Publication Ethics

Our commitment

The Journal of Contemporary Social Issues is committed to the highest standards of scholarly integrity and follows the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) guidance. We expect authors, reviewers, editors, and staff to act honestly, transparently, and responsibly at every stage of research and publication.

Conditions for Submission

Submit only when all of the following are true:

  • The work is original, rigorous, and accurately represented.
  • The submission is not under consideration elsewhere and has not been previously published (exceptions for preprints or conference papers must be declared).
  • All third-party materials are used with permission and properly credited.
  • Any individuals or organisations named have been included only with appropriate consent.
  • All listed authors have agreed on authorship and accurately reflect their contributions.
    Failure to meet these conditions may result in correction, removal, or retraction in accordance with COPE procedures.

Authorship and Contributorship

To be listed as an author, an individual must meet all four ICMJE/COPE-aligned criteria:

  1. Substantial contribution to conception, design, data acquisition, analysis, or interpretation.
  2. Drafting or critical revision for key intellectual content.
  3. Final approval of the version to be published.
  4. Acceptance of responsibility for the work and willingness to address questions about accuracy or integrity.
  5. Gift, guest, or ghost authorship is not acceptable.
  6. Simply securing funding does not justify authorship.
  7. Authors must agree on author order before submission and explain contributions on request.

Use of AI and Large Language Models (LLMs)

  • LLMs and generative AI cannot be listed as authors. They cannot take responsibility for integrity or originality.
  • Authors must disclose any substantive use of AI (beyond basic grammar/spell checks) in the Methods or Acknowledgments. Disclosure must include what the AI generated/modified, the tool name and version, and any sources used by the tool.
  • Prohibited uses: AI-generated writing of core content (e.g., whole abstracts, literature reviews), AI-generated results/statistics, and AI-generated images.
  • Permitted uses: language polishing and readability edits only if the text originates from the authors.
  • Reviewers and editors must not use AI/LLMs to evaluate, decide upon, or generate peer-review reports that contain confidential or identifying material. Use of AI in review that compromises confidentiality or assessment validity will be treated as misconduct.

Attribution, Prior Presentation, and Transparency

  • Any prior dissemination (conference papers, preprints, workshop talks, listserv postings) must be cited and described so the editorial team can assess novelty and overlap.
  • References must be complete, accurate, and consistent; our preferred style is APA 7 (or journal’s Author Guidelines).

Citation Ethics (Manipulation, Coercion, Self-Citation)

  • Citation Manipulation (adding irrelevant citations to inflate metrics, coordinated citation-pushing) and coercive citation (demanding citations without scholarly reason) are unethical.
  • Self-Citation should be relevant and limited; excessive self-citation that serves to inflate metrics is unacceptable.
  • We screen manuscripts for unusual citation patterns (e.g., repeated irrelevant citations, excessive citing of the same journal/author). If flagged, the Editor-in-Chief will review and may ask authors to justify or remove citations. Confirmed manipulation can lead to rejection, formal warnings, bans on future submission, and referral to institutions. Reviewers/editors found coercing citations will face removal from roles and other sanctions.

Conflicts of Interest

  • All participants (authors, reviewers, editors) must disclose any financial, personal, professional, or other relationships that could influence the research or its evaluation (e.g., prior personal relationship with an editor, holding a financial stake in outcomes, undisclosed funding).
  • Authors must declare funding sources and any potential competing interests on submission. If an editor or reviewer has a conflict, they will be recused and replaced.

Defamation, Libel, and Sensitive Content

  • Submissions must avoid unverified, defamatory, malicious, or unlawful statements. Written consent is required for identifiable people or organisations discussed in a way that could cause harm. Case studies should, where appropriate, obtain subject consent before submission. Published defamatory content may be corrected or retracted, and legal steps followed as necessary.

Research Ethics, Informed Consent, and Ethics Approval

  • Studies involving humans, identifiable data, biological samples, or animals must have prior ethical approval from a recognized institutional review board or ethics committee. Provide the committee name, country, approval number, and date in an Ethics Approval and Consent Statement.
  • Informed consent: submissions must state that informed consent was obtained, describe how anonymity/privacy were protected, and detail data storage/use and potential risks. Where consent to publish identifiable material is required, a signed Consent to Publish form must be supplied.
  • If a study did not require approval, authors must explain why the study was exempt and reference the applicable guidelines.

Data, Third-Party Datasets, and Data Availability 

  • Authors should include a Data Availability Statement describing where and how data (and code) can be accessed, or clearly explain legal/ethical restrictions to sharing.
  • The dataset owner must authorise use of third-party datasets unless they are public and unrestricted; include a statement confirming permissions and any restrictions.

Plagiarism, Text Recycling, and Permissions

  • Plagiarism in any form (verbatim copying, close paraphrase without attribution, reuse of tables/figures without permission) is unacceptable. We screen submissions with Crossref Similarity Check/Turnitin and editorial review.
  • Recycling/self-plagiarism: Reuse of substantial portions of your prior work must be declared, justified, and cited. Republishing identical results without new analysis is not acceptable.
  • Authors are responsible for obtaining and providing written permission to reproduce third-party copyrighted material (figures, tables, photographs, maps, large quotations, logos, software screenshots, song lyrics, poetry). Permissions should cover print and electronic worldwide rights for the life of the work; proof must be supplied on request. Failure to clear permissions may delay publication or require removal of material.

Image and Figure Integrity

  • Minimal, non-misleading image processing (brightness/contrast applied uniformly) is allowed if it does not alter interpretation. Intentional or deceptive image manipulation (adding/removing elements, or selective alterations that misrepresent results) is fraudulent. Authors must retain and provide original image/data files on request. Suspected manipulation will prompt investigation and may lead to rejection, retraction, and institutional notification.

Fabrication, Falsification, and Research Misconduct

  • Fabrication or falsification of data, results, or methods is a fundamental breach of ethics. We may request raw data and perform plausibility checks. Confirmed misconduct will result in rejection, retraction (if published), institutional notification, and other sanctions per COPE guidance.

Peer Review Process and Reviewer Responsibilities

  • Our default model is rigorous peer review. Reviewers must: keep submissions confidential, declare conflicts of interest, provide objective and constructive feedback, avoid coercive citation, and not use manuscript content for personal advantage. Editors will monitor review quality and remove reviewers who fail to fulfill these duties.

Grievance, Complaints, and Appeals

  • If you have concerns about editorial handling or decisions, contact the journal’s commissioning editor (contact details on the journal homepage). We will acknowledge complaints promptly and aim to resolve them fairly. For editorial decisions specifically, submit an appeal stating the grounds for appeal; the editorial team will review and acknowledge it within the stated timeframe. Unresolved or complex ethical matters may be escalated to an independent Ethics Committee or Ombudsperson. Timelines and steps follow COPE flowcharts.

Ethics Oversight and Dispute Resolution

  • An independent Ethics Committee oversees unresolved ethical issues and misconduct investigations. An Ombudsperson provides impartial mediation between authors, reviewers, and editors. Contact details and procedures will be published on the journal website.

Handling Allegations (Investigation Process)

  • Allegations (plagiarism, data fabrication, manipulation, conflicts) are handled impartially, documented, and follow COPE flowcharts. The accused party will be allowed to respond. Outcomes may include correction, retraction, a ban on submissions, a notice to the employer/institution, or other actions as appropriate. All decisions are recorded and communicated to relevant parties.

Redundant/Subsequent publication

  • Duplicate or simultaneous submission to multiple journals is unacceptable. If there is substantial overlap with previously published work, authors must disclose it and justify the new submission (e.g., new data or substantially new analysis).

Corrections, Retractions, and Record-Keeping

  • The journal will correct the scholarly record when necessary. Corrections, expressions of concern, or retractions will be clearly labelled and linked to the original article. We will follow COPE guidance on wording and procedure, and keep records of all investigations.

Our Promise to Authors and Stakeholders

When an ethics or publishing issue arises, we will:

  • Act professionally, fairly, and promptly.
  • Give the accused a chance to respond and allow a reasonable time for replies.
  • Keep stakeholders informed of outcomes and rationale.
  • Follow COPE flowcharts and best practices.
  • Protect authors’ rights and ensure accurate attribution.
  • If ethical misconduct is established before publication, we may withdraw acceptance; after investigation, final decisions will prioritise the integrity of the scholarly record.