Publication Ethic

At the Journal of Digital Sociohumanities (JDS), published by Universitas Andalas, we uphold ethical publishing as the foundation of scholarly integrity. We believe that transparency, responsibility, and respect are essential in fostering credible academic dialogue. Drawing from the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and leading international frameworks, we ensure that every submission aligns with the highest ethical standards, across human, animal, and medical research domains.

This document outlines the shared ethical responsibilities of authors, editors, reviewers, and the publisher — reflecting our unwavering commitment to fairness, accountability, and academic excellence.

Author Responsibilities

Authors submitting to Journal of Digital Sociohumanities are expected to:

  • Submit original work free from plagiarism, fabrication, or falsification.

  • Provide accurate citations for all prior and related works, including their own, and clearly define the novelty of the current submission.

  • Confirm that all co-authors have made meaningful contributions and approved the final manuscript.

  • Obtain all necessary ethical approvals, including:

    • For human research: Adherence to the Declaration of Helsinki principles to safeguard participants’ rights, dignity, and well-being.

    • For animal research: Compliance with the International Guiding Principles for Biomedical Research Involving Animals or relevant national/international animal welfare regulations, ensuring humane treatment and minimizing suffering.

    • For clinical or medical research: Following Good Clinical Practice (GCP) standards and securing approvals from institutional ethics boards or regulatory bodies.

  • Provide transparency on funding, data availability, and potential conflicts of interest.

  • Cooperate fully with post-publication processes, including corrections or retractions when necessary.

Editorial Responsibilities

The editorial team, led by the Editor-in-Chief, pledges to:

  • Make impartial decisions solely based on scholarly merit, relevance, and ethical adherence.

  • Protect the confidentiality of submitted materials and ensure a robust double-blind peer review process.

  • Manage conflicts of interest transparently and recuse themselves when appropriate.

  • Respond swiftly and fairly to allegations of misconduct, implementing corrections, retractions, or expressions of concern as warranted.

  • Continuously update editorial practices to reflect evolving ethical standards and global best practices.

Reviewer Responsibilities

We rely on our reviewers to:

  • Provide objective, evidence-based, and timely feedback to improve manuscript quality.

  • Maintain strict confidentiality of the review process and refrain from using manuscript content for personal or professional gain.

  • Disclose any conflicts of interest that could affect the impartiality of the review.

  • Notify the editors if ethical issues (e.g., suspected plagiarism, data manipulation, unethical research) are identified.

Publisher Responsibilities

Universitas Andalas, as the publisher, is responsible for:

  • Safeguarding editorial independence from commercial or institutional pressures.

  • Providing the technological and operational support needed for ethical publishing.

  • Assisting the editorial team in investigating and addressing ethical concerns, including issuing corrections or retractions.

  • Ensuring the long-term preservation and open accessibility of published work.

Addressing Misconduct

If ethical breaches are suspected — including plagiarism, duplicate publication, data fabrication, authorship disputes, or breaches of research ethics — Journal of Digital Sociohumanities will:

  • Conduct a confidential investigation following COPE-recommended procedures.

  • Engage relevant parties (authors, reviewers, institutions) to gather context and evidence.

  • Take proportionate corrective actions, such as corrections, retractions, or public notices.

Commitment to Research Ethics

Journal of Digital Sociohumanities emphasizes the importance of research integrity in:

  • Human research: Upholding the Declaration of Helsinki, prioritizing voluntary participation, informed consent, and privacy protection.

  • Animal research: Ensuring adherence to internationally recognized ethical standards, minimizing harm, and justifying the scientific necessity of animal use.

  • Medical research: Following Good Clinical Practice (GCP), obtaining institutional review board (IRB) approval, and ensuring regulatory compliance.

Corrections, Retractions, and Transparency

Journal of Digital Sociohumanities commits to:

  • Publishing corrections (errata) for factual inaccuracies or production errors.

  • Issuing retractions for confirmed ethical breaches or flawed findings.

  • Providing expressions of concern when investigations are ongoing but unresolved.

All actions will be linked to the original publication to maintain the scholarly record.

Reporting Concerns

We invite anyone — authors, reviewers, readers, or institutions — to confidentially report ethical concerns by contacting:

Editorial Office Email: jds@unand.ac.id

Reports will be handled with discretion, fairness, and in line with COPE guidance.