Publication Ethics The publication processes of BELLEK (Hatay Mustafa Kemal University Faculty of Science and Literature, the Department of History) Journal are based on unbiased production, development, and sharing of knowledge with scientific methods. Refereed articles are studies that ensure the application of the scientific method and impartiality. In the realization of scientific production, all components of the publication process; publishers, editors, authors, referees, and readers must comply with ethical principles. In this context, the publication ethics and open access policy of BELLEK in line with the guidelines and policies published by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) (For example, "Publication Ethics Committee (COPE)) The Code of Conduct and Best Practice Guidelines for Journal Editors, “Code of Conduct and Best Practice Guidelines for Journal Editors” and “COPE Best Practice Guidelines for Journal Editors”) require that all components of the publication process comply with ethical principles. In situations such as manipulating and distorting the data used in the articles and using fake data are detected, this situation will be officially reported to the institution where the article writer works and the article will be rejected. Our journal has the right to request the output files of the analysis results from the authors according to the feedback given by the editors and/or referees.
Publisher's Ethical Responsibilities
BELLEK (Hatay Mustafa Kemal University Faculty of Science and Literature, the Department of History), is a non-profit public education institution that pursues the public interest.
BELLEK is a refereed social and humanities journal that has been published bi-annually since December 2019 under the direction of the editorial board or editorial board. The journal aims to constitute a discussion platform for critical research on the axis of social and humanities, theoretical debates that go beyond the boundaries of disciplines, and empirical analysis based on research. BELLEK promotes interdisciplinary and comparative studies. The journal also covers the studies on history and culture. The journal aims to create a platform where "past-present-future" connection can be established in the light of the science of history called "memory of societies" through the articles. Thus, it has adopted to satisfy the scientific needs and curiosity of individuals by bringing qualified solutions to scientific problems as a principle.
Members of the Editorial Board of Journal, each member is assigned for three years, taking into account the branches of science. As the head of the Editorial Board, an editor and, depending on the situation, one or more assistant editors and field editors are determined. A new member is appointed to replace the leaving member. The term of the expired member can be extended. According to the subject of the article, when necessary, the editor may send articles to faculty members who are not members of the Board of Editors for review as a field editor.
Responsibilities of the Editorial Board of Journal
BELLEK is responsible for every article submitted, and even all processes after its publication, and the Editorial Board knows this responsibility. This responsibility, considering only the public interest in decisions made on journal-related matters; it requires making decisions independently without considering personal gain. The relationship between the Publisher and the Editorial Board is based on the principle of independence, and all decisions taken by the editors are independent of the publisher and other persons and organizations.
The Editorial Board of BELLEK (Hatay Mustafa Kemal University Faculty of Science and Literature, the Department of History) Journal strives to continuously improve the journal and increase its publication quality.
The Editorial Board ensures that journal policies such as publication, blind refereeing, evaluation process and ethical principles are determined and implemented.
Editorial Board of Journal protects the copyright of published article authors.
The Editorial Board of Journal is responsible for taking measures regarding intellectual property rights, unscientific-unethical behaviors, plagiarism, sending (citation) gangs during the publishing process of articles and journals.
The Editorial Board sets policies to encourage the referees and the author (s).
The Editorial Board of Journal keeps the records of each article and the correspondence related to the journal in electronic or printed form.
Ethical Responsibilities of Editor, Assistant Editors and Field Editors
Editors endeavor to respond to the information needs of referees, author (s), researchers, practitioners and readers when necessary, to act according to the principles of clarity in matters that require correction and explanation during the publication process.
While deciding on the publication of articles, editors take care that the articles are original and contribute to the scientific literature, readers, researchers and practitioners.
While making positive or negative decisions about the articles, editors take into account the original value of the articles, their contribution to the field, the validity and reliability of the research method, the clarity of the expression, and the journal's purpose and scope.
Editors take the submitted articles to the pre-evaluation stage as long as they do not have a significant problem, consider positive referee suggestions, and do not change the decisions made by the previous editor (s) unless there is a serious problem.
Editors apply the policies of blind review and evaluation process, which are among the publishing policies of the journal, keep the identities of the referees confidential, and ensure that each article is evaluated objectively and in time.
Editors send articles taking into account the field of expertise of the editors and referees, and they support the impartial and independent evaluation.
Editors take into account whether there is a conflict of interest between the editors, referees and author (s) for unbiased evaluation of the article.
Editors, referee pool consisting of a wide range and constantly updated
Ethical Responsibilities of Referees
In the article evaluation process of Journal, the two-way blind arbitration principle is applied, the referees of the author (s) do not recognize the authors, the referees cannot directly communicate with the authors; The article evaluation forms and the notes specified on the text and requests for correction are conveyed to the author (s) by the editors through the journal management system. Referees who will evaluate the articles submitted to the Journal should bear the following ethical responsibilities.
Referees should only agree to evaluate articles related to their field of expertise.
Referees should assess in neutral and confidentiality. Following this principle, they should destroy the articles they have reviewed after the evaluation process, but use them after publication. Nationality, gender, religious belief, political belief and commercial concerns should not spoil the neutrality of the evaluation.
When the referees understand that there is a conflict of interest, they should refuse to evaluate the article and inform the editors.
Referees should evaluate a constructive language by academic etiquette; Avoid personal comments containing insults and hostility.
Referees should evaluate the article, which they accept, within the time limit.
Ethical Responsibilities of Authors
Author (s) should not send an article that they have published elsewhere or sent to be published or more than one article at the same time to Journal.
Author (s) must send an original article to the Journal.
The author (s) must correctly refer (cite) to the sources they use during article writing in line with ethical principles.
The names of persons who do not contribute to the article should not be written as authors, and it should not be suggested to change the order of the author of an article submitted for publication, to remove or add authors.
Notify the editors of the people who have a conflict of interest or a common interest in the article for publication
If information or raw data is requested from the author (s) during the evaluation process, they should submit the expected information to the Editors.
The author (s) must document that the rights to use the data they use in their articles, permission for research-analysis, or the consent of the participants on which they have researched.
The author (s) should contact the editor to inform, correct, or retract when they notice an error in the evaluation and early viewing or electronically published article.
The author (s) received ethics committee approval for research that requires data collection through quantitative or qualitative methods such as experiments, questionnaires, scales, interviews, observations, focus group studies that require ethics committee decision; The name, date, and a number of the ethics committee should be stated on the first-last page of the candidate article and in the method section, and the document showing the ethics committee decision should be uploaded to the system with the application of the article. In addition, case reports should include information about obtaining the consent form/consent form in the article.
The author (s) should present in the article the evidence that they adhere to ethical principles in the data collection process (such as obtaining permission from others to use documents such as scale, questionnaire, photograph). It should be stated in the articles that research and publication ethics and copyright regulations for intellectual and artistic works are complied with. If the research has been carried out on human and animal subjects, the research should be carried out with international reports, guidelines, etc. It should be reported that it was performed properly.
Ethics committee approval is not required from the author (s) for review articles. However, for articles that do not require an ethics committee decision, it should be stated that an ethics committee decision is not required, on the first-last page and method section of the article.
Violations of Scientific Research and Publication Ethics
Plagiarism: Showing others' original ideas, methods, data, or works as their own work, partially or completely, without citing scientific rules,
Forgery: Using data that does not actually exist or has been falsified in scientific research.
Distortion: Falsifying research records or data obtained, showing the devices or materials not used in the research as being used, falsifying or shaping the results of the research in line with the interests of the people and organizations,
Republishing: To present repetitive publications as separate publications for academic appointments and promotions,
Slicing: Dividing the results of research into pieces in a way that disrupts the integrity of the research and inappropriately and publishing in more than one issue and presenting these publications as separate publications in academic appointments and promotions,
Unfair authorship: Including people who have no active contribution among the authors or not including those who are, changing the author's order in an unjustified and inappropriate manner, removing the names of those who have an active contribution from the work in subsequent editions, using their influence to include their names among the authors, even though they have no active contribution,
Not specifying the supporting persons, institutions, or organizations and their contributions in the publications made as a result of researches conducted with support,
Using thesis or studies that have not been submitted yet or have not been accepted as a source without the permission of the owner,
Failing to comply with ethical rules in human and animal research, not respecting patient rights in publications, harming animal health and ecological balance, not obtaining necessary permissions,
Misusing resources, spaces, facilities, and devices provided or allocated for scientific research,
Making false or misleading statements regarding scientific research and publications in academic appointments and promotions
Plagiarism Policy
Plagiarism (plagiarism) is an ethical violation, regardless of whether it is intended or not. It is unethical and unacceptable if the studies are similar to other sources, without reference, and that they are published as such.
The Editorial Board can act following COPE rules against allegations and suspicions of plagiarism, citation manipulation and data fraud related to the articles submitted to the journal.
Articles submitted to be published in BELLEK are subjected to double-blind referee evaluation by at least two referees. Besides, a special program used to detect plagiarism confirms that the articles have not been published before and do not contain plagiarism.
Similarity acceptance rate cannot exceed 20%. Articles exceeding this rate are examined in detail and, if necessary, sent back to the authors for review or correction, and if plagiarism or unethical behavior is detected, their publication is rejected.
Notifying the Editor of Non-Compliance with Ethical Principles In case of an unethical situation related to an article that is in an early view or an article in the process of evaluation or an act that does not comply with ethical principles regarding editors, referees and authors of BELLEK, it should be reported to bellek@mku.edu.tr address by message.