The Journal of the Institute of Social Sciences of Siirt University is dedicated to maintaining the highest standards of ethics in academic publishing. It upholds the principles of transparency, integrity, and accountability throughout every phase of the editorial and publication process. Adherence to ethical publishing practices not only safeguards the quality and credibility of scholarly work but also plays a vital role in fostering public trust in academic research.
With this commitment, the journal aligns its policies with both national regulations and internationally accepted ethical frameworks to ensure that all parties involved—authors, reviewers, editors, and publishers—fulfill their respective responsibilities.
Principles of Publication Ethics
Scientific publication ethics rest upon core values such as openness, honesty, and impartiality. These values are essential across all stages of the research and publishing lifecycle. To preserve the integrity and reliability of its publications, the journal adopts the following principles and expects all contributors to act in accordance with them:
• Integrity and Transparency: Authors must present research findings fully, honestly, and clearly. Data must not be manipulated, and misleading or false findings must not be included.
• Plagiarism and Intellectual Property Rights: Authors must properly cite the ideas, data, or texts of others and avoid plagiarism. All references must be appropriately cited in the relevant parts of the manuscript.
• Reliability of Data and Findings: Authors must be honest in data generation and reporting, avoiding data fabrication, manipulation, or concealment of observations.
• Impartiality: Opposing views must not be distorted, and authors should present perspectives that challenge their own within the framework of academic honesty.
All individuals involved in the research and publication process share responsibility for adhering to these ethical principles. Furthermore, the journal expects all stakeholders to comply with the following national and international regulations:
1. Press Law (National Legislation) [https://www.mevzuat.gov.tr/mevzuat?MevzuatNo=5187&MevzuatTur=1&MevzuatTertip=5]
2. Law on Intellectual and Artistic Works (National Legislation) [https://telifhaklari.ktb.gov.tr/Eklenti/106879,fikir-ve-sanat-eserleri-kanunupdf.pdf?0]
3. Directive on Scientific Research and Publication Ethics of Higher Education Institutions (National Regulation) [https://www.yok.gov.tr/Documents/Mevzuat/yuksekogretim-kurumlari-bilimsel-arastirma-ve-yayin-etigi-yonergesi.pdf]
4. Principles of Transparency and Best Practice in Scholarly Publishing (International Criteria) [https://blog.doaj.org/2018/01/15/principles-of-transparency-and-best-practice-in-scholarly-publishing-version-3/]
5. Decisions of the Turkish Editors' Workshop (National Criteria) [https://editorlercalistayi.com/]
Duplicate Publication and Simultaneous Submission
The Journal of the Institute of Social Sciences of Siirt University considers the publication of the same article in more than one journal as duplicate publication and does not accept such submissions. A manuscript is considered for publication only if it has not been published elsewhere. If a manuscript is simultaneously submitted to another journal, the editors will take appropriate measures upon discovering the situation. Authors may not submit the same article to another journal while it is under consideration by our journal. Otherwise, the editor will coordinate with the relevant parties to implement necessary actions.
Plagiarism and Ethical Misconduct Checks
To prevent plagiarism and ensure scientific credibility, all submissions are screened using iThenticate software. This software provides a comprehensive analysis of text overlaps and quotations from other works. While a similarity index below 15% is expected, even lower rates are further examined to ensure that all cited materials are referenced properly. Authors are expected to follow appropriate citation practices and adhere to ethical standards when quoting or referencing others' work.
• Plagiarism: Presenting the ideas, methods, data, or texts of others as one's own without proper citation is considered plagiarism and is not tolerated by the journal.
• Fabrication and Data Manipulation: Falsifying, fabricating, or altering research data in a misleading manner is unacceptable.
• Authorship Manipulation: Misrepresentation of authorship order or contributions, or including individuals who did not contribute significantly to the article, is considered unethical.
Protection of Personal Data of Participants
The journal requires ethical approval for studies involving human participants and adherence to the principle of personal data protection. Research involving sensitive data related to human participants must have ethics committee approval, and details of this approval should be stated in the manuscript. The privacy and autonomy of participants must always be protected.
Handling Allegations of Research Misconduct
The journal actively combats research misconduct in accordance with COPE guidelines and international ethical standards. Editors work proactively to detect ethical violations such as plagiarism and data manipulation and implement necessary procedures in such cases. If misconduct is confirmed, appropriate measures are taken, and the process is managed transparently in line with the journal’s principles.
Reporting Ethical Violations and Appeal Process
In cases where a significant error or a potential breach of ethical standards is identified in a published article, readers are encouraged to notify the editorial office directly. All such reports are treated with strict confidentiality, and the editorial team takes necessary action without delay.
Authors who believe that their submission has been misunderstood or unfairly evaluated during the editorial or peer review process may file a formal appeal. Appeals must be clearly written, substantiated with evidence, and are limited to one submission per article. Correspondence regarding appeals should be directed to: sosbilder@siirt.edu.tr
Conflicts of Interest
Authors are expected to provide clear and honest disclosure of all financial resources and any potential conflicts of interest related to their research. This includes, but is not limited to, funding received, institutional support, sponsorships, or consultancy arrangements. Such declarations must be included within the manuscript. Likewise, editors are required to withdraw from handling any submission in which they, or their close relatives, have a personal or professional involvement.
Principles of Research Ethics
The journal adheres to internationally recognized ethical standards governing research conduct. It emphasizes the principles of academic integrity, methodological rigor, and transparency throughout the entire research process. In studies involving human participants, researchers must obtain prior approval from an appropriate ethics committee, ensure voluntary participation, and protect the privacy and autonomy of all individuals involved. Informed consent must be obtained in accordance with ethical guidelines.