Publication Ethics

Publication Ethics and Malpractice Statement

Upholding the highest standards of publication ethics following COPE guidelines.

COPE Compliant

COPE Best Practice Guidelines

Publication
Ethics &
Malpractice

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COPE Best Practice Compliant

sekp is a peer-reviewed journal committed to the highest standards of publication ethics. This statement explains the ethical behavior expected of all parties involved in publishing — including authors, editors, reviewers, editorial board members, and publishers.

This statement is based on the COPE Best Practice Guidelines for Journal Editors. Articles published in this journal are an essential building block in the development of a coherent and respected knowledge network, directly reflecting the quality of work of the authors and the institutions that support them.

Editorial Policies

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Publication Decisions

Editors are responsible for deciding which submitted articles should be published. Decisions are guided by the editorial board's discretion and bounded by legal requirements, including those concerning defamation, copyright infringement, and plagiarism. Editors may consult with other editors or reviewers in making this decision.

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Complaints & Appeals

The journal maintains a clear procedure for handling complaints against the journal, editorial staff, editorial board, or publisher. Complaints are clarified by a respected person regarding the case — covering editorial processes, citation manipulation, unfair peer review, and more. All complaint cases are processed according to COPE guidelines.

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Post-Publication

The journal permits the publication of debate posts either on its website, by letter to the editor, or on a moderated external site, ensuring ongoing scholarly conversation and correction of the scientific record after publication.

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Fair Play

Editors evaluate manuscripts at all times solely for their intellectual content — without regard to race, gender, sexual orientation, religious beliefs, ethnic origin, nationality, or political philosophy of the authors.

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Confidentiality

Editors and any editorial staff must not disclose any information about submitted manuscripts to anyone other than the respective authors, reviewers, prospective reviewers, other editorial advisors, and publishers, as appropriate.

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Disclosure & Conflicts of Interest

Unpublished material disclosed in submitted manuscripts may not be used in an editor's own research without the explicit written consent of the author. All financial and substantive conflicts of interest must be disclosed by all parties involved in the publication process.

Alleged Research Infringement

Research infringement means falsification, fabrication, manipulation of citations, or plagiarism in producing, conducting, or reviewing research and in writing articles. When authors are found to be involved in research violations or other serious irregularities involving published articles, the Editor has a responsibility to ensure the accuracy and integrity of the scientific record.

In cases of suspected violations, the Editors and Editorial Board will use COPE best practices to resolve complaints fairly. This includes an investigation into the allegations. Submissions found to contain such errors will be rejected; published papers may be subject to retraction, which will be linked to the original article.

The first step involves determining the validity of the allegation and assessing whether it is consistent with the definition of research misconduct, as well as whether there exists a relevant conflict of interest. If a scientific error is possible, the allegations are shared with the relevant authors, who are asked to provide a detailed response. Additional expert review (e.g., statistical reviewers) may be obtained. For minor cases, clarification or corrections published as a letter to the editor may be sufficient.

Institutions are expected to conduct proper investigations into suspected scientific misconduct. Appropriate actions — corrections, retractions with replacements, or full retractions — ensure the integrity of the scientific record is preserved.

Open Science

Data Sharing Policy

sekp is committed to a more open research landscape — facilitating faster and more effective research discovery by enabling reproducibility and verification of data, methodologies, and reporting standards. We encourage authors to share their research data upon publication.

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Raw & Processed Data

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Software & Algorithms

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Protocols & Methods

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Materials & Instruments

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Statistical Outputs

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Reporting Standards

Duties of All Parties

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Role Editors

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Role Reviewers

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Role Authors

Editorial integrity & decision-making — Editors hold the responsibility of upholding the academic and ethical standards of the journal.

Publication Decisions Editors decide manuscript publication based on intellectual merit, following journal policies and applicable legal requirements.

Fair Play Manuscripts are evaluated solely on intellectual content without discrimination based on race, gender, religion, nationality, or political philosophy.

Confidentiality Submitted manuscripts are treated as confidential documents and shared only with authorized reviewers and editorial staff.

Disclosure & Conflicts of Interest Unpublished materials disclosed in submissions may not be used in the editor's own research without the explicit written consent of the author.

Objective, timely & constructive review — Reviewers are central to maintaining the quality and integrity of scholarly publishing.

Contribution to Editorial Decisions Reviewers provide constructive feedback to assist editors in making decisions and to help authors improve the quality of their manuscripts.

Appropriateness & Promptness Reviewers who feel unqualified or unable to complete a review promptly must notify the editor and withdraw from the review process.

Confidentiality Manuscripts under review are confidential and must not be shown to or discussed with others except as authorized by the editor.

Standards of Objectivity Reviews must be conducted objectively, with clearly expressed views supported by arguments. Personal criticism of authors is inappropriate.

Acknowledgement of Sources Reviewers must identify relevant uncited published work and notify editors of any substantial similarities between the manuscript and other published papers.

Disclosure & Conflicts of Interest Confidential information must not be used for personal gain. Reviewers must not evaluate manuscripts where they have competitive, collaborative, or other conflicts of interest.

Accuracy, originality & transparency — Authors bear primary responsibility for the integrity and originality of their submitted work.

Reporting Standards Authors must present an accurate account of the work performed with sufficient detail and references to allow others to replicate it.

Originality & Plagiarism Authors must ensure they have written an entirely original work, with proper citation whenever using the work or words of others.

Multiple or Concurrent Publications Authors may not submit the same manuscript to more than one journal simultaneously or publish essentially the same research in different outlets.

Acknowledgement of Sources Proper acknowledgment of all works that influenced the research must be given. Authors must cite publications relevant to the reported work.

Authorship of the Paper Authorship must be limited to those who made significant contributions. All co-authors must approve the final version and its submission.

Disclosure & Conflicts of Interest Authors must disclose any financial or substantive conflicts of interest and all sources of financial support for the research project.

Fundamental Errors in Published Works When authors discover significant errors in their published work, they are obligated to promptly notify the editor and cooperate in issuing corrections or retractions.

Ethical Oversight

⚠ Special Consideration

Research Involving Hazards

If research work involves chemicals, humans, animals, procedures, or equipment that have unusual hazards inherent in their use, authors must clearly identify these in the manuscript to comply with the ethical conduct of research using both animal and human subjects. If required, authors must provide legal and ethical permissions from the appropriate legal associations or organizations.

🔒 Data Handling

Confidential Data & Business Practices

If the research involves confidential data and business or marketing practices, the author must clearly justify in the manuscript whether the data or information will be securely protected or disclosed. Transparency about data handling obligations is required to maintain the trust and integrity of the publication process.