The International Journal of Innovative Technologies in Social Science (IJITSS) is committed to upholding the highest standards of ethical publishing practices and academic integrity. These policies are in place to ensure that all contributions to the journal are handled with transparency, fairness, and respect for intellectual property. We adhere to the guidelines set forth by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), and all parties involved - authors, reviewers, and editors - are expected to follow these principles.

1. Ethical Responsibilities of Authors

Authors submitting to IJITSS must ensure the originality and integrity of their work. The following guidelines must be followed:

1.1. Originality and Plagiarism

All submissions must be original work, free from plagiarism. IJITSS uses plagiarism detection software to screen manuscripts, and any evidence of plagiarism will result in rejection or withdrawal of the submission. Authors are responsible for properly citing all relevant sources.

1.2. Authorship and Contributorship

Authorship should be limited to those who have made a significant contribution to the design, data collection, analysis, or interpretation of the research. All listed authors must have agreed to the final manuscript and its submission. Contributors who do not meet the authorship criteria should be acknowledged appropriately.

1.3. Multiple or Concurrent Submissions

Submitting the same manuscript to more than one journal concurrently is strictly prohibited. IJITSS will reject manuscripts found to be submitted elsewhere simultaneously.

1.4. Conflict of Interest

Authors must disclose any financial or personal relationships that could influence or appear to influence the research or interpretation of findings. A statement of conflict of interest must be included in the manuscript.

1.5. Data Transparency and Availability

IJITSS encourages authors to provide access to the underlying data for their research, ensuring that findings are reproducible. Authors should include a statement on data availability or explain why data sharing is not possible.

2. Ethical Responsibilities of Reviewers

Reviewers play a critical role in maintaining the quality of the journal. IJITSS follows a double-blind peer review process, and reviewers must adhere to the following:

2.1. Confidentiality

All manuscripts reviewed are confidential. Reviewers must not disclose or discuss the manuscript with anyone outside the editorial process and should avoid using the information for personal advantage.

2.2. Objectivity

Reviewers should provide fair, constructive, and objective feedback, assessing the manuscript’s quality without personal bias. Criticism should be professional and supported by evidence.

2.3. Conflicts of Interest

Reviewers must inform the editorial office of any conflicts of interest that may prevent an objective evaluation of the manuscript. If such conflicts exist, the reviewer should recuse themselves from the process.

2.4. Timeliness

Reviewers are expected to complete their reviews within the allotted time. If a reviewer is unable to meet the deadline, they should notify the editor immediately to ensure the review process continues without delay.

3. Ethical Responsibilities of Editors

Editors are responsible for overseeing the editorial process and making decisions based on the merits of the manuscript. Editors are guided by the following principles:

3.1. Independence and Integrity

Editors make independent and impartial decisions based solely on the manuscript’s quality and alignment with the journal’s scope. Editors must recuse themselves from handling manuscripts where they have conflicts of interest.

3.2. Confidentiality

Editors must maintain confidentiality regarding all submitted manuscripts and only share information with those directly involved in the editorial and review process.

3.3. Editorial Decisions

Final decisions on manuscripts (accept, revise, reject) are based on the reviewers' reports, and editors must provide authors with clear, reasoned feedback. Editors ensure that rejected manuscripts are handled with professionalism and transparency.

4. Research Misconduct and Retractions

IJITSS takes issues of research misconduct seriously, including plagiarism, data fabrication, falsification, and unethical research practices.

4.1. Handling Allegations of Misconduct

When allegations of misconduct are raised, the editorial team will initiate an investigation. If misconduct is confirmed, IJITSS may take the following actions:

• Rejecting or retracting the manuscript.
• Informing the authors’ institution or funding body.
• Publishing a retraction or correction notice.

4.2. Retractions and Corrections

In cases of errors or ethical violations, IJITSS reserves the right to retract published articles or issue corrections. Retractions are published with an explanation of the reasons behind the decision.

5. Open Access Policy

IJITSS is an Open Access journal, meaning all articles are freely available to readers worldwide. Articles are published under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0), allowing readers to use, distribute, and reproduce the content with proper attribution.

6. Article Processing Charges (APC)

IJITSS charges an Article Processing Charge (APC) upon acceptance to cover the costs of peer review, editing, and production. APC waivers or discounts may be available to authors from low-income countries or in cases of financial hardship.

7. Ethical Oversight

The International Journal of Innovative Technologies in Social Science (IJITSS) upholds the highest ethical standards in research. Editors are responsible for ensuring that all research published in the journal adheres to ethical standards, including compliance with local and international guidelines for the ethical treatment of human participants and animals.

7.1. Ethical Approvals

Authors must confirm that their research has received the necessary ethics approvals and complies with ethical standards. This includes obtaining informed consent from participants and safeguarding their confidentiality and rights.

7.2. Informed Consent and Privacy

Research involving human participants must clearly state that informed consent was obtained. Authors must also ensure that individuals' privacy is protected, and any identifying information is removed unless explicit consent is provided.

8. Appeals and Complaints

Authors have the right to appeal editorial decisions if they believe their manuscript was unfairly rejected. Appeals should be submitted in writing and will be reviewed by the editorial team in accordance with COPE guidelines. Complaints regarding the editorial process, review fairness, or other concerns will be addressed transparently and impartially by the editor-in-chief.