Human Research Ethics Policy

The Journal of Digital Sociohumanities (JDS) is deeply committed to upholding the highest ethical standards in the conduct, reporting, and publication of research involving human participants. We expect all authors submitting human-centered research to comply fully with internationally accepted ethical frameworks, ensuring the dignity, rights, and welfare of research participants are always protected.

This policy outlines the ethical requirements and expectations for studies involving human subjects.

Guiding Principles

Journal of Digital Sociohumanities adheres to key international ethical standards, including:

  • The Declaration of Helsinki (World Medical Association), which provides ethical principles for medical research involving human subjects.

  • The Belmont Report, emphasizing respect for persons, beneficence, and justice.

  • National and institutional guidelines governing human research ethics.

These frameworks guide our assessment of ethical compliance and inform our editorial decisions.

Author Responsibilities

Authors submitting manuscripts based on human research must:

  • Obtain prior approval from an accredited ethics committee or institutional review board (IRB).

  • Confirm that informed consent was obtained from all participants, including consent for publication where relevant.

  • Ensure participant privacy and confidentiality are rigorously protected.

  • Clearly describe the ethical approvals and consent processes in the manuscript (typically in the Methods section).

  • For vulnerable populations (e.g., minors, marginalized groups), provide additional details on safeguards and protective measures.

  • Adhere to all national and international legal and regulatory requirements relevant to human research.

Editorial Assessment

Journal of Digital Sociohumanities editors will evaluate submissions to ensure:

  • Ethical approval is explicitly documented and verifiable.

  • Research methodologies respect participant welfare and minimize risk.

  • Informed consent has been properly obtained and disclosed.

  • Data privacy and confidentiality measures meet international standards.

Manuscripts lacking clear ethical documentation may be rejected or held until sufficient clarifications are provided.

Research Involving Secondary Data

For studies using human-related data (e.g., datasets, archives, social media) where direct participant involvement is not applicable, authors must:

  • Demonstrate that data use complies with ethical and legal standards, including privacy regulations.

  • Describe how consent for data use was obtained or justified (if consent waivers apply).

  • Ensure anonymization or de-identification of personal data when necessary.

Addressing Ethical Concerns

If concerns arise about the ethical conduct of submitted or published research, Journal of Digital Sociohumanities will:

  • Initiate a formal investigation following COPE (Committee on Publication Ethics) guidelines.

  • Engage the authors and, where necessary, their affiliated institutions for clarification.

  • Take appropriate corrective actions, including issuing corrections, retractions, or editorial notes.

Transparency and Accountability

JDSH aims to foster a culture of ethical transparency. All research involving human participants must be reported with full honesty and integrity, enabling readers to understand the ethical framework underpinning the work.

Authors, reviewers, and readers are encouraged to report any ethical concerns to the editorial office:

Editorial Office Email: jds@unand.ac.id

By enforcing this Human Research Ethics Policy, the Journal of Digital Sociohumanities safeguards participant rights, maintains public trust, and upholds the global standards of responsible scholarly publishing.