ETHICS AND MALPRACTICE STATEMENT

(Based on Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and the World Association of Medical Editors (WAME) in the Best Practice Guidelines for Journal Publication Process).

Ethical guidelines for the journal publication

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In the peer-reviewed journals published by Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia, the publication of an article is a process of permanent knowledge improvement. The article submitted must be original, has never been published elsewhere in any language, and is not under review for publication anywhere. Our journal publishes articles only focused on the scope explained in the focus and scope section.

The article must be supported by scientific methods embedded in the text. This reflects the quality of the work of the authors and the institutions that support them. The article must comply with standards of expected ethical behavior for all parties involved, including the author, journal editor, peer reviewers, publisher, and sponsored journals.

Articles published in our journals at Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia are intended for the advancement of ongoing research from current knowledge and theories. All articles must follow ethical behavior from all parties involved in the publication process, including authors, editors, reviewers, publishers, and sponsored papers or journals.

Our publications pledge to ensure that editorial decisions are unaffected by advertising, reprints, or other commercial revenue. Additionally, where beneficial, the Editorial Board will assist discussions with other journals and/or publishers.

AUTHOR(S)’S DUTIES

Authors have several duties based on COPE and WAME:

• Originality. Authors must submit only original articles that have never been published elsewhere and are not under review in another journal.
• Scientific Reporting. Authors must report original research truthfully, accurately, objectively, and with sufficient detail to allow replication.
• Data Availability. Raw data related to submitted articles may be requested for editorial review and should be retained for a reasonable time after publication.
• Plagiarism. Authors must ensure that their writing is unique and original. Proper citations must be provided for borrowed ideas or words.
• Authorship. Only persons who significantly contributed to the conception, design, execution, or interpretation of the study should be listed as authors.
• Acknowledgements. All contributors, institutions, grants, or individuals who supported the research must be properly acknowledged.
• Conflict of Interest. Any financial or personal conflict that may affect the manuscript must be disclosed at submission.
• Errors in Published Works. Authors must promptly notify the editor if significant errors are found and cooperate in correction or retraction.
• Multiple Submission. Simultaneous submission of the same manuscript to multiple journals is unethical and unacceptable.

EDITOR(S)’S DUTIES

• Publication Decisions. Editors are responsible for deciding whether submitted articles should be published based on reviewers’ comments, novelty, scope, legal requirements, and ethical considerations.
• Fair Play and Confidentiality. Manuscripts must be evaluated fairly without discrimination based on race, gender, religion, nationality, or political beliefs. All manuscripts must remain confidential.
• Conflict of Interest. Editors must not use unpublished information for personal research and must recuse themselves where conflicts exist.
• Complaints and Investigations. Editors should respond appropriately to ethical complaints and may issue corrections, retractions, or expressions of concern when needed.

REVIEWER(S)’S DUTIES

After passing initial editorial screening, each manuscript is usually reviewed by at least three reviewers: one internal reviewer and others external reviewers.

• Review Role and Promptness. Reviewers assist editors in making fair decisions and improving manuscript quality through constructive comments.
• Confidentiality. Manuscripts and review materials are confidential and must not be shared without permission.
• Acknowledgment of Sources. Reviewers should identify relevant published work not cited by authors and report similarities with other publications.
• Conflict of Interest. Reviewers must decline review if conflicts of interest exist with authors, institutions, or organizations involved.

THE USE OF GENERATIVE AI AND AI-ASSISTED TECHNOLOGIES IN WRITING FOR IJOST

This policy provides guidance for authors, readers, reviewers, editors, and contributors regarding generative AI and AI-assisted technologies.

Authors must review the privacy and confidentiality terms of any AI tools used, especially regarding unpublished manuscripts and personal data. Any personally identifiable information must be handled carefully.

It is prohibited to create images that imitate copyrighted materials, real people, brands, products, or voices using AI tools.

Authors must also review terms of use to ensure that AI tools are granted only limited rights and do not impose restrictions on future publication of the manuscript.

When submitting manuscripts, authors must include a separate AI declaration statement explaining the use of AI tools in manuscript preparation. This declaration should appear before the references section.

The declaration should include:

• Name of the AI tool used
• Purpose of use
• Extent of human oversight

No declaration is required for basic grammar, spelling, or punctuation checks.

AI tools must not be listed as authors or co-authors. Authorship responsibilities belong only to humans.

The use of generative AI or AI-assisted tools to create or modify images in submitted manuscripts is prohibited, except where such tools are part of the research methodology. In such cases, detailed disclosure in the methods section is required, including tool name, version, manufacturer, and how it was used.

Authors may be asked to submit original non-AI-adjusted images or raw image files for editorial review.