Publication Ethics

Lagaligo Press is committed to maintaining the highest standards of academic integrity, editorial independence, transparency, fairness, and responsible scholarly publishing.

1. Introduction

Lagaligo Press, an academic publishing imprint of Yayasan Lagaligo Education and Research Centre (LERC), recognizes that ethical conduct is fundamental to the integrity and credibility of scholarly communication.

This Publication Ethics Statement establishes the principles and responsibilities that guide authors, editors, reviewers, publishers, and other participants involved in the publication process. It applies to scholarly journals and other academic publications managed under Lagaligo Press, subject to the specific policies of each publication.

2. Core Ethical Principles

3. Responsibilities of the Publisher

Lagaligo Press is committed to supporting ethical and responsible publishing by:

• supporting editorial independence and responsible editorial decision-making;
• providing appropriate publishing infrastructure and editorial support;
• maintaining the integrity and accessibility of the scholarly record;
• supporting mechanisms for corrections, retractions, and expressions of concern when appropriate;
• responding appropriately to credible allegations of research or publication misconduct; and
• protecting the confidentiality of unpublished manuscripts and editorial communications.

4. Responsibilities of Editors

Editors are responsible for ensuring that editorial decisions are based on scholarly merit and the policies of the relevant journal. Editors should:

• evaluate manuscripts fairly and objectively;
• avoid discrimination based on personal characteristics, institutional affiliation, nationality, gender, religion, or other irrelevant considerations;
• maintain confidentiality regarding submitted manuscripts;
• select appropriate and qualified reviewers;
• manage conflicts of interest appropriately;
• ensure that editorial decisions are independent and evidence-based; and
• take appropriate action when ethical concerns arise.

5. Responsibilities of Authors

Authors are responsible for the accuracy, originality, and integrity of their submitted work. Authors should:

• submit original work that has not been published elsewhere unless appropriately disclosed;
• ensure that all significant contributors are appropriately recognized as authors;
• provide accurate and complete information about the research;
• properly acknowledge sources and contributions;
• avoid plagiarism, fabrication, falsification, and other forms of research misconduct;
• disclose relevant conflicts of interest;
• obtain appropriate permissions and ethical approvals where required; and
• cooperate with reasonable requests concerning corrections or clarification of published work.

6. Responsibilities of Reviewers

Reviewers play an essential role in maintaining scholarly quality. Reviewers should:

• provide objective, constructive, and evidence-based evaluations;
• accept assignments only when they have appropriate expertise and sufficient time;
• maintain confidentiality regarding manuscripts under review;
• identify relevant published work that has not been appropriately cited where applicable;
• declare potential conflicts of interest;
• avoid using unpublished information for personal advantage; and
• raise concerns about suspected plagiarism, fabrication, falsification, or other misconduct.

7. Plagiarism, Duplicate Publication, and Misconduct

Lagaligo Press does not tolerate plagiarism, fabrication, falsification, manipulation of research results, duplicate publication, inappropriate image manipulation, or other forms of research and publication misconduct.

Where credible concerns arise, the relevant journal may conduct an appropriate preliminary assessment and, where necessary, seek clarification from authors, editors, institutions, or other relevant parties. Appropriate editorial action may include revision, rejection, correction, expression of concern, or retraction, depending on the circumstances.

8. Conflicts of Interest

Authors, reviewers, editors, and other individuals involved in the publication process should disclose any financial, professional, personal, institutional, or other relationships that could reasonably influence or be perceived to influence their work or editorial judgment. Appropriate measures should be taken to manage disclosed conflicts.

9. Research Ethics and Human Participants

Research involving human participants, personal data, animals, or other ethically sensitive subjects should comply with relevant ethical standards, institutional requirements, and applicable regulations. Where required, authors should provide appropriate information regarding ethical approval, informed consent, or other relevant safeguards.

10. Use of Artificial Intelligence

Authors remain fully responsible for the content, originality, accuracy, and integrity of manuscripts submitted for publication. Artificial intelligence or other automated tools may be used as appropriate for legitimate research or editorial assistance, provided that their use does not compromise research integrity or misrepresent authorship.

AI systems should not be listed as authors. Where the use of generative AI materially contributes to the preparation of a manuscript, authors should follow the disclosure requirements established by the relevant journal.

11. Corrections, Retractions, and Post-Publication Issues

Maintaining the integrity of the scholarly record is a continuing responsibility. When a significant error or ethical issue is identified after publication, the relevant journal may publish a correction, clarification, expression of concern, or retraction, as appropriate to the circumstances. Decisions will be made carefully and documented as part of the scholarly record.

12. Complaints and Appeals

Authors, reviewers, readers, and other stakeholders may raise concerns regarding editorial decisions, publication practices, or potential ethical violations through the appropriate journal or publisher contact channels. Complaints and appeals will be considered fairly and, where appropriate, investigated while maintaining necessary confidentiality.

13. Confidentiality

Confidential information obtained through manuscript submission, peer review, editorial assessment, and publishing activities should not be disclosed or used for purposes unrelated to the legitimate publication process. Appropriate safeguards should be maintained throughout the editorial workflow.

Our Ethical Commitment

Lagaligo Press is committed to fostering a scholarly publishing environment based on integrity, fairness, transparency, accountability, and respect for the scholarly record.