Publication Ethics Statement

  1. Ethical Responsibilities of Editors
  • Fair Play: Editors evaluate manuscripts based solely on their intellectual content, without bias related to race, gender, sexual orientation, religious belief, ethnic origin, citizenship, or political philosophy of the authors.
  • Confidentiality: Editors and editorial staff must keep all information about submitted manuscripts confidential, sharing it only with the corresponding author, reviewers, potential reviewers, and other relevant editorial advisers and the publisher as necessary.
  • Disclosure and Conflicts of Interest: Editors must not use unpublished materials from a manuscript for their own research without the explicit written consent of the author.
  • Publication Decisions: The decision to accept or reject a manuscript is based on the quality and significance of the work, the importance to researchers and readers, and adherence to the journal’s policies. Editors must consider legal constraints related to libel, copyright infringement, and plagiarism.
  1. Ethical Responsibilities of Reviewers
  • Contribution to Editorial Decisions: Peer review assists editors in making informed publication decisions and helps authors improve their manuscripts.
  • Promptness: Reviewers who feel unqualified to review a manuscript or cannot complete the review in a timely manner should notify the editor and withdraw from the review process.
  • Confidentiality: Manuscripts must be treated as confidential documents. Reviewers must not share or discuss them with others except as authorized by the editor.
  • Standards of Objectivity: Reviews should be objective and constructive. Personal criticism of authors is inappropriate. Reviewers should provide clear, well-supported feedback.
  • Acknowledgment of Sources: Reviewers should identify relevant work that has not been cited by the authors and provide proper citations for any previously reported observations or arguments.
  • Disclosure and Conflict of Interest: Reviewers must keep privileged information confidential and should not use it for personal advantage. They should avoid reviewing manuscripts where they have conflicts of interest due to competitive, collaborative, or other relationships with the authors or institutions involved.
  1. Ethical Responsibilities of Authors
  • Reporting Standards: Authors must present an accurate account of their research, including a clear discussion of its significance. Data should be represented truthfully.
  • Data Access and Retention: Authors should provide access to raw data for editorial review and retain such data for a reasonable period post-publication, if feasible.
  • Originality and Plagiarism: Authors must ensure their work is original and appropriately cite any sources or quotes used from other works.
  • Multiple, Redundant, or Concurrent Publication: Manuscripts describing the same research should not be submitted to multiple journals simultaneously or published in multiple places.
  • Acknowledgment of Sources: Proper credit must be given to other researchers’ contributions. Authors should cite all relevant work that has influenced their research.
  • Authorship of the Paper: Authorship should be limited to those who have made significant contributions to the conception, design, execution, or interpretation of the study. All contributors should be listed as co-authors.
  • Disclosure and Conflicts of Interest: Authors must disclose any financial or substantive conflicts of interest that could be perceived as influencing the results or interpretation of their work.
  • Fundamental Errors in Published Works: If an author identifies a significant error or inaccuracy in their published work, they must promptly notify the journal and cooperate with the editor to correct or retract the paper.
  1. Allegations of Research Misconduct
  • Definition: Research misconduct includes fabrication, falsification, citation manipulation, or plagiarism in the conduct or reporting of research.
  • Handling Allegations: If misconduct is suspected, the Editors will follow COPE guidelines to ensure accuracy and integrity in the scientific record. This involves investigating the validity of the allegations, considering any conflicts of interest, and requesting a detailed response from the corresponding author. If misconduct is confirmed, the journal will issue a retraction or correction.
  • Investigation Process: An investigation will determine the validity of the allegation, ensuring it meets the criteria for research misconduct, and address any conflicts of interest. The corresponding author will be asked to respond, and if misconduct is verified, appropriate action will be taken.
  1. Complaints and Appeals
  • Handling Complaints: Complaints regarding the journal’s Editorial Staff, Editorial Board, or Publisher should be directed to the journal's editorial office. These complaints will be handled in accordance with COPE guidelines.

Sekar: Indonesian Journal of Community Engagement is dedicated to maintaining the highest standards of ethical practice in publishing. Our adherence to these principles ensures the integrity and quality of our journal and fosters trust among our authors, reviewers, and readers