Editorial ethics
The standards our editors hold themselves to, and what you can expect from us.
Who this applies to
These standards apply to the Editor-in-Chief, editors, editorial board members and anyone else who handles manuscripts for CIJAR. They are informed by guidance from the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).
Our principles
Decisions rest on merit
Whether we publish a paper depends on its originality, rigour, clarity and relevance to the journal, informed by peer review. Editors may consult colleagues and reviewers, and must observe the law on defamation, copyright and plagiarism.
The publisher doesn't decide what we publish
Wexgrand Academic Press runs the journal's platform and operations, but it has no say over which papers are accepted. Editorial decisions are free of commercial, sponsor or business influence.
Every author is treated the same
We assess manuscripts without regard to the authors' race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, ethnicity, nationality, institution, seniority or political views.
Manuscripts stay confidential
Editors share information about a submission only with the corresponding author, reviewers, potential reviewers, other editorial advisers and, where necessary, the publisher. Unpublished material is never used in an editor's own research without the author's written consent.
Conflicts of interest are declared
An editor with a competing, collaborative, financial or personal connection to a paper's authors or institutions hands it to another editor. We also ask authors and reviewers to declare their interests, and publish a correction if an undisclosed conflict comes to light later.
Reviewers are chosen with care
Editors select reviewers for their expertise and independence, hold them to the standards in our peer review policy, and act if a reviewer behaves improperly.
Editors' own submissions
Editors and board members may publish in CIJAR, but they take no part in handling their own papers. Another editor manages the review, the process stays double-blind, and the paper meets exactly the same standard as any other.
Keeping the record accurate
When an error, misleading statement or misconduct is found in a published article, the editors act promptly. Depending on the case, we publish a correction, an expression of concern or a retraction, each linked permanently to the original article. Concerns are investigated even if they surface years after publication, and may involve contacting the authors' institutions or research bodies.
Complaints about editors
If you believe an editor has acted unfairly or broken these standards, write to editor@cijar.org, marked "Complaint". We'll acknowledge it, the complaint will be handled by someone not involved in the original decision, and we'll tell you the outcome.
Questions about this policy? Write to editor@cijar.org.
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