1. ETHICAL PRINCIPLES

1.1. Actions Contrary to Scientific Research and Publication Ethics
AU-JFES is committed to transparency, impartiality, and scholarly integrity throughout all publication processes to protect the reliability of scientific knowledge and academic ethics. Actions violating these principles include, but are not limited to:
• Plagiarism: Presenting someone else's original ideas, methods, data, or works, partially or entirely, as one's own without proper attribution.
• Fabrication: Creating data that does not exist or has been manipulated/fabricated.
• Falsification: Altering research data or records, misrepresenting equipment, materials, or methods used, or selectively presenting results to suit the interests of supporting individuals or institutions.
• Redundant (Duplicate) Publication: Submitting previously published work as a new publication for academic appointments or promotions.
• Salami-Slicing (Fragmentation): Inappropriately dividing research outcomes into multiple publications, compromising the integrity and coherence of the original research, and presenting these as separate scholarly contributions.
• Unfair Authorship: Including individuals as authors who did not significantly contribute, excluding those who did, unjustifiably changing author order, or using authority to gain undeserved authorship.

Additional details regarding ethical violations are outlined in the Higher Education Institutions’ Scientific Research and Publication Ethics Guidelines (see [Click here.]).

1.2. Intervention Policy for Violations of Publication Ethics
AU-JFES employs a zero-tolerance approach toward ethical violations. In the event unethical behavior is detected or reported at any publication stage (pre-review, peer review, Online First, post-publication), the following steps are undertaken:
• Any unethical behavior encountered by editors, reviewers, or authors related to manuscript evaluation or publication processes should be immediately reported via email to ebfd@ankara.edu.tr.
• Upon identification, the publication process for the manuscript is halted immediately.
• Post-publication ethical issues may result in issuing an Expression of Concern, corrections, or formal retraction.
• Formal notification of unethical conduct is sent to the author(s)’ affiliated institution.
• Complaints are addressed following procedures outlined by COPE flowcharts.

1.3. Data Security and Transparency Policy
AU-JFES emphasizes transparency, verifiability, and scientific integrity for all data associated with manuscripts, from submission through publication. The journal ensures that all data and information presented comply with established ethical standards. Specific principles adopted include:
Plagiarism and Similarity Checking:
All submissions undergo similarity checks using internationally recognized plagiarism detection software (e.g., iThenticate, Turnitin). A similarity rate of up to 10% is permissible, provided that the text is not predominantly derived from one or two sources. Manuscripts with similarity rates between 10% and 15% require revision. Submissions exceeding 15% similarity are rejected. Editors also evaluate the originality of textual content beyond numeric similarity measures. Detailed policies regarding thesis-derived publications are available at Ethical Principles Regarding Thesis-Derived Publications.
Data Verification and Control:
All submitted manuscripts undergo rigorous evaluation by editors for data consistency, accuracy, and methodological appropriateness. If evidence indicates that the data was obtained unethically, the manuscript will be rejected without further consideration. Editors reserve the right to request raw data, analysis codes, or output files from authors to verify the validity of research results.
Manipulation, Fabrication, and Falsification:
The journal defines the following as serious scientific misconduct:
• Fabrication of data
• Intentional modification or manipulation of data
• Misrepresentation or selective reporting of results to influence conclusions positively
If such misconduct is identified, the review or publication process is immediately halted. The institution affiliated with the author(s) is officially notified, and all associated records are archived.
Open Data and Sharing Principle:
Consistent with open science principles, AU-JFES encourages the open sharing and accessibility of research data sets. Ethical permissions for data collection instruments (scales, surveys, etc.) and research materials must be clearly documented. Written consent for using third-party scales, photographs, visual materials, or documents must be obtained and submitted for editorial review when required.
Independent Ethical Review:
For manuscripts containing questionable data, the journal may seek an independent statistical expert's opinion regarding methodological appropriateness and data validity.
Transparency:
Authors hold full responsibility for verifying and documenting the accuracy of their research data.

1.4. Publication Ethics Practices and Review Protocols
Plagiarism Action Plan:
In cases of detected plagiarism (submitted or published manuscripts), AU-JFES acts according to COPE guidelines (Plagiarism in a submitted manuscript, Plagiarism in a published manuscript).

Ethical Principles Regarding Thesis-Derived Publications
All manuscripts derived from master’s or doctoral theses must adhere to the following ethical guidelines. The Editorial Board reserves the right to exclude submissions that fail to comply:
Declaration Requirement:
Manuscripts clearly and transparently must state if they are derived from master’s or doctoral theses. Such statements should be included in the manuscript's "Acknowledgments" or "Notes" section.
(Example statement: "This manuscript is derived from the author’s doctoral dissertation entitled XXX.")
Originality of Content:
Text sections (introduction, literature review, results, discussion, and recommendations) must be rewritten and reframed to ensure originality. Manuscripts with extensive textual overlap from the thesis may be rejected based on similarity-check results.
Similarity Check:
Similarity percentages for thesis-derived manuscripts must align with general publication policies. Excluding the references, methods, and findings sections, the similarity index must not exceed 20%.
Thesis Accessibility Statement:
If the original thesis is available on open-access platforms (e.g., YÖK Thesis Center), authors must clearly indicate this in their submission. It is the author(s)' responsibility to inform the editors about the thesis accessibility status to facilitate smooth editorial processing.

Ethics Committee Approval
AU-JFES requires ethical committee approval for all studies involving surveys, experiments, observations, clinical trials, animal research, or personal data collection. Ethical approval must be explicitly stated within the manuscript text. Manuscripts lacking required ethical approval will not be considered. All research involving humans or animals must comply with the Helsinki Declaration and ARRIVE guidelines and must obtain prior approval from the relevant ethics committee.

Research requiring ethical approval includes:
• Qualitative or quantitative studies using methods such as surveys, interviews, focus groups, observation, experiments, and interviews,
• Research involving human participants or animal subjects (including biological materials or data),
• Clinical research involving human subjects,
• Animal-based experimental or observational studies,
• Retrospective studies that involve personal data, within the context of data protection regulations.

Protection of Personal Information
AU-JFES rigorously protects all personal data submitted in accordance with applicable legal frameworks and ethical guidelines.

Protection of Intellectual Property Rights
AU-JFES is committed to safeguarding intellectual property rights associated with published manuscripts and advocating for the rights of the journal and authors in cases of potential infringements.

Correction, Retraction, and Expression of Concern
• Minor errors identified post-publication, which do not affect findings, interpretations, or conclusions, may result in the publication of a correction notice.
• Significant errors or ethical violations that invalidate research findings or conclusions may necessitate retraction.
• AU-JFES strictly follows COPE guidelines regarding corrections, retractions, and expressions of concern.

Conflicts of Interest
The journal carefully considers and addresses any potential conflicts of interest between authors, reviewers, and editors, ensuring objective and transparent scholarly communication.

Author Changes
Author changes are only processed prior to manuscript acceptance. Authors must carefully review the list and order of authors before submission and provide the definitive author list at the original submission stage.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)
1. Our journal acknowledges that AI-supported technologies can provide limited support to research processes. However, the accuracy, integrity, and ethical appropriateness of scientific content are solely the responsibility of human authors. AI tools are not considered authors.

2. Authors are required to declare the scope of their use of generative AI tools in accordance with the following principles.

3. The type and scope of AI tool use must be clearly stated in every study where such tools are used.

4. AI tools cannot be listed as authors because they cannot assume scientific responsibility. However, if they have made a meaningful contribution to content production, it is recommended that they be cited in the references section in the following format, along with the access date and version information: OpenAI. (2025). ChatGPT (May 2025 version). https://chat.openai.com 

5. If authors use generative AI tools, they must fill out the AI Usage Declaration Form and add it to the system. Click here to access the AI Usage Declaration Form.

6. Our journal handles ethical violations related to AI use (e.g., presenting AI output as original, generating fake data, etc.) in accordance with COPE guidelines. In necessary cases, article rejection, retraction, or author notifications may be considered.

Permitted Types of Use:
• Language and spelling correction
• Abstract extraction and structural suggestions
• Title and subheading suggestions
• Identification of key concepts for literature review

Prohibited Uses:
• Direct use of original text automatically generated by AI (hypothesis formation, experimental or theoretical framework, etc.)
• Discussion, findings, or commentary sections written using AI
• Manipulation or fabrication of data using AI
• Presenting images generated by AI tools as original content

Reporting Ethical Violations to the Editor
In the event of encountering unethical behaviour by editors, reviewers, or authors, or unethical issues related to manuscripts under review, in early view, or published manuscripts, please report immediately to ebfd@ankara.edu.tr. The journal addresses complaints according to procedures outlined by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).

Appeals and Complaints
For any appeals or complaints concerning editorial decisions, peer review processes, or ethical issues, authors or other stakeholders may contact ebfd@ankara.edu.tr in e-mailing. All complaints are reviewed transparently, impartially, and documentable according to COPE guidelines. The review process remains confidential, and the complainant receives written feedback.
To appeal or submit a complaint regarding editorial decisions, stakeholders must:
• Send an appeal/complaint letter to the journal and editor’s email addresses.
• Clearly and thoroughly explain the grounds for appeal.
• Provide specific responses to the comments of the editor/reviewer contributing to the rejection decision.
• Provide new information or data for the journal’s consideration.
• Provide evidence if technical errors are believed to have been made in the review.
• Provide evidence if a conflict of interest is suspected with a reviewer.
Upon receiving an appeal, editors may involve associate editors who managed the original peer review process. Editors may uphold the original rejection, invite submission of a revised manuscript, or request additional peer or statistical review. Decisions regarding appeals are final.

2. ETHICAL RESPONSIBILITIES OF STAKEHOLDERS

1. Publishing Ethics and Fundamental Principles
• Ankara University, the publisher of AU-JFES, is a non-profit public educational institution.
• Views published in the journal reflect solely the authors' perspectives and do not represent Ankara University or AU-JFES.
• The journal's publication processes rely on impartial, scientifically rigorous methods of knowledge production, development, and dissemination.
• All stakeholders involved in the publication process—publisher, editors, authors, reviewers, and readers—must comply with ethical standards.
• Publication processes are transparent, accountable, and scientifically objective.

2. Editorial Board Responsibilities
The AU-JFES Editorial Board is responsible for all processes before and after manuscript publication. The Board operates independently, guided solely by public interest. Responsibilities include:
• Enhancing scientific quality and continuous improvement of publication processes.
• Establishing, regulating, and implementing clear policies regarding publication, peer review, copyright, and ethical standards.
• Creating preventive and corrective mechanisms against unethical practices.
• Protecting authors’ intellectual property, preventing citation manipulation, plagiarism, and scientific misconduct.
• Preparing and updating an Author’s Guide and Reviewer’s Guide.
• Maintaining electronic and printed archives of manuscripts and correspondence.

3. Ethical Responsibilities of Editors, Associate Editors, and Field Editors
Responsibilities include:
• Addressing information needs and providing feedback to reviewers, authors, researchers, practitioners, and readers transparently and accountably.
• Considering manuscripts’ originality, field contributions, methodological validity and reliability, language clarity, and alignment with journal scope when making publication decisions.
• Conducting double blind peer reviews, ensuring timely and impartial evaluation while maintaining anonymity.
• Assigning manuscripts to appropriate field editors and reviewers, promoting unbiased assessments.
• Considering potential conflicts of interest among editors, reviewers, and authors; following COPE guidelines for conflict resolution and misconduct cases.
• Maintaining and regularly updating a diverse reviewer pool.
• Preventing non-scientific, unethical evaluations.
• Ensuring publication processes align with editorial policies and informing stakeholders of policy updates.
• Facilitating effective communication and regular meetings with stakeholders involved in publication processes.
• Protecting personal data within manuscripts and safeguarding authors’, reviewers’, and readers’ personal information.
• Ensuring protection of human and animal rights in manuscripts.
• Requiring ethical approval documentation for experimental research involving participants.
• Taking measures against misuse of authority and conducting objective investigations when allegations arise.
• Correcting errors, inconsistencies, or misleading information in published manuscripts.
• Protecting intellectual property rights and addressing violations.
• Conducting originality and similarity checks to prevent intellectual property infringements.
• Addressing constructive critiques and granting authors the right to respond.

4. Ethical Responsibilities of Reviewers
Reviewers must:
• Accept evaluations only within their expertise.
• Evaluate manuscripts based on academic and scientific criteria.
• Conduct impartial and confidential reviews.
• Notify editors of any conflict of interest and decline the review.
• Provide constructive, courteous feedback; avoid personal attacks.
• Complete reviews within assigned timelines.

5. Ethical Responsibilities of Authors
Authors must:
• Ensure submitted manuscripts are original, scientific, unpublished, and not submitted elsewhere simultaneously.
• Adhere to academic integrity in citations and references.
• Include only contributors to the research as authors; maintain accurate author order; avoid changes post-submission.
• Provide required data, research permissions, and ethics approval documents.
• Clearly document ethical approval or justify its absence when unnecessary.
• Contact editors promptly to correct or retract published manuscripts containing errors or unethical practices.
• Declare conflicts of interest.
• Provide raw data upon request during the review process.
• Document usage rights for data and instruments, participant consent, and ethical compliance within manuscripts.

Fee Policy
Article submission, evaluation and publication processes in our journal are completely free of charge. No fee is charged for articles submitted or accepted for publication. All expenses of our journal are covered by Ankara University.

No Sponsorship or Advertising
The publisher of the Ankara University Faculty of Educational Sciences Journal is Ankara University. Ankara University is a public university and is non-profit. One of AU-JFES publishing policies is not to accept sponsorships or advertisements. The journal is printed at Ankara University Press with public funding provided by Ankara University.