Ethics and Publication Misconduct

The Journal of Mathematics Learning Innovation (JMLI) upholds the highest standards of publication ethics and is committed to maintaining the integrity of the academic record. This statement is based on the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) Best Practice Guidelines, and outlines the ethical responsibilities of all parties involved in the publication process: authors, editors, reviewers, and the publisher. JMLI adopts a double-blind peer review process, ensuring that the identities of both the authors and reviewers remain confidential throughout the review process to uphold the objectivity and fairness of the evaluations

1. Responsibilities of Authors

Originality and Plagiarism
- Authors must ensure their work is entirely original.
- Proper citation is required when using the work or words of others.
- Any form of plagiarism is strictly prohibited and considered unethical.
Multiple or Redundant Submissions
- Manuscripts must not be submitted to more than one journal concurrently.
- Submitting the same work to multiple journals constitutes unethical behavior.
Acknowledgment of Sources
- Authors must properly acknowledge all sources and influential works relevant to the research.
Authorship Criteria
- Authorship should be limited to individuals who made significant contributions to the research.
- All who made substantial contributions must be listed as co-authors.
- Others who participated in supportive aspects should be properly acknowledged.
Disclosure and Conflicts of Interest
- Authors must declare any financial or personal conflicts that could influence the manuscript’s content.
Corrections and Retractions
- If an author discovers a significant error in their published work, they must promptly notify the editor.
- The author is responsible for cooperating in the correction or retraction process.

2. Responsibilities of Editors

Editorial Decisions
- The editor-in-chief has full authority to decide which submissions are published.
- Decisions are based on the manuscript’s academic merit and relevance, and in accordance with legal requirements (e.g., copyright, defamation, and plagiarism).
Fair Review Process
- Manuscripts are evaluated based solely on their content, without discrimination based on authors’ personal characteristics or beliefs.
Confidentiality
- Editors and editorial staff must not disclose any information about a manuscript except to those directly involved in the editorial process.
Conflicts of Interest
- Editors must not use unpublished information in their own research without explicit permission from the author.

3. Responsibilities of Reviewers

Support for Editorial Decisions
- Peer review provides critical input to editorial decisions and constructive feedback to authors.
Timeliness
- Reviewers who are unable to review promptly or lack expertise should inform the editor and withdraw from the process.
Confidentiality
- All manuscripts must be treated as confidential and not shared or discussed with others unless authorized.
Objectivity and Constructive Feedback
- Reviews must be objective, professional, and supported by clear arguments.
- Personal criticism is unacceptable.
Acknowledgment of Sources
- Reviewers should identify relevant, uncited works and notify editors of any suspected overlap or similarity with other works.
Conflict of Interest
- Reviewers must disclose any conflicts that may bias their review and should recuse themselves if necessary.

4. Responsibilities of the Publisher

Editorial Independence
- The publisher ensures that editorial decisions remain independent from commercial interests.
Ethical Oversight
- The publisher collaborates with editors to promote transparency, uphold academic integrity, and provide necessary resources.
Misconduct Management
- The publisher actively works to detect and prevent publication of manuscripts involving research misconduct (e.g., plagiarism, falsification).
- In confirmed cases of misconduct, appropriate corrective actions such as retraction or correction will be taken in coordination with the editor.

5. Allegations of Research Misconduct

Research misconduct includes fabrication, falsification, citation manipulation, or plagiarism in conducting, reviewing, or reporting research. When an author is found to have engaged in research misconduct or other serious deviations from accepted research practices in relation to an article published in this journal, the editor has a responsibility to ensure the accuracy and integrity of the academic record.

In cases of alleged misconduct, the Editor and the Editorial Board will follow COPE’s Best Practice Guidelines to resolve complaints and address violations in a fair and transparent manner.

Manuscripts found to contain evidence of misconduct will be rejected.
If a published paper is found to contain such misconduct, a retraction will be issued and linked to the original article.

The initial step involves determining the validity of the allegation and assessing whether it aligns with the definition of research misconduct. It also includes evaluating whether the individual raising the concern has any relevant conflict of interest.

If scientific error or significant research misconduct is deemed possible, the corresponding author on behalf of all co-authors will be asked to provide a detailed written response. Additional review or consultation with relevant experts (e.g., statistical reviewers) may be conducted when necessary.

In cases where misconduct is not confirmed, the journal may publish a clarification, additional analysis, or both as a Letter to the Editor, and issue a correction notice if appropriate.

Research institutions are expected to conduct thorough and objective investigations into alleged scientific misconduct. Ultimately, authors, journals, and institutions share a collective responsibility to maintain the accuracy of the scholarly record.

By responding appropriately to concerns about scientific integrity and taking corrective action—such as issuing corrections, retractions with replacement, or retractions the Journal of Mathematics Learning Innovation upholds its commitment to ensuring the validity and reliability of academic publications.

Journal of Mathematics Learning Innovation is indexed by: