Publication Ethics
Commitment to Ethical Publishing
JCRELC is committed to upholding the highest standards of publication ethics. 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 to comply with these ethical standards.
The Journal of Creative Research in English Literature and Culture (JCRELC) is dedicated to maintaining the integrity of the scholarly record. This policy outlines the ethical responsibilities of authors, reviewers, editors, and publishers involved in the publication process.
1. Core Ethical Principles
Honesty
Present research findings truthfully without fabrication or falsification
Integrity
Adhere to professional standards and ethical guidelines
Objectivity
Avoid bias in research, peer review, and editorial decisions
Responsibility
Take accountability for contributions and address concerns
COPE Compliance: JCRELC is a member of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and follows its guidelines for all aspects of publication ethics.
3. Reviewer Ethics
Confidentiality
- Do not share manuscripts with anyone
- Do not discuss manuscripts with others
- Do not upload manuscripts to AI tools
- Delete manuscripts after review completion
- Maintain anonymity throughout the review process
Objectivity & Timeliness
- Provide unbiased, constructive feedback
- Avoid personal criticism of authors
- Complete reviews within agreed timeframe
- Declare conflicts of interest immediately
- Decline reviews outside expertise area
- Support claims with evidence and references
Prohibited: Reviewers must not use AI tools to analyze manuscripts (confidentiality breach) or use unpublished information for personal advantage.
4. Editor Ethics
Editorial Independence
- Decisions based solely on scholarly merit
- Not influenced by commercial, political, or personal considerations
- Evaluate intellectual content without regard to demographics
- Maintain transparency in editorial policies
- Apply standards uniformly across all submissions
Conflict Management
- Recuse from handling manuscripts with personal conflicts
- Disclose potential conflicts to editorial team
- Avoid using unpublished information for personal research
- Investigate ethical concerns thoroughly and confidentially
- Provide authors opportunity to respond to allegations
5. Research Ethics
Human Subjects Research
- Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval required
- Informed consent from all participants
- Protection of participant confidentiality
- Cultural sensitivity in research design
- Ethics statement must be included in manuscript
Cultural & Indigenous Research
- Respect for cultural protocols and traditions
- Community engagement and consultation
- Appropriate knowledge sharing practices
- Acknowledgement of traditional knowledge
- Cultural sensitivity in interpretation
6. Conflict of Interest
All parties involved in the publication process must disclose any potential conflicts of interest:
Types of Conflicts
- Financial interests (stock, funding, employment)
- Personal relationships (family, friendships)
- Professional relationships (collaborators, mentors)
- Academic competition or rivalry
- Institutional affiliations
- Ideological or political beliefs
Disclosure Requirements
- All authors must disclose conflicts at submission
- Reviewers must declare conflicts before accepting
- Editors must recuse themselves if conflicts exist
- Disclosures should be included in the manuscript
- Failure to disclose is a breach of ethics
For more details, see our Conflict of Interest Policy.
7. Handling Misconduct
Types of Misconduct
- Plagiarism: Using others' work without attribution
- Data Fabrication: Making up research data
- Data Falsification: Manipulating research data
- Duplicate Publication: Publishing same research multiple times
- Authorship Misrepresentation: Inappropriate inclusion/exclusion
- Citation Manipulation: Artificial inflation of citations
- Peer Review Manipulation: Suggesting reviewers with conflicts
Investigation Process
- Initial Assessment: Determine if investigation is warranted
- Author Notification: Notify corresponding author of concerns
- Evidence Collection: Gather relevant documentation
- Expert Consultation: Seek input from subject matter experts
- Institutional Liaison: Contact authors' institutions
- Decision Making: Reach conclusion based on evidence
- Implementation: Impose appropriate sanctions
Sanctions
| Misconduct Type | Possible Consequence |
|---|---|
| Minor/Mild Plagiarism | Manuscript returned for revision; warning |
| Moderate Plagiarism | Rejection; 1-year publication ban |
| Severe Plagiarism | Rejection; 3-5 year ban; institution notified |
| Data Fabrication/Falsification | Retraction; 5-year ban; institution notified; COPE reported |
8. Post-Publication Ethics
Corrections
- Minor errors corrected with erratum/corrigendum
- Substantive errors require formal notice
- All corrections are transparent and documented
- Correction notices are linked to original articles
Retractions
- Retractions are issued for severe ethical violations
- Retraction notices clearly state the reason
- Articles remain online with "RETRACTED" watermark
- Indexing databases are notified of retractions
- COPE guidelines are followed for retractions
For more details, see our Corrections and Retractions policy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Related Policies
Report Ethical Concerns
To report ethical concerns, allegations of misconduct, or seek guidance on ethical issues, please contact the Editor-in-Chief or the publisher's ethics committee.
+91-7665235235
Please include "ETHICS CONCERN" in the email subject line. For urgent ethics matters, mark as "URGENT - ETHICS CONCERN". All reports are treated confidentially.
Commit to Ethical Publishing
Uphold the highest standards of academic integrity. Submit your research with confidence, knowing that JCRELC is committed to ethical publishing practices.