Publication Ethics & Malpractice Statement

Perspectives in Education, Development & Social Sciences (PEDS) is fully committed to upholding the highest ethical standards in scholarly publishing. The journal strictly adheres to the guidelines and best practices recommended by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) to ensure integrity, transparency, and accountability in all aspects of publication.

Authors’ Responsibilities

Authors are expected to maintain honesty and academic integrity throughout the research and publication process. They must:

  • Submit only original and unpublished work, ensuring that the manuscript has not been submitted or published elsewhere.

  • Properly cite all sources and references, giving appropriate credit to previous work.

  • Avoid all forms of plagiarism, duplication, and data fabrication/falsification.

  • Provide accurate details of data, methods, and findings to allow reproducibility of research.

  • Disclose all funding sources, financial support, and potential conflicts of interest.

  • Ensure that all listed authors have made a significant contribution to the research and approve the final version of the manuscript.

Editors’ Responsibilities

Editors are entrusted with maintaining the quality, fairness, and transparency of the publication process. They must:

  • Ensure that all submitted manuscripts undergo a fair and unbiased review, based solely on academic merit and without discrimination on the basis of gender, race, religion, or institutional affiliation.

  • Maintain strict confidentiality regarding all submissions and the identity of authors and reviewers.

  • Make publication decisions only after careful consideration of reviewers’ comments, the relevance of the work, and its contribution to the field.

  • Take prompt corrective action in cases of proven ethical misconduct, such as plagiarism, citation manipulation, or research fraud, including retraction or correction of published work.

  • Prevent conflicts of interest by recusing themselves from decisions when necessary.

Reviewers’ Responsibilities

Peer reviewers play a vital role in maintaining academic quality. They are required to:

  • Provide objective, evidence-based, and constructive evaluations of assigned manuscripts.

  • Submit their reviews in a timely manner to ensure an efficient editorial process.

  • Maintain confidentiality of all manuscripts and not use the information for personal advantage.

  • Disclose any conflicts of interest (personal, financial, or professional) that may bias their review and decline the assignment if necessary.

  • Identify instances of plagiarism, duplication, or unethical practices and notify the editor.

Publisher’s Responsibilities

As the publisher, PEDS ensures:

  • Integrity of the academic record, including transparent correction and retraction policies.

  • Accessibility and preservation of published content through digital archiving.

  • Commitment to open access, ensuring equitable global dissemination of knowledge.