Ethics and Malpractice Statement

The International Journal of Agricultural Extension and Education (IJAE) is dedicated to upholding the highest standards of ethical conduct in all aspects of the publication process. In accordance with Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) guidelines, the journal ensures ethical practices by all parties involved, including authors, editors, reviewers, and the publisher.

1. Responsibilities of Authors

Originality and Plagiarism: Authors must ensure that their submissions are original, have not been published or submitted elsewhere, and properly cite all sources and references. Plagiarism, including self-plagiarism, is considered unethical and is not tolerated.
Accurate Reporting: Authors are required to provide an accurate, complete, and objective report of their research, ensuring that findings and conclusions are based on genuine data. Fraudulent or knowingly inaccurate statements are deemed unethical.
Data Integrity and Transparency: Authors must maintain accurate records of their research data and, if requested, provide access to this data for verification purposes to ensure transparency and reproducibility.
Authorship Criteria: Authorship should be limited to those who have made substantial contributions to the research. All co-authors must have significantly contributed to the conception, design, data collection, analysis, or writing of the manuscript.
Conflict of Interest: Authors must disclose any potential conflicts of interest that could be perceived as influencing the research results, including financial, personal, or professional relationships.
Acknowledgment of Sources: Proper acknowledgment of the work of others must be given. Authors should cite publications that have influenced the research being reported.

2. Responsibilities of Editors

Fair Play: Editors evaluate manuscripts based on intellectual content, without discrimination based on race, gender, sexual orientation, religious belief, ethnic origin, or political philosophy.
Confidentiality: Editors and editorial staff must maintain the confidentiality of submitted manuscripts and only disclose information to reviewers, authors, or the publisher, as necessary.
Conflict of Interest: Editors must recuse themselves from handling manuscripts where they have conflicts of interest, including competitive, collaborative, or other relationships with the authors or institutions involved.
Decision-Making: Editors are responsible for deciding which manuscripts meet the journal’s standards and are suitable for publication, guided by journal policies and legal requirements such as defamation, copyright infringement, and plagiarism.

3. Responsibilities of Reviewers

Confidentiality: Reviewers must treat submitted manuscripts as confidential documents and must not share them with others without the permission of the editor.
Objective Judgement: Reviews must be conducted objectively, with constructive feedback aimed at improving the manuscript. Personal criticism of the authors is inappropriate.
Timeliness: Reviewers are expected to complete their reviews within the agreed-upon timeframe. If a reviewer feels unqualified to review a manuscript or cannot meet the deadline, they should notify the editor promptly.
Disclosure of Conflicts of Interest: Reviewers must declare any conflicts of interest before accepting a manuscript for review and recuse themselves if they believe their objectivity may be compromised.

4. Peer Review Process

Review Methodology: All submitted manuscripts undergo a rigorous peer review process. This typically involves double-blind review, where both the identities of the authors and reviewers are concealed to ensure impartiality.
Reviewer Selection: Reviewers are selected based on their expertise in the relevant field to ensure thorough and knowledgeable evaluation of the manuscript.
Reviewer Feedback: Reviewers provide detailed feedback, which helps authors improve their work. Editors consider these recommendations in making publication decisions.

5. Amendments and Corrections

Minor Revisions: Authors may be requested to make minor revisions to address feedback from reviewers. These amendments should be made promptly and accurately to enhance the quality of the manuscript.
Major Revisions: If substantial changes are required, authors will be given a reasonable timeframe to revise their manuscript. Editors will review the revised manuscript to ensure that the issues have been adequately addressed.
Corrections: If errors or inaccuracies are identified in published articles, authors are expected to notify the journal promptly. Corrections will be published to ensure the accuracy and integrity of the scientific record.

6. Retractions

Reasons for Retraction: Articles may be retracted if serious errors or ethical issues are identified, such as significant data falsification, plagiarism, or if the research findings are later proven to be incorrect and misleading.
Retraction Process: The decision to retract an article is made by the editor-in-chief, in consultation with the editorial board. The retraction notice will include the reason for retraction and will be published to ensure transparency.

7. Responsibilities of the Publisher

Ensuring Ethical Standards: The publisher, in collaboration with the editors, ensures that all articles adhere to the highest ethical standards and addresses ethical concerns following COPE guidelines.
Access to Content: The publisher is committed to maintaining the academic integrity of published content and ensuring its long-term preservation and accessibility.

8. Ethical Misconduct and Handling Complaints

The journal takes ethical misconduct seriously. Any cases of suspected misconduct, including plagiarism, data fabrication, or inappropriate authorship, will be investigated thoroughly. If misconduct is confirmed, appropriate actions will be taken, including corrections, retractions, or notifications to relevant institutions, following COPE guidelines.

Ethics and Malpractice Statement