Journal Ethics Policy
Our Moral Obligation
JCRELC is dedicated to maintaining the highest standards of publication and research integrity. Our ethical framework is built on honesty, transparency, responsibility, and justice in all aspects of research publication.
The Journal of Creative Research in English Literature and Culture (JCRELC) is dedicated to upholding the highest standards of publication ethics and research integrity. We adhere to the guidelines and best practices established by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and expect all parties involved in the publication process — authors, reviewers, editors, and publisher — to comply with these ethical standards.
2. Reviewer Ethical Responsibilities
Reviewers play a crucial role in maintaining research integrity.
Confidentiality & Objectivity
- Maintain manuscript confidentiality during and after review
- Do not discuss unpublished manuscripts with others
- Provide objective, unbiased assessment of research quality
- Evaluate manuscripts based on intellectual content only
- Avoid personal criticism of authors
- Support claims with evidence and references
- Alert editors to ethical concerns or similarities
Timeliness & Constructiveness
- Respond promptly to review invitations
- Complete reviews within agreed timeframe
- Provide authors with constructive, detailed feedback
- Identify relevant published work not cited
- Offer specific suggestions for improvement
- Maintain professional tone in all comments
- Follow journal's review format and guidelines
Conflict of Interest for Reviewers: Reviewers must decline invitations when there are recent collaborations with authors, direct competition, personal relationships, or financial interests that may compromise objectivity. Undisclosed conflicts will result in removal from our reviewer database.
3. Editorial Ethics Responsibilities
Editorial Independence & Fairness
- Editorial Independence: Decisions based solely on academic merit
- Fair Judgment: Evaluate intellectual content without regard to author demographics
- Confidentiality: Protect author and reviewer identities throughout
- Transparency: Provide clear and consistent editorial policies
- Accountability: Take responsibility for editorial decisions
- Consistency: Apply standards uniformly across all submissions
- Accessibility: Make policies and processes accessible to all
Conflict Management & Integrity
- Conflict Avoidance: Recuse from handling manuscripts with personal conflicts
- Full Disclosure: Disclose potential conflicts to editorial team
- Ethical Use: Avoid using unpublished information for personal research
- Separation of Interests: Maintain editorial and personal interests separately
- Ethical Oversight: Investigate concerns thoroughly and confidentially
- Due Process: Provide authors opportunity to respond to allegations
- Corrective Action: Implement corrections and retractions when needed
COPE Code Compliance: JCRELC is committed to the COPE Code of Conduct and Best Practice Principles for Journal Editors. All editors undergo ethical training and participate in COPE forums to stay current with evolving publication ethics standards.
4. Handling Research and Publication Misconduct
Types of Misconduct
Data-Related Misconduct:
- Fabrication: Making up research data or results
- Falsification: Manipulating research materials or data
- Destruction: Improper destruction of research data
- Misrepresentation: Selective reporting or data manipulation
Publication Misconduct:
- Plagiarism: Using others' work without attribution
- Duplicate Publication: Publishing same research multiple times
- Authorship Misrepresentation: Inappropriate inclusion/exclusion of authors
- Peer Review Manipulation: Suggesting reviewers with conflicts
Investigation and Sanctions Process
- Initial Assessment: Determine if investigation is warranted based on evidence
- Author Notification: Notify corresponding author of concerns and request explanation
- Evidence Collection: Gather relevant documentation and comparisons
- Expert Consultation: Seek input from subject matter experts if needed
- Institutional Liaison: Contact authors' institutions for verification
- Decision Making: Reach conclusion based on comprehensive evidence
- Implementation: Impose appropriate sanctions and corrections
Manuscript rejection, publication retraction, author blacklisting, and notification to institutional authorities and indexing services.
5. Corrections, Retractions, and Expressions of Concern
Correction
Issued for minor errors not impacting conclusions:
- Typographical errors
- Author name misspellings
- Incorrect affiliations
- Minor calculation errors
- Reference inaccuracies
Expression of Concern
Issued when investigation is ongoing but readers should be alerted:
- Ongoing institutional investigations
- Unresolved authorship disputes
- Inconclusive evidence of misconduct
- Possible implications for research validity
- Serious but unconfirmed allegations
Retraction
Issued for severe ethical breaches or incorrect findings:
- Data fabrication or falsification
- Plagiarism detection
- Unauthorized data usage
- Major methodological flaws
- Ethical violations
For detailed information on our correction and retraction procedures, please visit our Corrections and Retractions page.
6. Ethical Guidelines for Specific Research Types
Human Subjects Research
- Institutional review board approval required
- Informed consent from all participants
- Protection of participant confidentiality
- Minimization of potential harm and risk
- Cultural sensitivity in research design
- Debriefing procedures where appropriate
- Data protection and privacy compliance
Data and Privacy
- Compliance with data protection regulations
- Anonymization of personal and sensitive details
- Secure data storage and processing protocols
- Appropriate data sharing practices
- Respect for privacy and confidentiality agreements
- Data retention and disposal policies
- Transparency about data usage
Cultural and Indigenous Research
- Respect for cultural protocols and traditions
- Community engagement and consultation
- Appropriate knowledge sharing practices
- Acknowledgement of traditional knowledge
- Benefit sharing with communities
- Cultural sensitivity in interpretation
- Reciprocal research relationships
7. Reporting Ethical Concerns
Reporting Process
- Primary Email: info@jcrelc.com for confidential reporting
- Alternative Email: info.jcrelc@gmail.com
- Evidence: Provide specific details and supporting documentation
- Anonymity: Ability to report anonymously is available
- Response Time: Initial acknowledgement within 3 business days
- Investigation Timeline: Most cases resolved within 4-6 weeks
Our Commitment
We treat all ethical concerns with the utmost seriousness:
- Thorough examination of all allegations
- Confidentiality for all parties during investigation
- Fair and impartial investigation procedures
- Opportunity for response from accused parties
- Transparent resolution when investigation concludes
- Protection for whistleblowers acting in good faith
- Continuous improvement based on case learnings
8. Ethics Education and Training
Resources for Authors
Detailed information and learning resources on ethical issues related to research and publishing
View ResourcesReviewer Skills Training
Training in ethical reviewing, conflict resolution, and effective feedback for reviewers
Learn MoreContinuous Improvement
Editorial team receives ongoing ethics training and stays updated with evolving COPE standards
Meet the TeamFrequently Asked Questions
Related Policies
Contact Ethics Committee
For all matters pertaining to ethics and related inquiries, contact our Ethics Committee. All correspondence is treated confidentially. Guidelines and resources are available to authors, reviewers, and editors to facilitate ethical decision-making in scholarly publishing.
+91-7665235235
Subject Line: Please include "ETHICS CONCERN" in the email subject line. For urgent ethics matters, mark as "URGENT - ETHICS CONCERN". All reports are treated confidentially.