Publication Ethics

VNU-JOSSH upholds a strong commitment to the highest standards of integrity, transparency, and professionalism in academic publishing. All stakeholders in the publication process—including editors, reviewers, and authors—are expected to adhere strictly to the ethical responsibilities and guidelines set forth in the journal’s policies.

Intellectual Property

The submitted manuscript remains the full intellectual property of the author. VNU-JOSSH shall not publish the manuscript, in whole or in part, in any other form without the explicit consent of the author. Similarly, the journal will not permit the reuse of the manuscript’s data by third parties without the author’s written approval. Should the author wish to republish the article elsewhere, prior permission must be obtained from the journal. Such permission may only be withheld for valid and substantial reasons. In all cases of subsequent publication, appropriate citation of the original publication in VNU-JOSSH is required.

Editorial Responsibilities

Editors assess all submitted manuscripts solely on the basis of their scholarly merit, without consideration of the authors’ identity, institutional affiliation, nationality, or personal beliefs. They are entrusted with upholding confidentiality throughout the editorial process and ensuring that all submissions undergo a rigorous, impartial double-blind peer review. Reviewers are carefully selected for their subject-matter expertise and are required to declare any potential conflicts of interest to safeguard the integrity of the evaluation process.

Reviewer Responsibilities

Reviewers are required to treat all manuscripts as strictly confidential and must not disclose, share, or use any part of the content for personal advantage or for the benefit of colleagues or collaborators. Reviews should be conducted with objectivity and academic integrity, offering constructive feedback and submitted within the agreed timeframe. Reviewers are also expected to promptly inform the editorial team of any potential conflicts of interest, ethical concerns, or suspected instances of misconduct—such as plagiarism, data fabrication, or manipulation—identified during the review process.

Author Responsibilities

Authors are expected to submit original manuscripts and to properly acknowledge all sources, including their own previously published work. Any instance of simultaneous submission to other journals or prior publication must be clearly disclosed. In the case of multiple authors, each listed contributor must have played a substantive role in the conception, execution, or interpretation of the research. Authors are also required to disclose all sources of financial support and ensure that their submissions conform to the journal’s formatting and language requirements.

Policies on Authorship and Contributorship

All individuals listed as authors must have made substantial contributions to at least one key aspect of the research—such as the study’s design, data collection or analysis, manuscript preparation, or critical revision for intellectual content.

To promote transparency and accountability, authors are encouraged to clearly specify the individual contributions of each co-author.

The journal maintains a strict policy against guest authorship, ghostwriting, and honorary authorship, all of which are considered unethical and unacceptable practices.

Process for Identification of and Dealing with Allegations of Research Misconduct

VNU-JOSSH is dedicated to upholding the integrity of academic publishing through proactive efforts to detect and prevent all forms of research misconduct. The journal adopts a zero-tolerance policy toward unethical practices, including but not limited to:

  • Plagiarism: The appropriation of another individual’s work, ideas, or words without proper citation or acknowledgment.
  • Citation Manipulation: The deliberate and unethical attempt to inflate citation metrics through inappropriate referencing or coordinated citation practices.
  • Data Falsification or Fabrication: The intentional alteration, misrepresentation, or invention of research data or results.

To safeguard the originality and academic integrity of submitted manuscripts, the journal employs both plagiarism detection software and manual review procedures as part of its editorial workflow. Editors and reviewers receive guidance on recognizing potential indicators of misconduct and are encouraged to report any suspected unethical behavior during the evaluation process.

The journal maintains a firm and unequivocal stance against all forms of research misconduct. At no point will the journal or its editorial team tolerate, endorse, or knowingly permit unethical practices. All editors, reviewers, and staff are expected to adhere to the highest standards of publication ethics and to take prompt and appropriate action when concerns regarding misconduct arise.

In cases where allegations of research misconduct are reported, VNU-JOSSH is committed to handling them with rigor, fairness, and in full accordance with the guidelines established by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE). The journal will follow a structured process as outlined below:

  • Preliminary Assessment: The Editor-in-Chief will conduct an initial review to evaluate the credibility and seriousness of the allegation. If necessary, independent experts may be consulted to support the assessment.
  • Author Notification: The corresponding author(s) will be formally notified of the allegation and provided an opportunity to respond and submit relevant documentation or clarification.
    ● Formal Investigation: Should the preliminary assessment indicate a likelihood of misconduct, a full investigation will be launched. This may involve cooperation with the authors’ affiliated institutions, research sponsors, or other appropriate bodies.
  • Resolution and Actions: Based on the investigation’s findings, the journal will implement one or more of the following actions:
    • Correction: A corrigendum or erratum may be issued for factual errors that do not compromise the overall validity of the article.
    • Retraction: The article may be retracted if misconduct is confirmed and the integrity of the findings is compromised.
    • Expression of Concern: A notice may be published to alert readers to unresolved concerns while an investigation is ongoing.
  • Transparency and Accountability: All decisions and actions resulting from the investigation will be clearly documented and publicly communicated, ensuring transparency and preserving the journal’s academic credibility.

Options for Post-Publication Discussions and Corrections

VNU-JOSSH actively encourages post-publication dialogue through letters to the editor or moderated online comment platforms. Authors and readers are invited to report any substantial errors or ambiguities in published articles and may request formal corrections or clarifications. In cases where serious ethical or academic concerns are raised, the journal will conduct a thorough investigation and, when appropriate, issue corrections, retractions, or expressions of concern in accordance with COPE guidelines. To ensure consistency and integrity in handling such matters, COPE’s updated flowcharts on ethical concerns related to data and publication (COPE Flowcharts) may be consulted as a reference for best practices.

Handling Complaints and Appeals

VNU-JOSSH is committed to addressing complaints and appeals with fairness, transparency, and diligence. Authors and readers are encouraged to submit formal complaints concerning editorial decisions, ethical issues, or publication-related errors. All submissions will be carefully reviewed by the Editor-in-Chief or an appointed review committee, and a formal response will be provided within a clearly defined timeframe. Appeals against editorial decisions are welcomed when substantiated with compelling evidence and will be subject to an impartial and independent review process.

Policies on Conflicts of Interest

All authors, reviewers, and editors are obligated to disclose any financial, personal, or professional relationships that could be perceived as influencing the objectivity of their work. Declarations of potential conflicts of interest will be clearly stated in all published articles to ensure transparency. Failure to disclose relevant competing interests may result in the rejection of a submission or the retraction of a published article.

Policies on Data Sharing and Reproducibility

VNU-JOSSH actively encourages authors to share their research data as a means to enhance transparency, reproducibility, and scholarly collaboration. Where appropriate, authors are advised to deposit data in publicly accessible and trusted repositories and to include a clear data availability statement as part of their submission. All shared data must adhere to relevant ethical and legal standards, with particular attention to issues of privacy, confidentiality, and informed consent.

Policy on Ethical Oversight

VNU-JOSSH is firmly committed to upholding the highest standards of publication ethics, in alignment with the principles set forth by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE). The journal requires that all research involving human subjects, animals, or sensitive data strictly comply with both institutional and international ethical regulations. Authors are strongly encouraged to submit documentation of ethical approval for studies where such oversight is applicable.

Policy on Intellectual Property

VNU-JOSSH upholds the principles of intellectual property and requires all submitted manuscripts to be original, with no instances of plagiarism. Authors must affirm that they hold the copyright to their work or have secured appropriate permissions for any third-party content included. While authors retain the copyright to their published articles, the journal reserves the right to disseminate and archive the content in accordance with its open access policy.

Publishing Policy

All submissions to VNU-JOSSH must comply with the journal’s Author Guidelines and adhere strictly to its Publication Ethics. VNU-JOSSH affirms its commitment to the principle of academic freedom. Accordingly, the views and arguments expressed in articles published by VNU-JOSSH are solely those of the respective authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions or positions of the editorial board or the journal.

Declaration of the Use of Generative AI in Scientific Writing

Authors are required to disclose any use of generative AI tools during the manuscript preparation process at the time of submission. This policy pertains strictly to the writing stage of the research and does not extend to the use of AI technologies for data analysis or interpretation.

Generative AI or AI-assisted tools may only be employed to enhance the clarity, coherence, or language quality of the manuscript. Such tools must be used under the direct supervision of the author(s), who must thoroughly review and, where necessary, revise the output. Given that AI-generated content may be inaccurate, incomplete, or biased, the final responsibility for the integrity and accuracy of the manuscript rests entirely with the authors.

Under no circumstances should generative AI or AI-assisted tools be credited as authors or co-authors. Authorship implies intellectual contributions, accountability, and responsibilities that cannot be fulfilled by non-human entities.

To ensure transparency, any use of generative AI in the writing process must be explicitly declared in a dedicated statement included in the initial submission. This declaration will be published with the final article and should appear in a separate section immediately preceding the reference list.