Publication Ethics

The Editorial Board of the International Journal of Sexual Sciences is committed to developing policies that ensure the dissemination of original, scientifically valuable research through a fair and unbiased evaluation process.

The Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), Directory Open Access Journals (DOAJ), the Open Access Scholarly Publishing Association (OASPA), and the World Association of Medical Editors (WAME) are scholarly organisations that have collaborated to identify principles of transparency and best practice for scholarly publications (1). The journal's policies and guidelines have been carefully crafted to align with the principles established by these respected organizations, ensuring transparency, fairness, and ethical rigor at every stage of the publication process. Furthermore, the journal is deeply embedded in its operational practices, serving to promote transparency, uphold academic integrity, and maintain the highest standards in scientific publishing. The roles and responsibilities of all contributors authors, reviewers, and editors are defined within a framework supported by the recommendations of the Council of Science Editors (CSE) and the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE) (2,3).

The International Journal of Sexual Science ensures that its policies and declarations do not support or permit misconduct such as plagiarism, citation manipulation, authorship disputes, or data manipulation etc. In cases where allegations of research misconduct arise, the journal strictly follows the guidance provided by COPE to handle such matters responsibly. Allegations of ethical misconduct in manuscripts submitted for publication in the journal and post-publication resolution of ethical concerns/disputes will be handled in accordance with COPE guidelines. The complete COPE flowcharts and recommendations are available here: Core practices | COPE: Committee on Publication Ethics.

 

Detailed information about these recommendations can be accessed via the following sources:

1. COPE DOAJ OASPA WAME. Principles of Transparency and Best Practice in Scholarly Publishing — English. https://doi.org/10.24318/cope.2019.1.12
2022 COPE, DOAJ, OASPA, WAME

2. Editorial Policy Committee, Council of Science Editors. CSE’s White Paper on Promoting Integrity in Scientific Journal Publications. Wheat Ridge, CO: 2018.

3. ICMJE Recommendations: http://www.icmje.org/recommendations/

 

ETHICAL OVERSIGHT POLICY

It is mandatory for all studies involving human subjects or human data to be reviewed and approved by a responsible institutional review board.

For research articles submitted to the International Journal of Sexual Science, it is mandatory to provide an ethics committee approval report. This report should include the name of the institution that granted ethical approval, the approval date, and the approval number. These details must be stated both in the materials and methods section and on the title page of the manuscript.

For case reports, informed consent forms must be obtained from the individuals whose data or personal in-formation is included in the manuscript. Authors are responsible for obtaining, storing, and ensuring the confidentiality of the consent provided by individuals whose data is used in the study. Authors also responsible to provide the journal with a blank copy of the informed consent form. This enables the journal to confirm whether all the required elements have been included. If necessary, original forms can be requested from authors.

All those engaged in research involving human subjects are obliged to ensure that the design, conduct and reporting of such studies adhere to the ethical standards set forth by the Declaration of Helsinki, as revised in 2013 by the World Medical Association (WMA).

For full details, please refer to the notice on the website; WMA Declaration of Helsinki – Ethical Principles for Medical Research Involving Human Participants – WMA – The World Medical Association

Furthermore, an appropriate committee must undertake a review of all animal experiments for adherence to the highest standards of care and use of animals.

In line with the International Journal of Sexual Science's commitment to high ethical standards, ethical oversight for all submissions, including review articles, research notes, and letters to the editor, must be diligently maintained. While these article types may not always require full ethics committee approval like primary research articles, they still need to adhere to strict ethical guidelines.

For review articles and research notes, authors are expected to follow best practices regarding proper citation, transparent data usage, and avoidance of conflicts of interest. In particular, authors should ensure that the content is free of plagiarism and that all data and references are properly attributed. Ethical issues such as the treatment of sensitive data or potential conflicts of interest related to the article’s topic must also be disclosed.

Letters to the editor, although often less formal, still require that any referenced studies or opinions be expressed with academic integrity. Authors should ensure that all claims made are substantiated by valid evidence and that they acknowledge any potential conflicts of interest.

In cases where ethical concerns arise, such as questions about data manipulation, plagiarism, or improper authorship, the journal follows the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) guidelines to resolve the issue. This includes adhering to COPE's principles for transparency, research integrity, and handling allegations of misconduct both before and after publication.

 

For further guidance on ethical oversight and the resolution of ethical concerns; COPE Council. COPE Council. All flowcharts. https://doi.org/10.24318/cope.2019.2.26

 

PUBLICATION MALPRACTICE / POST-PUBLICATION DISCUSSIONS AND CONCERNS

The International Journal of Sexual Science is committed to ensuring that the integrity of the publication process is maintained at every stage, from submission to post-publication. Editors and publishers have a responsibility to uphold the publication criteria and policies, ensuring that the peer-review process remains fair and objective, while also addressing any concerns related to the integrity or validity of the published work in a timely manner.

Concerns regarding articles under consideration, during the review process, or post-publication must be reported to the publisher or Editor. The publisher and editorial board will collaborate fully to investigate and resolve such concerns. Editorial Board members are responsible for reviewing on complaints related to plagiarism, copyright violations, authorship criteria, data accuracy, manipulation of review processes, ethical breaches, and other related issues. Should any complaints or suspicions be expressed regarding published content, they should be submitted to the publisher and/or editorial team in writing. During the review process, the relevant author will be informed, and further clarification may be sought. If required, an independent committee may be constituted to conduct an investigation. The editor is empowered to make the final decision.

When handling doubts or complaints, the journal will follow the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) guidelines to ensure appropriate actions are taken. In cases involving systematic manipulation of the publication process or concerns about the integrity of the research (such as duplicate publication or citation manipulation), the editorial team will evaluate whether retraction, correction, or a different resolution, such as issuing an expression of concern or a publisher's note, is appropriate. The Editor is the final decision-maker in the process.

 

For detailed guidance on addressing concerns about manipulation of the publication process; COPE Council. COPE Supplemental guidance — Addressing concerns about systematic manipulation of the publication process — English. https://doi.org/10.24318/x0mN3xfd

 

HANDLING COMPLAINTS AND ALLEGATIONS OF RESEARCH MISCONDUCT

The International Journal of Sexual Science maintains a clear and systematic process for addressing complaints and allegations of research misconduct, regardless of whether these are raised before or after publication. This process ensures fairness, transparency, and adherence to ethical publishing practices.

Complaints should be directed to the publisher or Editor through the contact details provided on the journal’s website. The complainant is expected to provide evidence supporting the claim, which will be carefully reviewed. The subject of the complaint will also be asked to submit a response. The editorial board evaluates all complaints thoroughly, and once the review is completed, the complainant will be informed of the outcome.

During the evaluation process, the editorial board may issue a statement of concern, communicate with relevant institutions, or take any other actions deemed necessary to address the issue until a resolution is achieved. The final decision regarding the complaint rests with the Editor, representing the Editorial Board.

The journal is committed to addressing allegations related to research misconduct, conflicts of interest, authorship, or contribution disputes in a manner consistent with the procedures outlined by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE). The COPE guidelines provide detailed flowcharts for managing such cases, ensuring that the process remains objective and thorough.

For further information: COPE Council. All flowcharts. https://doi.org/10.24318/cope.2019.2.26