Yalova Theology Journal adheres to national and international standards regarding research and publication ethics. The journal complies with the Press Law, the Law on Intellectual and Artistic Works, and the Directive on Scientific Research and Publication Ethics for Higher Education Institutions. Furthermore, it has adopted the international ethical publishing principles established by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), the Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ), the Open Access Scholarly Publishers Association (OASPA), and the World Association of Medical Editors (WAME).
7.1. Authorship and Author Responsibilities
All authors must have made a significant contribution to the research and must declare that the data presented in the article are authentic and original.
The bibliography must be complete; plagiarism and fabricated data are strictly prohibited.
Authors must not attempt to publish the same research in more than one journal.
All authors are responsible for cooperating in the process of retracting articles or correcting errors, should the need arise.
7.2. Responsibilities of Reviewers
Evaluations must be impartial and objective.
Reviewers must not have any conflicts of interest with the research, the authors, and/or the research funding bodies.
Reviewers should identify relevant published works that have not been cited by the authors.
Manuscripts under review must be kept confidential and must not be shared with third parties.
7.3. Editorial Responsibilities
Editors have full responsibility and authority regarding the acceptance or rejection of a manuscript.
Editors must not have any conflicts of interest concerning the manuscripts they evaluate.
Only studies that contribute to the field and meet academic criteria are accepted.
The publication of corrections or the retraction of a manuscript is supported when errors are identified.
The identities of reviewers are kept confidential; measures are taken against plagiarism and fabricated data.
7.4. Actions Contrary to Scientific Research and Publication Ethics
Within the framework of the Council of Higher Education (YÖK) Directive on Scientific Research and Publication Ethics, the following actions are considered ethical violations:
Plagiarism: Presenting the ideas, methods, data, or works of others—in whole or in part—as one’s own, without providing proper citations in accordance with scientific standards.
Fabrication: Generating data that is not based on actual research, or manipulating existing data in a way that does not reflect reality.
Falsification: Altering research records or obtained data, or claiming the use of methods and materials that were not actually employed.
Redundant publication and "salami slicing" (fragmentation): Presenting the results of the same research in multiple publications, or breaking down research into smaller parts in a way that compromises its integrity.
Unjustified authorship: Including individuals as authors who have not made an active contribution, or excluding individuals who have made a contribution. • Other violations: Failure to disclose supporting individuals/institutions, non-compliance with ethical guidelines regarding human or animal subjects, and sharing information obtained during the peer-review process prior to publication.
7.5. Plagiarism Screening and Action Plan
All manuscripts that pass the preliminary screening are scanned using plagiarism detection software (Turnitin/iThenticate/intihal.net); a similarity index of less than 15% is expected. In cases where plagiarism is suspected, the manuscript is reviewed first by the Ethics Editor and subsequently by the Editorial Board; an explanation is requested from the author(s). If no response is received, the author’s affiliated institution is contacted. For published articles in which plagiarism is detected, measures may include contacting the relevant institution, removing the article from the website and labeling it as a "Plagiarized Article," and rejecting future submissions from the author(s) for a specified period (up to three years).
7.6. Corrections, Retractions, and Expressions of Concern
If minor errors that do not affect the findings, interpretations, or conclusions are identified in a published article, a correction may be issued. In the event of major errors or violations that invalidate the findings and conclusions, the article may be retracted; if there is a suspicion of a breach of research or publication ethics, an expression of concern may be published. These processes are guided by the policies of COPE and the ICMJE.
7.7. Studies Based on Surveys and Interviews
For research requiring ethics committee approval, such approval must be obtained; The name of the committee, along with the date and reference number, must be stated in the methodology section and on the relevant page of the article. In the case of case reports, the article must include a statement confirming that informed consent has been obtained.
7.8. Policy on Publishing Special Issues
A special issue may be published once a year, subject to a decision by the Editorial Board. Articles submitted for a special issue are also subject to an initial editorial review, a check for compliance with submission guidelines, a plagiarism scan, and a double-blind peer-review process.