a credible, coherent, and impactful body of knowledge in Earth, environmental, and sustainability education. Published articles reflect the quality of scholarly work of authors and their institutions. Therefore, all parties involved in the publication process are expected to uphold the highest ethical standards.

As the publisher, CV. Dharma Samakta Edukhatulistiwa is committed to ensuring that editorial decisions are made independently, without influence from commercial interests, advertising, sponsorship, or other external pressures. The editorial process must remain fair, transparent, and academically grounded.


Allegations of Research Misconduct

Research misconduct includes, but is not limited to:

  • Fabrication and falsification of data
  • Plagiarism and improper citation practices
  • Data manipulation
  • Unethical authorship practices
  • Citation manipulation and other serious violations of research ethics

When misconduct is suspected, the Editor-in-Chief and Editorial Board are responsible for safeguarding the integrity of the scholarly record. JEESE investigates all allegations seriously, fairly, and confidentially, following COPE-informed procedures.

If misconduct is confirmed:

  • Submitted manuscripts will be rejected
  • Published articles may be subject to correction, expression of concern, retraction, or retraction and replacement

The journal may request clarification from authors and, if necessary, involve independent experts or contact the authors’ institutions for formal investigation.


Publication Decisions

The Editor-in-Chief is responsible for deciding which manuscripts should be published. Decisions are based on:

  • Scholarly merit and originality
  • Methodological rigor
  • Clarity and coherence
  • Relevance to the journal’s scope
  • Contribution to the field

Editorial decisions may involve consultation with reviewers and Editorial Board members and must comply with applicable legal and ethical standards.


Complaints and Appeals

JEESE provides a mechanism for handling complaints and appeals related to:

  • Editorial decisions
  • Peer review processes
  • Reviewer or editor conduct
  • Publication ethics and conflicts of interest

All complaints are handled objectively, transparently, and in a timely manner, following COPE guidance where applicable.


Post-Publication Discussion and Corrections

JEESE encourages responsible academic discussion after publication. When necessary, the journal may issue:

  • Corrections
  • Expressions of concern
  • Retractions

This ensures the integrity and accuracy of the scholarly record.


Fair Play

Editors evaluate manuscripts based solely on academic merit and relevance, without discrimination based on race, gender, religion, nationality, institutional affiliation, or political perspective.


Confidentiality

Editors and editorial staff must maintain confidentiality regarding submitted manuscripts. Information may only be shared with relevant parties involved in the editorial process.


Disclosure and Conflicts of Interest

Editors and reviewers must not use unpublished materials for personal research without written consent from the authors. Any conflicts of interest must be disclosed, and affected individuals must withdraw from the review process.


Duties of Reviewers

Contribution to Editorial Decisions

Peer review assists editors in making decisions and helps authors improve their manuscripts.

Promptness

Reviewers should decline promptly if they are unqualified or unable to review within the required timeframe.

Confidentiality

Manuscripts must be treated as confidential documents.

Standards of Objectivity

Reviews must be conducted fairly, objectively, and constructively.

Acknowledgement of Sources

Reviewers should identify uncited relevant work and report similarities or overlaps.

Conflicts of Interest

Reviewers must avoid manuscripts where conflicts of interest exist.


Duties of Authors

Reporting Standards

Authors must present accurate, honest, and transparent research.

Data Access and Retention

Authors should retain and, where appropriate, share supporting data.

Originality and Plagiarism

All work must be original and properly cited.

Multiple or Concurrent Submission

Simultaneous submission to multiple journals is prohibited.

Acknowledgement of Sources

All relevant prior work must be properly cited.

Authorship and Contributorship

Authorship must reflect significant contributions only.

Conflicts of Interest

All potential conflicts must be disclosed.

Errors in Published Works

Authors must report significant errors and cooperate in corrections or retractions.

Ethical Oversight

Research involving humans, animals, or sensitive data must comply with ethical standards and approvals.


Data Sharing Policy

JEESE supports responsible research transparency and encourages authors to share data, methods, and materials where appropriate, while respecting ethical, legal, and privacy considerations.


Anti-Plagiarism Policy

All manuscripts submitted to JEESE must be original and free from plagiarism. Manuscripts must not have been published or submitted elsewhere.

To ensure originality, manuscripts may be screened using plagiarism detection tools such as Turnitin or similar systems.

Manuscripts containing plagiarism, significant overlap, fabricated citations, or other ethical violations may be rejected immediately. Serious cases may result in sanctions, including restrictions on future submissions.