Publishing Ethics
- The scientific journal “SDU University Bulletin: Pedagogy and Teaching Methods” is committed to upholding the highest ethical standards in the conduct and publication of research. The Research Ethics Policy aims to establish the general principles that guide the ethical conduct of research. Authors are required to thoroughly review the University’s Research Ethics Policy and comply with its rules and regulations to ensure adherence to ethical practices at all stages of their work.
- In the publication of their research, authors and all relevant stakeholders are expected to comply with the guidelines established by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), as specified herein.
- The editorial board of SDU University Bulletin: Pedagogy and Teaching Methods is responsible for deciding which manuscripts to publish. These decisions are based solely on the intellectual content of the submissions. Editors retain the right to reject manuscripts that violate legal standards concerning defamation, copyright infringement, or plagiarism. Furthermore, they are obligated to maintain the confidentiality of submitted manuscripts until their publication.
- Publishing peer-reviewed articles is essential to establishing a credible and valuable knowledge base, reflecting the quality of the work of both authors and their affiliated institutions. Peer-reviewed publications serve as an embodiment of the scientific method, and it is therefore critical to uphold ethical standards for all parties involved in the publication process: authors, editors, reviewers, publishers, and the broader academic community.
- Submitted manuscripts must not have been previously published or be under consideration for publication in another journal. The journal does not accept manuscripts that have been published in other languages.
- Authors are responsible for obtaining ethical approvals and ensuring compliance with all relevant regulations established by their institutions, organizations, or governing bodies prior to submission. Reviewers may, if necessary, request authors to submit evidence of institutional ethical approval.
Author Responsibilities
Authors of original research articles are required to present a precise description of their work and an unbiased analysis of its significance. Essential data must be accurately depicted in the manuscript. The document should contain enough detail and references to allow others to replicate the study.
False or deliberately misleading statements are deemed unethical and are not acceptable.
Originality and Plagiarism
The scientific journal SDU UNIVERSITY BULLETIN: PEDAGOGY AND TEACHING METHODS places a strong emphasis on academic integrity and ethical publishing practices. Authors are required to ensure that their work is original and properly cite any work or words of others they have used. Plagiarism, in all its forms, is strictly prohibited and is considered unethical behavior. This includes copying or paraphrasing substantial portions of another's work without proper acknowledgment or claiming research results conducted by others as one's own.
To support this commitment to originality and integrity, the journal has adopted the use of Turnitin, a sophisticated plagiarism detection tool. The incorporation of Turnitin reinforces the journal’s dedication to maintaining the highest standards of academic credibility. All submissions undergo a plagiarism check through Turnitin, with a strict threshold of no less than 75% original content. This process aims to identify and prevent both inadvertent and deliberate plagiarism, fostering a scholarly environment where the dissemination of original and trustworthy research is paramount.
By utilizing Turnitin, SDU UNIVERSITY BULLETIN: PEDAGOGY AND TEACHING METHODS ensures that all published content adheres to principles of authenticity and contributes to the advancement of ethical and credible scholarly discourse.
Acknowledgment of Sources and Confidentiality in Research
Authors are required to properly acknowledge the contributions of other researchers by accurately citing all sources that have had a significant impact on the development of their own research. Any information obtained through personal interactions, such as discussions or correspondence, may only be used or disclosed with explicit written consent from the original source. Likewise, information acquired through confidential processes, including manuscript or grant proposal reviews, must not be utilized without explicit written permission from the relevant authors or organizations.
Authorship of the Article
Authorship should be restricted to individuals who have made a substantial contribution to the conceptualization, design, execution, or interpretation of the research being reported. Everyone who has made a significant contribution should be listed as co-authors. Others who have contributed to important aspects of the research project should be acknowledged or listed as contributors. The author must ensure that all co-authors, excluding those who are not relevant, are included in the document. The final version of the document should be reviewed and approved by all co-authors before it is submitted for publication.
Risks and Research Subjects: Humans or Animals
When a study involves chemicals, procedures, or equipment with inherent hazards, the author must clearly disclose these risks in the manuscript. If the research involves animal or human subjects, the manuscript should include a statement confirming that all procedures complied with applicable laws and institutional guidelines, and that approval was obtained from the relevant institutional committees. Authors must also include a statement indicating that informed consent was obtained for any experiments involving human participants. The privacy rights of individuals must always be upheld.
Disclosure of Information and Conflicts of Interest
Authors are required to reveal any financial or other significant conflicts of interest in their manuscript that might influence the results or interpretation of their research. They must also disclose all sources of financial support for the project.
Unpublished content disclosed in a submitted manuscript must not be used by the editor for their own research without obtaining written permission from the author. Any confidential information or ideas gained during the peer review process must remain confidential and should not be used for personal benefit. Editors should withdraw from handling manuscripts where they have a conflict of interest due to competitive, collaborative, or other relationships with any of the authors, companies, or institutions connected to the manuscript and request that a co-editor, associate editor, or another board member take over. In such cases, the manuscript should be reassigned to another member of the editorial board. Editors are responsible for ensuring that all authors disclose any potential competing interests and make necessary corrections if such interests are revealed after publication. If required, additional measures should be taken, such as issuing a retraction or raising concerns.
This section is adapted from materials provided by Elsevier (https://www.elsevier.com/) and the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) (https://publicationethics.org/).
Correction of Substantial Errors in Published Paper
Should an author identify a significant error or inaccuracy in their published work, they are obligated to immediately notify the journal editor or publisher and collaborate to withdraw or amend the article. In cases where the editor or publisher receives notification from a third party regarding a substantial error in the published work, the author must promptly retract or correct the article or provide evidence that supports the accuracy of the original publication.
Editorial Responsibilities
These guidelines are derived from the current COPE Best Practice Guidelines for Journal Editors.
Editorial Decision Announcements
The editor-in-chief of the journal holds the responsibility for determining which submitted manuscripts will be accepted for publication. Decisions regarding the acceptance or rejection of manuscripts, as well as their relevance to the research community and readership, should be made based on these considerations. The editor is expected to adhere to the journal's editorial policies and comply with legal standards related to defamation, copyright infringement, and plagiarism.
Ensuring Fairness in Manuscript Evaluation
Editors are required to evaluate manuscripts solely based on their scientific and intellectual merit. Decisions regarding manuscript acceptance or rejection must be made without regard to factors such as race, gender, religious beliefs, ethnicity, nationality, or political views of the authors. This approach ensures objectivity and equal opportunities for all authors.
Confidentiality
Editors and members of the editorial board are required to maintain the confidentiality of information related to submitted manuscripts. Such information should only be shared with the corresponding author, reviewers, potential reviewers, other editorial advisors, and the publisher, when deemed necessary.
Use of generative AI tools
The editorial team of SDU UNIVERSITY BULLETIN: PEDAGOGY AND TEACHING METHODS discourages using AI programs to write sections of your manuscript. It is recommended that authors who use tools like ChatGPT follow the guidelines provided by the Committee on Publication Ethics. COPE provides best practices in ethical publishing, and while SDU Bulletin: Pedagogy and Teaching Methods adheres to these principles, the journal is not a formal member of COPE.
According to COPE’s guidelines:
Authors who use AI tools in the writing of a manuscript, production of images or graphical elements of the paper, or in the collection and analysis of data, must be transparent in disclosing in the Materials and Methods (or similar section) of the paper how the AI tool was used and which tool was used. Authors are fully responsible for the content of their manuscript, even those parts produced by an AI tool, and are thus liable for any breach of publication ethics.
AI tools cannot meet the requirements for authorship as they cannot take responsibility for the submitted work. ”
Authors must not list or cite AI and AI-assisted technologies as authors or co-authors on the manuscript since authorship implies responsibilities and tasks that can only be attributed to and performed by humans.
Submissions that do not disclose the use of AI tools, such as ChatGPT may be rejected.
The use of generative AI and AI-assisted technologies in the manuscript must be declared by adding a statement in a new section at the end of the manuscript when the paper is first submitted. The statement will appear in the published work before the references list. An example:
Title of new section: Declaration of generative AI and AI-assisted technologies in the writing process.
Statement: During the preparation of this work the author(s) used [NAME TOOL / SERVICE] in order to [REASON]. After using this tool/service, the author(s) reviewed and edited the content as needed and take(s) full responsibility for the content of the published article.
The declaration does not apply to the use of basic tools, such as tools used to check grammar, spelling, and references. If the author(s) has/have no disclosures, there's no requirement to include a statement.
