Ethical Principles and Publishing Policy

1. Original works need to be submitted to the journal.
2. Submitted articles need not have been published elsewhere or submitted to a different journal for publication.
3. When uploading articles to the system, author names, addresses, and all information identifying the authors must be deleted.
4. The author(s) must correctly cite the sources used in the article's writing by following ethical principles.
5. The names of people who don’t contribute to the article need not be written as authors, and the author order of an article applied for publication shouldn’t be changed, authors should not be removed, and authors shouldn’t be added.

Within the scope of ethical rules, the studies for which Ethics Committee Permission are requested to be evaluated in our journal are presented below:

1. Any research conducted with qualitative, quantitative or mixed approaches that requires data collection from participants using survey, interview, focus group, observation, experiment and interview techniques,
2. Research using humans and animals, including materials and data, for experimental or other scientific purposes,
3. Clinical research conducted on humans,
4. Research conducted on animals,
5. Retrospective studies under the personal data protection law

In this context, the following points must be considered in the studies submitted to our journal:

• It needs to be mentioned in case presentations that an "Informed Consent Form" has been acquired.
• If other people's scales, questionnaires, or images are utilized, it needs to be indicated that permission was sought from the proprietors.
• It needs to be emphasized that the intellectual and artistic works used are protected by copyright.

Publication Ethics

The ethical duties and responsibilities outlined below have been formulated concerning the guidelines and policies published by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), considering open access principles.

Ethical Responsibilities of Authors

The author(s) who submit a manuscript to the Ihlara Journal of Educational Research are expected to adhere to the ethical responsibilities outlined below:

-The publication processes applied in the Ihlara Journal of Educational Research are the basis for developing and disseminating knowledge in an impartial and reputable manner. In this regard, the implemented processes reflect the quality of authors' work and the institutions supporting them. Peer-reviewed studies are endeavours that concretize and uphold the scientific method. At this juncture, all stakeholders of the processes (authors, readers, researchers, publishers, referees, and editors) must adhere to ethical principles and standards. Within the scope of Ihlara Journal of Educational Research publication ethics, all stakeholders are expected to carry the following ethical responsibilities:

-The studies submitted by the author(s) are expected to be original. For this reason, a similarity rate report is requested for all studies submitted to our journal. The author(s) must provide complete and accurate citations and/or quotations when utilizing or referencing other works in their submissions.
-Individuals who have not made intellectual contributions to the manuscript's creation should not be listed as authors.
-All submissions intended for publication must disclose any potential conflicts of interest and relationships, if any, that could constitute a conflict of interest. If applicable, the financial support sources of the study need to be specified along with grant/fund numbers and other reference numbers.
-Authors may be requested to provide raw data related to their articles during evaluation. In such a case, authors must be prepared to submit the required data and information to the editorial and scientific boards.
-The author(s) must have a document showing that they have the rights to use the data used, the necessary permissions related to the research/analyses, or that the consent of the experimental subjects has been obtained.
-If the author(s) becomes aware of an inaccuracy or error in their published, early view or under review manuscript, they have an obligation to notify the journal editor or publisher and cooperate with the editor in correcting or withdrawing the manuscript.
-Authors cannot submit their work to more than one journal at the same time. Each submission can be initiated following the completion of the previous submission. The study published in another journal cannot be submitted to the Ihlara Journal of Educational Research.
-Authors are responsible for making the corrections suggested by the editorial board on time. Manuscripts returned due to untimely revisions cannot be re-evaluated.
-In studies derived from the thesis, the author and the thesis advisor must be included as authors. Although it is not compulsory, the second advisor, if any, may also be included as an author. Apart from these, different authors can be included only if their contributions are explained.

Ethical Tasks and Responsibilities of Editors

The editors and field editors of Ihlara Journal of Educational Research must have the following ethical duties and responsibilities based on the "COPE Code of Conduct and Best Practice Guidelines for Journal Editors" and "COPE Best Practice Guidelines for Journal Editors" published by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) as open access:

a) General tasks and responsibilities:

The editors are responsible for every publication in the Ihlara Journal of Educational Research. Within the scope of this responsibility, the editors have the following roles and obligations:

-Strive to meet the information needs of readers and writers,
-Ensuring the continuous development of the journal,
-Conducting the processes to improve the quality of studies published in the journal,
-Supporting freedom of expression,
-Ensuring academic integrity,
-Maintaining task/duty processes without compromising intellectual property rights and ethical standards,
-Demonstrating openness and transparency in terms of publication in matters requiring correction and clarification,

b) Relations with the reader

Editors must decide by considering the expectations of knowledge, skills and experience needed by all readers, researchers, and practitioners. They need to pay attention to the contribution of the published studies to the readers, researchers, practitioners, and scientific literature and that they are original. In addition, editors must consider the feedback from readers, researchers, and practitioners and provide explanatory and informative feedback.

c) Relations with authors

The tasks and responsibilities of the editors towards the authors are as follows:

-Editors need to make positive or negative decisions based on the significance, originality, validity, clarity of expression, and alignment with the journal's aims and objectives.
-Manuscripts that align with the publication's scope should be subjected to the initial review stage unless they exhibit significant issues.
-Editors should only consider positive peer review recommendations if a significant issue is related to the manuscript.
-New editors should only alter decisions made by previous editors regarding manuscripts if there is a significant issue.
-The "Blind Peer Review and Evaluation Process" must be disclosed and published, and editors should take measures to prevent deviations from the defined processes.
-Authors need to receive clear and informative notifications and feedback.

d) Relations with reviewers:

The tasks and responsibilities of the editors towards the referees are as follows:

-The selection of referees should be in accordance with the subject matter of the study.
-Editors must provide referees with the information and guidance they may need during the evaluation stage.
-Editors must be vigilant regarding conflicts of interest among authors and referees.
-In peer review, referees need to keep their identities confidential.
-Editors need to encourage referees to evaluate the manuscript impartially, scientifically, and objectively.
-Editors need to establish practices and policies that enhance the performance of reviewers.
-Necessary steps need to be taken to update the pool of reviewers dynamically.
-Editors must refrain from discourteous and unscientific evaluations.
-Efforts must be made to ensure that the pool of referees comprises a broad spectrum.

e) Relations with the editorial board:

Editors need to ensure that all members of the editorial board progress following the publication policies and guidelines. Editorial board members must be informed about and kept abreast of publication policies. Additionally, editors:

-Editors should ensure that editorial board members evaluate manuscripts unbiased and independently.
-New editorial board members should be selected based on their potential contributions and appropriate qualifications.
-Editors should refer manuscripts to editorial board members within their areas of expertise for evaluation.
-Regular interaction with the editorial board is essential.
-Editors should organize meetings at specified intervals to discuss publication policies and the development of the journal.

f) Relations with the journal owner and publisher:

The relationship between editors and publishers is based on the principle of editorial independence. By the written contract between the editors and the publisher, all editorial decisions are independent of the publisher and the journal owner.

g) Editorial and blind review processes:

Editors must implement the "Blind Review and Evaluation Process" in the journal publication policies. In this context, editors ensure that each study's evaluation process is completed fairly, impartially, and timely.

h) Quality assurance:

Editors are responsible for publishing each article in the journal per the journal's editorial policies and international standards.

i) Protection of personal data:

Editors are responsible for protecting personal data regarding the subjects or images included in the evaluated studies. Unless the explicit consent of the individuals used in the studies is documented, they are responsible for rejecting the study. Editors are also responsible for protecting the personal data of authors, reviewers and readers.

j) Ethics committee, human, and animal rights:

Editors ensure that human and animal rights are protected in the studies evaluated. They are responsible for rejecting the study without ethics committee approval for the subjects used in the studies. Also, editors are responsible for protecting the individual data of author (s), referee (s), and reader (s).

k) Prevention against possible abuse and misconduct:

Editors are obliged to take precautions against possible misconduct and malfeasance. In addition to conducting a rigorous and objective investigation in identifying and evaluating such complaints, the editor is responsible for sharing the relevant findings.

l) Ensuring the integrity of academic publications:

Editors must quickly correct errors, inconsistencies, or misleading judgments.

m) Protection of intellectual property rights:

Editors are responsible for protecting the intellectual property rights of all published articles and defending the rights of the journal and the author(s) in case of possible violations. In addition, editors are obliged to take the necessary measures to ensure that the contents of all published articles do not violate the intellectual property rights of other publications.

n) Constructivism and openness to discussion:

Editors need to consider the convincing criticisms of the works published in the journal and show a constructive attitude towards these criticisms. They need to give the author(s) of the criticized studies the right to reply. They should not ignore or exclude studies with negative results.

o) Complaints:

Editors must carefully review complaints from authors, reviewers or readers and respond in an enlightening and explanatory manner.

p) Political and commercial concerns:

The journal's owner, the publisher, and no other political or commercial factors influence the independent judgment of the editors.

r) Conflicts of interest:

The editors guarantee the independent and impartial completion of the publication process, considering conflicts of interest between the author(s), reviewers, and other editors.

Ethical Responsibilities of Reviewers

Evaluation of all studies by "Blinded Review" directly affects the quality of the publication. This process provides confidence through objective and independent evaluation of the publication. The evaluation process of the Ihlara Journal of Educational Research is conducted with the principle of double-blind reviewing. Reviewers cannot communicate directly with the authors; evaluations and comments are transmitted through the journal management system. Reviewer comments on evaluation forms and full texts are transmitted to the author(s) through the editor during this process. In this context, the referees who evaluate studies for the Ihlara Journal of Educational Research are expected to have the following ethical responsibilities:

-Only manuscripts related to their area should be accepted for review.
-Referees who cannot review the potential manuscript within the specified period should notify the editors immediately and decline the invitation to review, and a new referee should be appointed.
-They should evaluate with impartiality and confidentiality.
-If they think they face a conflict of interest during the evaluation process, they should refuse to review the study and inform the journal editor.
-By the principle of confidentiality, they should destroy the studies they have reviewed after the evaluation process. They can only use the final versions of the studies they have examined only after publication.
-Evaluate objectively only the content of the study. They should not allow nationality, gender, religious beliefs, political beliefs and commercial concerns to influence the evaluation.
-Conduct the evaluation constructively and courteously. They should not make derogatory personal comments containing hostility, slander and insult.
-Carry out the work they accept for evaluation on time and with the above ethical responsibilities.

Ethical Responsibilities of the Publisher

The Editors and Editorial Board of the Ihlara Journal of Educational Research need to act with the awareness of the following ethical responsibilities:

-Editors are responsible for all processes of the studies submitted to the Ihlara Journal of Educational Research. In this regard, editors are the decision-makers without considering economic or political gains.
- Independent editorial decision-making is granted.
-Protects the ownership and copyright of every article published in the Ihlara Journal of Educational Research and must keep a record of every published copy.
-It is responsible for taking measures against all kinds of scientific misconduct, citation mongering, and plagiarism related to editors.

If You Encounter an Unethical Situation

If you encounter any unethical behaviour or content in the Ihlara Journal of Educational Research other than the ethical responsibilities mentioned above, please report it via an e-mail to ihead.editor@aksaray.edu.tr.