Publication Ethics

General Provisions

The editorial board of the journal “Agora. Social Sciences Journal” adheres to a publication ethics policy in accordance with international standards and the recommendations of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE). 

All participants in the editorial and publishing process - including authors, reviewers, editors, editorial board members, and the publisher - must comply with established ethical principles and requirements. 

The purpose of this policy is to ensure high quality of scientific publications, prevent unethical practices, and support academic integrity.

Ethical Obligations of Authors

  1. Originality and Integrity

Authors should submit only original works that have been created independently and have not been previously published.

All external sources of information, quotations, ideas, and data must be properly cited.

Plagiarism in any form, including self-plagiarism, is strictly prohibited.

  1. Data Availability and Verifiability

Authors must provide the original research data upon request by the editorial board, unless this contradicts the legal or ethical standards.

Research data must be collected, processed and presented honestly and accurately.

  1. Avoidance of Multiple or Duplicate Submissions

Authors are not permitted to submit a manuscript simultaneously to more than one publication.

Duplicate publication of results without substantial changes or proper citations is prohibited.

  1. Authorship and Contribution

All individuals listed as authors must have made significant intellectual contributions to the research.

Those who made auxiliary contributions should be mentioned in the “Acknowledgments” section.

  1. Conflict of Interest

Authors must openly declare all possible conflicts of interest that may affect the results or interpretation of the study.

  1. Ethical Research Standards

Research involving humans or animals must comply with international and national ethical standards of research.

Authors must provide confirmation of research approval by the appropriate ethics committee/commission (where required).

Ethical Obligations of Reviewers

  1. Objectivity and Impartiality

Reviewers assess manuscripts solely based on their scientific quality.

Personal biases or prejudiced attitudes toward authors are unacceptable.

  1. Confidentiality

All materials received for review were confidential.

It is prohibited to discuss or use the manuscript's content without the permission of the journal's Editorial Board.

  1. Conflict of Interest

Reviewers are obliged to decline to review if there is any conflict of interest (personal, professional, or financial).

  1. Promptness and Responsibility

Reviewers must provide well-reasoned and constructive feedback within a specified timeframe.

It is unacceptable to misuse the review process to delay the publication of a competitor.

Ethical Obligations of Editors and the Editorial Board

  1. Independence and Objectivity

Editors make decisions regarding the publication of an article based on its scientific significance and its quality.

Political, commercial, or other external factors should not influence the publication’s editorial decisions.

  1. Confidentiality

The editorial team does not disclose information from manuscripts to third parties, except for the authors, reviewers, and the publisher.

  1. Managing Conflicts of Interest

If a conflict of interest arises, the editor transfers the consideration of the manuscript to another member of the editorial board.

  1. Ensuring Publication Quality

The editors are responsible for organizing double-blind peer reviews.

If violations of ethical standards are identified, the editorial board will take appropriate measures in accordance with COPE recommendations.

Unacceptable Forms of Academic Misconduct

  • Plagiarism.
  • Fabrication and falsification of data.
  • False information regarding authors or results.
  • Manipulation of the peer-review process.
  • Unlawful disclosure of confidential information.

Procedures for Responding to Potential Violations

  1. Initial Review

The editorial board analyzes all reports of possible ethical violations and initiates an investigation if necessary. 

  1. Investigation

If violations are confirmed, the Editorial Board conducts a detailed investigation in accordance with COPE guidelines. 

  1. Possible Measures
  • Manuscript rejection.
  • Correction, retraction, or removal of published articles.
  • A ban on submitting works to the journal for a specified period.
  • Informing the authors' institutions.

Retraction and Correction Policy

In the event of significant errors or violations, the editorial board of the publication may issue a correction, note, or retraction of the article.

All decisions regarding retraction are made in accordance with the COPE standards.

Principles of open access and licensing

The editorial board supports an open-access policy for scientific results.

The licensing terms are specified separately and must be complied with by the authors.

Archiving and preserving materials

The editorial team ensures the long-term archiving and availability of published materials through reliable repositories. 

Final Provisions

The publication ethics policy may be updated in accordance with changes in international standards or the COPE recommendations. 

All participants in the editorial and publishing processes are required to familiarize themselves with the policy and adhere to its requirements.