Policy on Academic Integrity and Publication Ethics

The journal Scientific Papers of Berdyansk State Pedagogical University adheres to internationally recognized standards of publication ethics and research integrity and follows the recommendations of the Committee on Publication Ethics. All participants in the publication process—authors, reviewers, and editors—are required to comply with these principles to ensure the quality, reliability, and transparency of scholarly publications.

  1. Responsibilities of Editors

Editors are responsible for maintaining the scientific quality and integrity of the journal.

Editorial decisions are based on:

  • the scientific significance, originality, and relevance of the manuscript;
  • the soundness of the methodology and the reliability of the results;
  • the contribution of the research to the advancement of the relevant field.

Editors evaluate manuscripts without regard to the authors’ gender, nationality, institutional affiliation, or other personal characteristics.

Editors ensure:

  • the confidentiality of submitted materials and related communications;
  • an impartial and objective peer review process;
  • timely communication with authors and reviewers.

Editors must not use unpublished materials in their own research or for personal purposes.

In cases of reasonable suspicion of academic misconduct (including plagiarism, data fabrication, or duplicate publication), the editorial board initiates an investigation in accordance with COPE guidelines and may reject the manuscript or take other appropriate actions.

In the event of a conflict of interest, the editor must recuse themselves from the decision-making process.

  1. Responsibilities of Reviewers

Reviewers provide an independent expert evaluation of manuscripts.

Reviewers are required to:

  • assess manuscripts objectively, based on their scientific merit;
  • provide reasoned, clear, and constructive feedback;
  • maintain confidentiality and not share the manuscript with third parties;
  • disclose any conflicts of interest and, where appropriate, decline the review.

Reviewers must not use unpublished data or ideas for their own benefit.

Personal criticism of the author is unacceptable.

  1. Responsibilities of Authors

Authors are responsible for the accuracy, originality, and integrity of the research presented.

Authors must:

  • present reliable and accurate research results;
  • ensure the originality of the manuscript and proper citation of sources;
  • avoid plagiarism, self-plagiarism, and duplicate publication;
  • not submit the manuscript simultaneously to multiple journals;
  • appropriately acknowledge the contributions of other researchers.

Authorship should reflect actual scholarly contributions. All individuals who have made a significant contribution must be listed as co-authors, while those who did not participate in the research must not be included as authors.

The corresponding author is responsible for communication with the editorial office and confirms that all co-authors have approved the final version of the manuscript.

If significant errors are identified after publication, authors are obliged to promptly notify the editorial board and cooperate in correcting or retracting the article.

  1. Academic Misconduct

The journal does not tolerate any forms of academic misconduct, including:

  • plagiarism (including improper citation and paraphrasing);
  • self-plagiarism and duplicate publication;
  • data fabrication or falsification;
  • inappropriate authorship practices (including “guest” or “ghost” authorship);
  • manipulation of the peer review process.

Manuscripts may be screened using plagiarism detection software.

In cases of suspected misconduct, the editorial board conducts an investigation in accordance with the recommendations of the Committee on Publication Ethics. Depending on the circumstances, the following actions may be taken:

  • rejection of the manuscript;
  • notification of the author’s institution;
  • retraction of the published article.
  1. Conflict of Interest

All participants in the publication process must disclose any potential or actual conflicts of interest that could influence their decisions or conclusions.

Conflicts of interest may be financial, institutional, academic, or personal.

Authors must include a statement on conflicts of interest in the manuscript. Reviewers and editors are required to disclose such conflicts and, where necessary, refrain from participating in the process.

  1. Ethical Aspects of Research

For research involving human participants or animals, authors must confirm compliance with relevant ethical standards.

Where applicable, the manuscript should include information on:

  • obtaining informed consent from participants;
  • approval by an appropriate ethics committee.

Authors are responsible for compliance with national legislation and international ethical standards.

  1. Editorial Integrity and Transparency

The journal ensures transparency in editorial processes and publishing activities.

Information published on the journal’s website (including details of the editorial board, peer review procedures, and policies) must be accurate, up-to-date, and verifiable.

Editorial decisions are made independently of any external influence, including commercial, political, or institutional pressures.

  1. Post-Publication Responsibility

The journal is responsible for maintaining the integrity of the scholarly record.

If errors or misconduct are identified after publication, the editorial board takes appropriate actions, including:

  • publication of corrections;
  • issuance of expressions of concern;
  • retraction of articles.

Detailed procedures are described in the Retraction and Correction Policy.

  1. Policy Updates

This policy may be periodically updated in accordance with changes in international standards of academic publishing and national legislation.

Updates take effect upon their publication on the journal’s official website.