Publication Ethics

Journal of Christian Religious Education and Theology (JCRET)

1. Introduction

The Journal of Christian Religious Education and Theology (JCRET) is committed to upholding the highest ethical standards in academic publishing. This publication ethics statement is based on the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) guidelines and applies to all parties involved in the publication process, including authors, editors, peer reviewers, and the publisher.

2. Duties of Authors

Authors submitting manuscripts to JCRET must adhere to the following ethical principles:

Originality and Plagiarism: The submitted manuscript must be an original work and free from plagiarism. Any use of others’ work must be properly cited.
Multiple Submissions: Authors should not submit the same manuscript to more than one journal simultaneously.
Authorship: Only individuals who have made a significant contribution to the research and manuscript preparation should be listed as authors.
Data Integrity: Authors must ensure that all data presented in the manuscript are accurate and not manipulated or fabricated.
Disclosure of Conflicts of Interest: Authors must disclose any financial or personal conflicts of interest that could influence the research.
Acknowledgment of Sources: Proper acknowledgment of all sources of funding and contributions must be included.

3. Duties of Editors

Editors of JCRET are responsible for ensuring the integrity of the publication process by:

Fair and Unbiased Evaluation: Manuscripts must be evaluated solely on academic merit, without discrimination based on race, gender, nationality, or religious beliefs.
Confidentiality: Editors must not disclose any information about a submitted manuscript to anyone other than the corresponding author, reviewers, and editorial team members.
Handling Ethical Complaints: Editors should take appropriate action in response to ethical complaints regarding a submitted or published paper.
Avoiding Conflicts of Interest: Editors should not handle manuscripts where they have a personal or financial conflict of interest.

4. Duties of Peer Reviewers

Peer reviewers play a crucial role in ensuring the quality of published research by:

Providing Objective and Constructive Feedback: Reviews should be conducted objectively, with constructive criticism to improve the manuscript.
Maintaining Confidentiality: Reviewers must keep all details of the manuscript confidential and not use unpublished materials for personal advantage.
Identifying Ethical Concerns: Reviewers should report any suspected ethical issues, such as plagiarism or data fabrication, to the editor.
Avoiding Conflicts of Interest: Reviewers must decline the review if they have conflicts of interest with the authors or institutions involved in the research.

5. Duties of the Publisher

The publisher of JCRET is committed to ensuring that all ethical guidelines are followed by:

Supporting Editorial Decisions: Ensuring that the editorial team has full independence in making publication decisions.
Maintaining the Integrity of the Publication Process: Preventing any unethical publication practices, such as coercion or manipulation of editorial decisions.
Providing Transparency: Ensuring that all policies, fees (if applicable), and ethical standards are clearly communicated to authors, reviewers, and readers.

6. Ethical Violations and Corrections

If unethical practices, such as plagiarism or data fabrication, are detected after publication, JCRET reserves the right to retract or issue a correction for the affected article.
Complaints regarding ethical violations should be directed to the editorial office, and appropriate investigations will be conducted following COPE guidelines.

7. Conclusion

Maintaining high ethical standards in publication is a collective responsibility of authors, editors, reviewers, and the publisher. JCRET is dedicated to fostering an ethical academic environment where research integrity is upheld and scholarly contributions are valued.