Publication Ethics and Malpractice Statement

Journal of Catalan Studies (JOCS) - Publication Ethics and Malpractice Statement

The Journal of Catalan Studies (JOCS) is committed to upholding the highest standards of publication ethics and to ensuring the integrity and quality of the academic research it publishes. This statement outlines our policies and procedures for maintaining ethical conduct in the publication process, in accordance with the guidelines set by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE). All parties involved in the publication process—authors, editors, peer reviewers, and the publisher—are expected to adhere to these standards.

  1. Responsibilities of Authors
  • Originality and Plagiarism: Authors must ensure that their work is original and free from plagiarism. Any work or words derived from other sources must be appropriately cited or quoted.
  • Authorship Criteria: Only individuals who have made a significant contribution to the research and writing of the manuscript should be listed as authors. All co-authors must have agreed to the final version of the manuscript and its submission to JOCS.
  • Data Integrity and Access: Authors are expected to provide accurate and complete data supporting their research. Misrepresentation or fabrication of data is considered a serious breach of ethics. Authors may be asked to provide raw data for editorial review if required.
  • Acknowledgment of Sources: Proper acknowledgment of all sources of funding, contributions, and scholarly work must be provided. Any financial or other conflicts of interest must be disclosed.
  • Multiple, Redundant, or Concurrent Publication: Submissions must be original and not under consideration elsewhere. Authors should not publish the same research in more than one journal unless explicitly approved by all parties involved.
  • Corrections and Retractions: If an author discovers a significant error or inaccuracy in their published work, they must promptly notify the editors so that a correction or retraction can be issued.
  1. Responsibilities of Editors
  • Editorial Independence and Integrity: The editors of JOCS are responsible for ensuring the academic quality of the journal. They are required to make impartial and fair publication decisions, free from commercial or personal bias. Editors should recuse themselves from handling manuscripts where they have conflicts of interest.
  • Confidentiality: Editors must maintain confidentiality regarding submissions and their content throughout the review process. They should not disclose any information about a manuscript to anyone other than the corresponding author, reviewers, or the publisher.
  • Peer Review Process: The editors are responsible for ensuring a fair and unbiased double-blind peer review process. Reviewers are selected based on their expertise and are expected to provide constructive and timely feedback. The editor must make the final decision on the acceptance or rejection of a manuscript, based on the reviews and the journal’s editorial policies.
  • Ethical Oversight: Editors should ensure that research involving human or animal subjects complies with relevant ethical guidelines and obtain ethical approval where required. Manuscripts that fail to meet these standards will be rejected.
  1. Responsibilities of Reviewers
  • Confidentiality: Reviewers must treat the manuscripts they receive for review as confidential documents and must not discuss them with others or use the information for personal advantage.
  • Objectivity: Reviews should be conducted objectively and focus on the content of the manuscript. Personal criticism of the author is inappropriate. Reviewers should provide clear and constructive feedback, backed by scholarly evidence.
  • Timeliness: Reviewers are expected to complete their reviews within the stipulated time frame. If they are unable to do so, they should promptly notify the editors so that an alternative reviewer can be assigned.
  • Disclosure of Conflicts of Interest: Reviewers should not review manuscripts in which they have conflicts of interest arising from competitive, collaborative, or other relationships with the authors or institutions involved in the work.
  1. Responsibilities of the Publisher
  • Editorial Autonomy: The general editor of JOCS ensures that decisions on manuscripts are made solely by the journal’s editorial board and that editorial independence is maintained.
  • Ethical Standards: The general editor works closely with the editors to ensure that JOCS adheres to the highest ethical standards, particularly in cases of alleged misconduct, plagiarism, or other violations of ethical guidelines. When ethical issues are raised, the publisher and editors will take appropriate measures, including issuing corrections, retractions, and apologies when necessary.
  • Archiving and Access: JOCS ensures the long-term preservation of all published articles through digital archiving in secure repositories. The publisher is also committed to ensuring free access to published work in line with the journal’s open-access policy.
  1. Dealing with Misconduct

The editors of JOCS take any form of misconduct, including plagiarism, data falsification, and unethical research practices, very seriously. If allegations of misconduct are brought to the attention of the editors or publisher, they will follow COPE’s flowcharts and guidelines to investigate and resolve the issue. The possible outcomes include, but are not limited to:

  • Seeking clarification from the authors.
  • Issuing corrections or retractions if necessary.
  • Notifying the author’s institution in cases of serious misconduct.
  1. Conflicts of Interest

All authors, reviewers, and editors must disclose any conflicts of interest that might influence their work. If any potential conflict of interest is identified, appropriate actions will be taken to resolve the situation, such as assigning an alternative reviewer or editor.

The Journal of Catalan Studies (JOCS) is dedicated to fostering ethical publishing practices and ensuring that all research published meets the highest standards of integrity and quality. We encourage transparency, academic honesty, and collaboration in the scholarly community.