Publication Ethics

Publication Ethic and Malpractice Statement

The guidelines are based on COPE’s Best Practice Guidelines for Journal Editors to ensure the integrity and quality of academic publications.

Ethical Guidelines for Journal Publication
The publication of a paper in the ICHSS proceedings represents an important contribution to the advancement of knowledge in humanities and social sciences. It reflects the quality and integrity of the authors' work and the institutions supporting them. Therefore, it is crucial to uphold ethical standards for all individuals involved in the publishing process.

Duties of Authors
Authorship
Authors are obligated to present their research findings in an accurate and comprehensive manner. This includes providing a clear and truthful account of the methods, data, and results, ensuring that the research can be replicated and verified by others in the academic community. All relevant data, both supportive and contradictory, must be included to provide a balanced view of the research findings. In addition, if any errors or inaccuracies are identified after the submission or publication of the work, authors have a responsibility to promptly notify the conference organizers and collaborate with the editorial team to correct or retract the publication. This commitment to accuracy and integrity is fundamental to maintaining trust of the academic community and upholding the standards of scientific inquiry. Any fraudulent or knowingly inaccurate statements are unethical and unacceptable.

Originality and Plagiarism
Authors are required to submit only original work that reflects their own research and intellectual contributions. Any use of others' ideas, data, or text must be appropriately cited to give proper credit to the original sources. This includes not only direct quotations but also paraphrased ideas and concepts. Plagiarism, which includes the unauthorized use or close imitation of the language and thoughts of another author, and the representation of them as one's own original work, is a serious ethical violation and is strictly prohibited in any form. To maintain the integrity of the publication process, all submitted manuscripts will be subjected to plagiarism detection tools. A similarity index of more than 15% (excluding references) and properly cited quotations) is considered unacceptable and will result in the manuscript being returned to the author for revision or rejection. Authors are encouraged to review their work carefully before submission to ensure that it meets these originality standards.

Multiple Submissions
Manuscripts submitted to ICHSS should not be under review elsewhere or previously published. Duplicate submissions are considered unethical and are not permitted.

Authorship of the Paper
Authorship should be limited to those who have made a significant contribution to the research. All co-authors should have seen and approved the final version of the paper and agreed to its submission.

Disclosure and Conflicts of Interest
All authors must disclose any financial or other substantive conflicts of interest that could influence the results or interpretation of their work. All sources of financial support should be disclosed.

Ethical Research Practices
If the research involves chemicals, procedures, or equipment with inherent hazards, these must be clearly identified in the manuscript. For research involving human or animal subjects, authors must ensure compliance with relevant laws and institutional guidelines and include a statement of ethics approval and informed consent where applicable.

Declaration of AI Usage in Scientific Writing
This guidance is specifically related to the writing phase and does not cover the use of AI tools for data analysis or interpretation during the research process. When authors utilize generative artificial intelligence (AI) or AI-assisted tools in drafting their manuscripts, such technologies should be employed solely to enhance the clarity and fluency of the text. The application of these tools must be conducted under human supervision, ensuring that the final output is carefully reviewed and edited by the authors. It is crucial to recognize that AI-generated content, while potentially helpful, may contain inaccuracies, incomplete information, or biases, and should not be relied upon without thorough human oversight. AI tools and technologies should not be credited as authors, as authorship carries specific responsibilities that only humans can fulfill. Authors are required to disclose the use of any AI or AI-assisted technologies in the creation of their manuscript. This disclosure should be included in a dedicated section of the manuscript before the References list. The statement should make it clear that the authors have personally verified and taken full responsibility for the accuracy and integrity of the final content.

Disclosure Instructions
At the conclusion of the manuscript, before the References section, authors must include a statement detailing any use of AI or AI-assisted tools during the writing process. This should be labeled under a section titled "Declaration of AI Usage in Writing." Example Statement: During the development of this manuscript, the author(s) utilized [NAME OF TOOL/SERVICE] to [PURPOSE OF USE]. The author(s) reviewed and made necessary revisions to the content and accept full responsibility for the published material. This requirement does not apply to the use of standard software for grammar, spelling, or reference management. If no AI tools were used, no statement is needed.

Duties of Reviewers
Contribution to Editorial Decisions
Reviewers assist in editorial decisions and help authors improve their papers through constructive feedback.

Promptness
Reviewers should complete their reviews promptly. If a reviewer feels unqualified to review a manuscript or cannot complete the review on time, they should notify the editor immediately.

Confidentiality
Reviewers must treat all manuscripts received for review as confidential documents. The content of the manuscript should not be shared with others or used for personal benefit. Any discussion or sharing of the manuscript's details must be authorized by the editor.

Objective and Fair Assessment
Reviewers are expected to provide an unbiased and fair evaluation of the manuscript. Personal criticism of the author is inappropriate, and reviewers should base their feedback on the content and quality of the work, offering constructive suggestions for improvement where necessary.

Acknowledgment of Sources
Reviewers should be vigilant in identifying any instances where the author has not cited relevant work. If reviewers recognize any substantial overlap between the manuscript under review and other published works, they should notify the editor.

Timeliness
Reviewers should complete their reviews within the time frame specified by the editor. If a reviewer is unable to meet the deadline or feels unqualified to review the manuscript, they should promptly inform the editor to allow for alternative arrangements.

Participation in a Double-Anonymized Review Process
ICHSS utilizes a double-anonymized review process to ensure impartiality. Reviewers should not attempt to discover the identities of the authors, and if the identity becomes known, it should not influence the review.

Disclosure and Conflict of Interest
Reviewers must disclose any potential conflicts of interest that could affect their ability to provide an impartial review. If a conflict of interest exists, the reviewer should recuse themselves from the review process. Conflicts of interest might include personal, financial, or professional relationships with the authors or institutions associated with the manuscript.

Duties of Editors
Publication Decisions
The section editor is responsible for making the final decision on whether a manuscript should be accepted, revised, or rejected. A manuscript will be accepted if it aligns with the conference's thematic focus, is free from significant technical errors, is written in clear and appropriate language, and raises no ethical concerns from either the reviewers or editors. If the manuscript partially meets the acceptance criteria, the editor may request revisions. The manuscript will only be accepted once all necessary revisions have been satisfactorily addressed. When revisions are requested, the editor reviews the resubmitted manuscript to ensure that the author's revisions have adequately addressed the reviewers' and editors' comments. If disagreements arise between the author and reviewers, the editor should facilitate communication and may seek additional input, including possibly assigning another reviewer to resolve the issue. Editors must ensure that reviewers are assigned to manuscripts based on their expertise. Reviewers should regularly update their professional profiles to reflect their areas of specialization, allowing editors to make informed decisions when assigning manuscripts. Editors must also ensure that reviewers have no conflicts of interest that could compromise the objectivity of the review process. Reviewers are expected to respond to review invitations promptly and submit their reviews within the specified time frame.

Addressing Ethical Concerns
The Editor-in-Chief (EiC) serves as the primary contact for handling ethical concerns, appeals, and complaints. In cases where the EiC is involved in the concern, the issue should be directed to the Executive Editor. The EiC is ultimately responsible for final decisions regarding the acceptance, rejection, correction, or retraction of articles. If an ethical issue is raised, the EiC will initiate an investigation, which may involve contacting the authors' institutions, funding bodies, or other journals for independent advice. The EiC will then determine the appropriate course of action, whether it involves correcting or retracting the article.

Corrections and Retractions
Editors are responsible for managing corrections and retractions as necessary. Minor errors, such as typographical mistakes, will be corrected directly in the document and republished without notice. More significant errors that affect the content or interpretation of the article will also be corrected, with an editorial notice provided to explain the changes. If an article is found to be seriously flawed—due to ethical breaches, unreliable data, or other serious issues—a retraction will be issued. Retracted articles will remain accessible on the conference website with a clear "RETRACTED" label, and a statement explaining the reason for retraction will be provided. While the primary goal of ICHSS is to maintain academic integrity, the conference reserves the right to charge fees for corrections or retractions in cases where substantial editorial work is required.

Publisher's Responsibilities
Editorial Independence
The publisher of ICHSS is committed to ensuring that commercial considerations do not influence editorial decisions.

Ethical Oversight
The publisher works closely with the editorial team to ensure that all ethical issues, such as plagiarism, conflict of interest, and research misconduct, are addressed appropriately.