Publication Policy
1. Düzce University Journal of Social Sciences is published electronically on the ULAKBİM DergiPark platform as a peer-reviewed journal, with two issues per year (on June 30 and December 31).
2. The journal publishes original scholarly works in Turkish and English in the field of social sciences, adopting an interdisciplinary approach.
3. Submissions are subjected to an editorial review in terms of aims, scope, methodology, and writing principles, and are then evaluated scientifically by the Review Board through a double-blind peer-review process.
4. The journal publishes original research articles in various subfields of the social sciences, as well as critical review and evaluation papers, and scholarly book and symposium reviews.
5. Adopting an Open Access policy, the Düzce University Journal of Social Sciences does not charge any submission, processing, or publication fees.
6. Reported research must be prepared in accordance with ethical standards, and all in-text citations must be properly indicated.
7. The maximum acceptable similarity rate for submitted manuscripts is 20%. However, in special cases such as studies derived from unpublished theses, this rate may be flexibly evaluated with editorial approval, provided that the originality of the work is preserved and that it does not violate publication ethics.
8. The views and opinions expressed in the articles published in the journal do not reflect those of the journal; all academic, ethical, and legal responsibility rests with the author(s).
Publication Ethics Principles
Publication ethics may be defined as a self-regulatory mechanism that insists on integrity on behalf of authors, reviewers, and publishers in order to establish higher standards of editorial processing. Ethical standards for publication exist to ensure high-quality scholarly publishing, public trust in scientific findings, and respect for intellectual contributions.
Ethical researchers:
• Do not engage in plagiarism.
• Do not misrepresent sources.
• Do not conceal objections that they cannot refute.
• Do not distort opposing viewpoints.
• Do not destroy or conceal data.
Peer-reviewed studies support and implement the scientific method. In this respect, it is of great importance that all parties involved in the publication process (authors, readers and researchers, publishers, reviewers, and editors) comply with ethical principles.
The Düzce University Journal of Social Sciences adheres to national and international standards in research and publication ethics. The journal complies with the Press Law, the Law on Intellectual and Artistic Works, and the Higher Education Institutions Scientific Research and Publication Ethics Directive.
The journal has adopted the International Principles of Ethical Publishing issued by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), the Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ), and the Open Access Scholarly Publishers Association (OASPA). In addition, it commits to complying with the Decisions of the Turkish Editors’ Workshop.
• Press Law (National Legislation)
• Law on Intellectual and Artistic Works (National Legislation)
• Higher Education Institutions Scientific Research and Publication Ethics Directive (National Legislation)
• Principles of Transparency and Best Practice in Scholarly Publishing (International Criteria)
• Decisions of the Turkish Editors’ Workshop (National Criteria)
Duplicate Publication
Duplicate publication refers to the publication of the same article or substantially similar articles in more than one journal. The editor will return such manuscripts without review. Subsequently, the editor may impose an embargo on the author who attempts duplicate publication for a specified period, publicly disclose the situation in the journal where the author previously published (possibly as a simultaneous announcement in coordination with the editor of the journal that published the earlier article), or apply all of these measures together.
Simultaneous Submission to Multiple Journals
Authors may not submit the same manuscript to more than one journal at the same time. If the editor becomes aware of a possible simultaneous submission, they reserve the right to consult with the editor(s) of the other journal(s) involved. In addition, the editor may return the manuscript without review, reject it without taking reviewer reports into consideration, make a decision after consultation with the relevant editor(s), decide not to accept submissions from the author(s) for a specified period, notify the authors’ employers, or implement all of these measures together.
Plagiarism Detection
Plagiarism is defined as presenting others’ ideas, methods, data, practices, writings, figures, or works, in whole or in part, as one’s own without proper scholarly citation.
The Düzce University Journal of Social Sciences screens all submitted manuscripts for plagiarism using appropriate software. Manuscripts submitted for review are checked for plagiarism, and a similarity rate of less than 20% is expected. However, the primary criterion in assessing similarity is the author’s compliance with citation and quotation rules. Even if the similarity rate appears to be as low as 1%, plagiarism may still be considered present if citation and quotation rules have not been properly followed. Therefore, authors are expected to be knowledgeable about and to apply citation and quotation rules carefully.
Plagiarism, duplication, fabricated authorship/denied authorship, research or data fabrication, salami slicing, segmented publication, copyright infringement, and the concealment of conflicts of interest are considered unethical behaviors. All manuscripts that do not comply with accepted ethical standards are removed from publication, including those in which violations or irregularities are identified after publication.
Fabrication and Falsification

Fabrication refers to the production of data not based on actual research, as well as the preparation, modification, reporting, or publication of a submitted or published work based on false data, or presenting research that has not been conducted as if it had been carried out.
Falsification involves the manipulation of research records or obtained data; misrepresenting methods, instruments, or materials as having been used when they were not; excluding data that do not support the research hypothesis; manipulating data and/or results to fit relevant theories or assumptions; or distorting or shaping research outcomes in line with the interests of individuals or organizations providing support.
Protection of Personal Data of Participants
The journal requires that all research involving personal or sensitive data or materials related to human participants that are not legally publicly available be subject to formal ethical review.
Handling Allegations of Research Misconduct
The Düzce University Journal of Social Sciences follows COPE’s Ethical Toolkit for a Successful Editorial Office. The journal editors will take appropriate measures to prevent the publication of articles involving plagiarism, citation manipulation, data falsification, data fabrication, or other forms of research misconduct. Under no circumstances will the editors knowingly allow such misconduct to occur.
If the editors become aware of any allegations of research misconduct related to an article published in the journal, they will follow COPE guidelines in handling such allegations.
Ethical Violation Notifications
Readers who identify a significant error or inaccuracy in an article published in the Düzce University Journal of Social Sciences, or who have any complaints regarding editorial content (such as plagiarism, duplicate publications, etc.), may submit a notification by sending an email to dusbed@duzce.edu.tr
Such notifications are welcomed as opportunities for improvement, and the journal commits to providing prompt and constructive responses.
Corrections, Retractions, and Expressions of Concern
Editors may consider publishing a correction if minor errors are identified in a published article that do not affect the findings, interpretations, or conclusions. In cases of major errors or violations that invalidate the findings or conclusions, editors should consider retracting the article.
If there is a possibility of research or publication misconduct by the author(s), and there is evidence that the findings are unreliable, that the authors’ institutions have not investigated the matter, or that a potential investigation appears unjust or inconclusive, editors may consider issuing an expression of concern.
COPE guidelines are taken into account in all matters related to corrections, retractions, and expressions of concern.
Publication of Survey- and Interview-Based Studies
In order to ensure ethical assurance in scholarly periodical publishing, the Düzce University Journal of Social Sciences adopts the Code of Conduct and Best Practice Guidelines for Journal Editors and the Code of Conduct for Journal Publishers issued by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE). Within this framework, the following requirements must be met for studies submitted to the journal:
For research in all scientific disciplines that requires ethics committee approval, such approval must have been obtained, clearly stated in the manuscript, and documented.
In studies requiring ethics committee approval, information regarding the approval (name of the committee, date, and reference number) must be included.
Special Issue Publication Policy
Upon the request of the Editorial Board, one special issue may be published annually. Manuscripts submitted for inclusion in a special issue are first subjected to an editorial pre-review, followed by an evaluation of compliance with the journal’s author guidelines and a similarity check to prevent plagiarism. Subsequently, eligible manuscripts are processed through a peer-review procedure using the double-blind review model.
Editorial Confidentiality Obligation
Editors of the Düzce University Journal of Social Sciences treat all submitted manuscripts as confidential documents, meaning that no information regarding a manuscript will be disclosed to anyone without the author’s consent. During the manuscript review process, access to manuscripts is limited to editors, reviewers, and members of the Editorial Board.
The only circumstance under which details of a manuscript may be disclosed to a third party without the author’s consent is when the editor suspects serious research misconduct.
Allegations and Suspicions of Scientific Misconduct
Editors are obliged to take action if they suspect an ethical violation or if an allegation of misconduct is raised. This responsibility applies to both published and unpublished manuscripts. Editors should not simply reject manuscripts that raise concerns about possible misconduct; rather, they are required to pursue ethically alleged cases. Where appropriate, editors should follow the relevant COPE flowcharts.
Editors should first request an explanation from the individual(s) suspected of misconduct. If the response is unsatisfactory, they should request an investigation from the relevant employer(s) or institution(s). Editors must make all reasonable efforts to ensure that an appropriate investigation into the alleged misconduct is conducted. If this is not achieved, editors should persist in making all reasonable attempts to resolve the matter. This is a demanding but essential responsibility.
The Düzce University Journal of Social Sciences follows COPE’s Ethical Toolkit for a Successful Editorial Office. The journal editors will take measures to prevent the publication of manuscripts involving plagiarism, citation manipulation, data falsification, data fabrication, or other forms of research misconduct. Under no circumstances will the journal or its editors knowingly allow such misconduct to occur. If the editors become aware of any allegations of research misconduct related to an article published in the journal, they will follow COPE guidelines in handling these allegations.
Reviewers who suspect research or publication misconduct must report their concerns to the Editor. The Editor is responsible for taking the necessary actions in accordance with COPE recommendations.
The Düzce University Journal of Social Sciences undertakes to apply COPE flowcharts when faced with allegations of misconduct, including but not limited to the following cases:
• Suspected duplicate publication
• Suspected plagiarism
• Suspected fabricated or falsified data
• Requests for changes in authorship
• Suspected undisclosed conflicts of interest
• Suspected guest, gift, or inappropriate authorship
• Suspected ethical problems in a manuscript
• Direct notification of suspected ethical violations via email or similar means
• Allegations of ethical violations raised through social media
Complaint Procedure
This procedure applies to complaints related to content, procedures, or policies for which the Düzce University Journal of Social Sciences or its editorial staff is responsible. Complaints may serve as an opportunity and incentive for improvement, and the journal aims to respond to such complaints promptly, courteously, and constructively.
Complaints must concern content, procedures, or policies under the responsibility of the journal or its editorial office. All complaints should be submitted directly via email to dusbed@duzce.edu.tr and will be handled confidentially. The Editor will respond to complaints without undue delay and will follow the procedures outlined in the relevant COPE flowcharts when addressing complaints.
Complaints are reviewed by the relevant member of the editorial team. If a complaint cannot be resolved at this stage, the following steps will be taken:
• If the complainant considers the initial response to be insufficient, they may request that the complaint be referred to a more senior member of the journal.
• If the complainant remains dissatisfied, the complaint may be referred to the Editor-in-Chief.
• A full response will be provided within two weeks where possible.
COPE publishes a code of practice for editors of scholarly journals. These guidelines facilitate the resolution of disputes involving editors, journals, and publishers; however, COPE may be approached only after the journal’s own complaint procedures have been exhausted.
Appeals Process
The journal welcomes serious appeals regarding evaluations made by editors and reviewers. If you believe that your manuscript was rejected due to a misunderstanding of its scholarly content, please submit an appeal message to the editorial team via dusbed@duzce.edu.tr. At this stage, please do not attempt to submit a revised version of your manuscript.
After reviewing your appeal letter, if we determine that the appeal is justified, you may be invited to submit a revised version of your manuscript. In such cases, the revised manuscript will be sent for external peer review once again. Please include as much detail as possible in your appeal letter.
Please note that only one appeal per manuscript will be considered. Therefore, authors are encouraged to devote sufficient time and effort to clearly and comprehensively present their appeal. Based on experience, prolonged negotiations over rejected manuscripts are generally not satisfactory for either authors or editors; for this reason, multiple appeals for the same manuscript will not be processed.
Conflicts of Interest
A conflict of interest arises when professional judgment concerning a primary interest may be influenced by a secondary interest, such as financial gain or personal competition. In order to make the best possible decisions regarding the handling of a manuscript, the journal believes it is necessary to be informed of authors’ competing interests, and, if the manuscript is published, that readers should also be informed of such interests.
Conflicts of interest include any financial or other interests that may cause a person to be in a position of conflict, significantly compromise objectivity, or provide an unfair advantage to any individual or organization. All sources of financial support received during the conduct of the research and the preparation of the manuscript, as well as the role of sponsors in the study, must be clearly disclosed. If there is no funding source, this should also be explicitly stated. Examples of potential conflicts of interest that should be disclosed include consultancies, salaried positions, and grants. Potential conflicts of interest must be disclosed at the earliest possible stage.
The Düzce University Journal of Social Sciences has established procedures to ensure impartial review when handling submissions from editors, staff members, or editorial board members. Such submissions are preferably redirected to other journals. If this is not possible, the submitting individual’s role within the journal is suspended for the duration of the review process. These submissions are evaluated through a double-blind peer-review process.
Editors must not participate in decisions concerning manuscripts authored by themselves or by members of their immediate family. Such manuscripts must be subject to all standard journal procedures. Editors are required to implement COPE guidelines regarding the disclosure of potential conflicts of interest by authors and reviewers.
Research Ethics Principles
The Düzce University Journal of Social Sciences adheres to the highest standards of research ethics and adopts the international research ethics principles outlined below. Compliance with ethical standards is the responsibility of the author(s).
• Integrity, quality, and transparency must be ensured in the design, review of the design, and conduct of research.
• The research team and participants must be fully informed about the purpose of the research, the methods used, the anticipated possible uses of the findings, the requirements of participation, and any potential risks involved.
• The confidentiality of information provided by research participants and the anonymity of respondents must be ensured. Research should be designed in a manner that respects and protects the autonomy and dignity of participants.
• Participation in research must be voluntary, and participants must not be subjected to any form of coercion.
• Harm to participants must be avoided. Research should be planned in such a way that it does not expose participants to unnecessary risk.
• Research independence must be clearly stated, and any conflicts of interest must be disclosed.
• In experimental studies involving human subjects, written informed consent must be obtained from participants who decide to take part in the research. For children, individuals under guardianship, or those with legally certified mental illness, consent must be obtained from their legal guardians.
• If the study is conducted within any institution or organization, approval to conduct the research must be obtained from the relevant institution or organization.
• In studies involving human participants, it must be stated in the “Methods” section that informed consent was obtained from the participants and that ethics committee approval was granted by the institution where the study was conducted.