Publication Processes and Ethical Responsibilities at Sinop University Social Sciences Journal

The publication processes implemented at Sinop University Social Sciences Journal serve as the foundation for the unbiased and reputable development and dissemination of knowledge. These processes directly reflect the quality of the work conducted by both the authors and their supporting institutions. Peer-reviewed publications are essential in concretizing and supporting scientific methods. In this regard, it is crucial that all stakeholders—authors, readers and researchers, publishers, reviewers, and editors—adhere to ethical standards.

Sinop University Social Sciences Journal expects all stakeholders to assume the following ethical responsibilities within the framework of its publication ethics. The ethical duties and responsibilities outlined below have been prepared in accordance with the guidelines and policies published by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) (see COPE Guidelines in Turkish).

Peer-reviewed publications constitute a fundamental building block in the development of a respected and cohesive network of knowledge. They are a direct reflection of the quality of the work produced by authors and their affiliated institutions. Peer-reviewed articles support and shape scientific methodologies; therefore, achieving consensus on the expected standards of ethical conduct is essential for all parties involved in the publication process, including authors, journal editors, reviewers, and publishing organizations.

1. Authorship
The reference list must be complete.

Plagiarism and falsified data must not be included.

The same research should not be submitted for publication in multiple journals; adherence to the ethics of scientific research and publication is mandatory.

Scientific research and publication misconduct include the following:

a) Plagiarism: Presenting another's ideas, methodologies, data, applications, writings, figures, or works as one's own, either partially or entirely, without proper citation according to scientific standards.
b) Fabrication: Producing data that is not based on actual research, manipulating or altering the submitted or published work based on non-existent data, reporting or publishing such data, or presenting unperformed research as if it had been conducted.
c) Falsification: Distorting research records and obtained data, representing unused methods, devices, or materials as if they had been employed, disregarding data that does not support the research hypothesis, or manipulating data and/or results to fit a particular theoretical framework or the interests of benefactors.
d) Redundant Publication: Presenting multiple works containing the same research results as separate contributions in academic evaluations such as tenure or promotion assessments.
e) Salami Slicing: Dividing a research study into several parts in a manner that undermines the integrity of the work and presenting them as separate contributions in academic evaluations without appropriate cross-referencing.
f) Improper Authorship: Including individuals who have not actively contributed to the work as co-authors, excluding those who have made significant contributions, arbitrarily changing the order of authors without proper justification, omitting the names of those who actively contributed during or after publication, or using one's influence to have one’s name included among the authors despite no active contribution.
g) Other Forms of Ethical Violations: Failing to clearly acknowledge the contributions of individuals, institutions, or organizations that provided support for the research, not adhering to ethical standards in studies involving human or animal subjects, not respecting patient rights in publications, disclosing confidential information from a manuscript under review before publication, misusing resources, facilities, or equipment provided for scientific research, or making unfounded, irrelevant, and intentionally malicious allegations of ethical misconduct (as outlined in Article 8 of the YÖK Scientific Research and Publication Ethics Guidelines).

2. Responsibilities of Authors
All authors are expected to contribute significantly to the research.

A declaration confirming that all data presented in the article are genuine and original is required.

All authors are responsible for ensuring the correction or retraction of errors when necessary.

3. Responsibilities of Reviewers
Reviews must be conducted impartially.

Reviewers should not have any conflicts of interest with the research, authors, or funding bodies.

Reviewers should indicate any relevant published works that were not cited by the authors.

Manuscripts under review must be kept confidential.

4. Editorial Responsibilities
Editors have the sole authority and responsibility to accept or reject a manuscript.

Editors must not have any conflicts of interest regarding the manuscripts they accept or reject.

Only manuscripts that make a substantive contribution to the field should be accepted.

Editors should support the publication of corrections or retractions in the event that errors are identified.

The identities of reviewers should remain confidential, and measures must be taken to prevent plagiarism or falsification of data.

The peer review process lies at the heart of successful scientific publishing. Safeguarding and enhancing this process is part of our commitment, and Sinop University Social Sciences Journal is obligated to assist the academic community in addressing issues of publication ethics, particularly in cases of suspected duplicate publications or plagiarism.

If a reader identifies a significant error or inaccuracy in an article published by Sinop University Social Sciences Journal, or has any complaints regarding the editorial content (e.g., plagiarism, duplicate publications), they are encouraged to contact us via email at sbd@sinop.edu.tr. We welcome such feedback as an opportunity to improve and are committed to providing prompt and constructive responses.

Detection of Plagiarism
Manuscripts submitted for publication in Sinop University Social Sciences Journal undergo a double-blind peer review by at least two reviewers. Additionally, a specialized software program is used to verify that the articles have not been published elsewhere and do not contain plagiarized content.