ETHICAL PRINCIPLES AND PUBLICATION POLICY
Publication Ethics
The publishing processes of Fırat University Journal of Social Sciences are designed to ensure the impartial and respectful development and dissemination of knowledge. These processes directly influence the quality of the work produced by authors and supported by their institutions. Peer-reviewed studies reflect and uphold the principles of the scientific method. It is essential that all stakeholders in the process—authors, readers, researchers, publishers, reviewers, and editors—adhere to ethical principles.
Fırat University Journal of Social Sciences expects all stakeholders to fulfill the following ethical responsibilities within the framework of publication ethics.
The ethical duties and responsibilities outlined below have been formulated in accordance with the guidelines and policies provided by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and are in line with open access principles.
Ethical Responsibilities of the Authors
The author(s) submitting to Fırat University Journal of Social Sciences are expected to adhere to the following ethical responsibilities:
1. Originality: The article(s) submitted must be original. If the author(s) reference or draw upon other studies, they must fully and accurately cite the sources they have used.
2. Authorship: Only individuals who have made significant intellectual contributions to the creation of the study should be listed as authors. Individuals who have not contributed intellectually should not be designated as authors.
3. Conflict of Interest: Any potential conflicts of interest related to the submitted studies must be disclosed, if applicable. This includes any financial, personal, or professional relationships that may influence the results or interpretation of the study.
4. Raw Data: The raw data associated with the article may be requested by the editorial board during the evaluation process. In such cases, the author(s) should be prepared to provide the requested data and information promptly.
5. Rights and Permissions: The author(s) must provide documentation showing that they have the rights to use any data, including necessary permissions for research or analysis, as well as consent from experimental subjects (if applicable).
6. Corrections and Retractions: If the author(s) notice any mistakes or errors in their published work, at any stage (e.g., early view or evaluation), they are obligated to inform the journal editor and cooperate with the editorial team in correcting or retracting the work.
7. Simultaneous Submissions: Articles submitted to the journal must not be under consideration for publication by any other journal simultaneously. Each submission should be made only after the completion of the previous submission process. A study that has already been published elsewhere cannot be submitted to Fırat University Journal of Social Sciences.
8. Changes in Authorship: Once the evaluation process of a study has begun, no changes to the authorship (such as adding, removing, or altering the order of authors) can be proposed.
Ethical Duties and Responsibilities of the Editors
The editors of Fırat University Journal of Social Sciences have the following ethical duties and responsibilities, based on the COPE Code of Conduct and Best Practice Guidelines for Journal Editors and the COPE Best Practice Guidelines for Journal Editors, which are published by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) as open access.
General Duties and Responsibilities
Editors are responsible for all publications in Fırat University Journal of Social Sciences. In line with this responsibility, editors have the following roles and obligations:
1. They strive to meet the information needs of both readers and authors.
2. They ensure the continuous development and improvement of the journal.
3. They oversee processes aimed at enhancing the quality of studies published in the journal.
4. They support and uphold freedom of thought and expression.
5. They ensure academic integrity in all aspects of the publication.
6. They carry out their duties without compromising intellectual property rights or ethical standards.
7. They maintain transparency and clarity in addressing issues that require corrections or further explanations.
Relationship with the Readers
Editors make decisions by considering the knowledge, skills, and experience expectations of all readers, researchers, and practitioners. They ensure that the published studies contribute to the readers, researchers, practitioners, and the scientific literature, and that the studies are original. Additionally, editors take into account feedback from readers, researchers, and practitioners, providing explanatory and informative responses.
Relationship with the Authors
The duties and responsibilities of editors toward authors are as follows:
1. Editors make decisions based on the importance, originality, validity, clarity of expression, and alignment with the journal's goals and objectives.
2. Editors forward works suitable for the journal's scope to the pre-evaluation stage, unless the work presents serious issues.
3. Editors do not disregard positive referee suggestions unless there are significant problems with the work.
4. New editors may not alter the decisions made by previous editors regarding a work, unless there is a serious issue.
5. Editors ensure transparency by publishing the "Blind Refereeing and Evaluation Process" and prevent any deviations from the established processes.
6. Editors provide clear, descriptive, and informative notifications and feedback to the authors.
Relationship with Referees
The duties and responsibilities of editors toward referees are as follows:
1. Editors select referees based on the subject matter of the study.
2. Editors provide the necessary information and guidelines to referees during the evaluation process.
3. They monitor for any conflicts of interest among editors, authors, and referees.
4. Editors maintain the confidentiality of referees' identities in accordance with the blind refereeing process.
5. Editors encourage referees to approach their evaluations with impartiality, scientific rigor, and objectivity.
6. Editors assess the performance of referees based on criteria such as timely feedback and quality of evaluation.
7. Editors establish practices and policies to enhance the performance of referees.
8. Editors take necessary actions to dynamically update and expand the pool of referees.
9. Editors prevent impolite or unscientific reviews.
10. Editors work to ensure that the referee pool is diverse and represents a wide range of expertise.
Relationship with the Editorial Board
Editors ensure that editorial board members follow the processes, publishing policies, and guidelines effectively. They keep the editorial board members informed about publishing policies and any related developments. Editors provide training for new editorial board members on publishing policies and supply them with the necessary information.
Additionally, editors:
1. Ensure that editorial board members evaluate works impartially and independently.
2. Select new editorial board members from among qualified faculty members who can contribute meaningfully.
3. Assign works relevant to the expertise of the editorial board members for evaluation.
4. Regularly engage and communicate with the editorial board.
5. Organize meetings with the editorial board at regular intervals to develop publishing policies and improve the journal.
Relationship with the Owner and Publisher of the Journal
The relationship between editors and the publisher is based on the principle of editorial independence. Editors make editorial decisions independently of the publisher, ensuring that the publication process adheres to the highest standards of academic integrity and impartiality. The publisher supports the editorial board’s decisions and ensures that resources and infrastructure necessary for the journal's operation are provided.
Editorial and Blind Review Processes
Editors adhere to the "Blind Review and Evaluation Process" outlined in the journal's publishing policies. In this context, editors ensure that each work undergoes a fair, impartial, and timely evaluation. The review process is designed to maintain the integrity and quality of the journal by providing objective assessments while upholding the standards of academic rigor.
Quality Assurance
Editors ensure that every article published in the journal adheres to the journal's publication policies and meets international academic standards. This includes maintaining rigorous editorial processes, ensuring the quality and integrity of the content, and providing a transparent, fair, and unbiased evaluation process for each submission.
Protection of Personal Data
Editors ensure the protection of personal data related to the subjects, images, and individuals mentioned in the evaluated studies. They safeguard the personal information of authors, referees, and readers in accordance with privacy laws and ethical standards. Confidentiality is maintained throughout the editorial and review processes to uphold the integrity and trust in the journal.
Ethics Committee, Human and Animal Rights
Editors ensure the protection of human and animal rights in all evaluated studies. In cases where studies involve human participants or animals, editors require that ethical approval from the relevant ethics committee be provided. If such approval is absent or the study lacks permission for experimental research, editors will reject the work to uphold ethical standards and ensure compliance with international research guidelines.
Prevention Against Possible Misuse and Misconduct
Editors take proactive measures to prevent potential abuse and misconduct in the publication process. They conduct thorough, objective investigations into any allegations of misconduct, ensuring that all complaints are addressed in accordance with ethical standards. Editors share their findings transparently and ensure that the evaluation process upholds the integrity of the journal.
Ensuring Academic Publication Integrity
Editors act promptly to correct any errors, inconsistencies, or misdirections in their work to maintain the integrity of academic publishing. They ensure that all published articles are accurate and consistent, addressing any identified issues swiftly and transparently to uphold the credibility of the journal.
Protection of Intellectual Property Rights
Editors are committed to protecting the intellectual property rights of all published articles. They defend the rights of both the journal and the authors in the event of potential violations. Furthermore, editors take the necessary steps to ensure that the content in all published articles does not infringe upon the intellectual property rights of other publications, ensuring respect for original works and compliance with copyright laws.
Constructiveness and Openness to Discussion
Editors:
1. Consider and address the constructive criticisms of the articles published in the journal, adopting a positive and open approach to such feedback.
2. Grant the author(s) the right to respond to critiques of their work, ensuring a fair and balanced dialogue.
3. Do not disregard studies with negative results, recognizing the value of all research contributions regardless of their outcomes.
Complaints
Editors respond to complaints from authors, referees, or readers in a thoughtful and detailed manner. They carefully examine each complaint and provide informative and clarifying feedback, ensuring that all concerns are addressed with transparency and respect for ethical standards.
Political and Business Concerns
The journal owner, publisher, and any other political or commercial interests do not influence the editors' independent decision-making process. Editors make decisions solely based on the academic merit and scientific rigor of the submitted work, ensuring that external factors do not compromise the integrity of the editorial process.
Conflicts of Interest
Editors ensure that the publication process is carried out independently and impartially, carefully considering any potential conflicts of interest between authors, referees, and other editors. They take necessary actions to prevent any bias and ensure that the editorial decisions are made based solely on the academic quality and merit of the work.
Ethical Responsibilities of Referees
The evaluation of all studies through the "Blind Review" process directly impacts the quality of the publication. This process ensures confidence in the objective and independent evaluation of the work. For Fırat University Journal of Social Sciences, the evaluation process follows the principle of double-blind review. Referees are not permitted to contact authors directly; all evaluations and comments must be submitted through the journal management system. In this process, referee comments on evaluation forms and full texts are forwarded to the author(s) through the editors. In this context, referees evaluating articles for Fırat University Journal of Social Sciences are expected to adhere to the following ethical responsibilities:
1. Referees agree to evaluate studies within their area of expertise only.
2. Referees make evaluations impartially and maintain confidentiality throughout the process.
3. If they believe there is a conflict of interest during the evaluation process, they must decline to evaluate the study and inform the journal editor.
4. In accordance with the confidentiality principle, referees are required to destroy the works they evaluate after the review process.
5. Referees only evaluate the final version of studies, once they have been officially published.
6. Evaluations should be made objectively, based solely on the content of the study.
7. Referees should not let factors such as nationality, gender, religion, political beliefs, or commercial interests influence their evaluations.
8. Referees provide feedback in a constructive and courteous manner, avoiding derogatory personal comments, hostility, slander, or insults.
9. Referees must complete their evaluations in a timely manner, adhering to the ethical guidelines outlined above.
10. If you encounter any unethical behavior or content in Fırat University Journal of Social Sciences beyond the above-mentioned ethical responsibilities, please report it via email to sbedergi@firat.edu.tr.
Privacy Statement
Fırat University Journal of Social Sciences is an "Open Access" journal that provides its published content directly to open access. The journal aims to contribute to the support and development of science through its "Open Access" policy. As per this policy, provided that the source is cited in accordance with recognized standards, all usage rights (such as online linking, copying, printing, reproduction in any physical medium, distribution, etc.) are granted, except for commercial use and content modification (unless otherwise stated in the specific content). These rights are granted under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC). For any commercial use of the content, permission from the journal editor is required.
January 26, 2026
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