Publication Ethics

The VNU Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities is dedicated to maintaining the highest standards of ethical conduct throughout the publication process. All stakeholders, including editors, reviewers, and authors, are required to adhere to the following ethical principles:

Editorial Board and Editors

  • The editorial board and editors must evaluate all submitted manuscripts impartially, based solely on their academic merit, regardless of the authors' race, gender, religion, ethnicity, nationality, or political views.
  • The intellectual independence of authors must be respected.
  • Editors and editorial staff must not share any information about submitted manuscripts with anyone other than the reviewers and potential reviewers.
  • The editorial board and editors are responsible for ensuring a timely double-blind peer review process by qualified reviewers who have no conflicts of interest with the authors.

Reviewers

  • Reviewers are required to maintain the confidentiality of all information regarding the manuscripts they review.
  • Reviews must be objective, focusing on the quality of the manuscript, and should provide clear, constructive, and timely feedback to the editors.

Authors

  • Authors must ensure that their submissions are entirely original and properly cite any content derived from prior work, including their own. Plagiarism in all forms, including self-plagiarism, is strictly prohibited.
  • Manuscripts submitted must not have been published previously or be under consideration by other journals.
  • Authors are required to disclose all sources of research funding.
  • Compliance with the journal’s Author Guidelines is mandatory for all submissions.

Policies on Authorship and Contributorship

  • All listed authors must have made significant contributions to the research design, data collection or analysis, manuscript drafting, or critical revision for intellectual content.
  • Authors are recommended to clearly outline individual contributions to ensure transparency.
  • Guest authorship, ghostwriting, and honorary authorship are strictly prohibited.

Process for Identification of and Dealing with Allegations of Research Misconduct

VNU-JOSSH is committed to maintaining the integrity of academic publishing by taking proactive measures to identify and prevent research misconduct. This includes, but is not limited to, cases of:

  • Plagiarism: The use of another's work without proper citation or acknowledgment.
  • Citation Manipulation: Inflating citation counts by inappropriate or unethical practices.
  • Data Falsification/Fabrication: Altering or inventing research data or findings.

The journal employs plagiarism detection tools and manual checks during the review process to ensure the originality of submitted work. Editors and reviewers are trained to identify signs of misconduct and are encouraged to raise concerns if they suspect unethical practices in any manuscript.

Under no circumstances will the journal or its editors condone, encourage, or knowingly allow research misconduct. Editors, reviewers, and staff members are expected to uphold the highest ethical standards and act immediately when potential misconduct is identified.

If allegations of research misconduct are brought to the attention of the journal’s editors or publisher, the following steps will be taken in accordance with the guidelines of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE):

  • Initial Assessment: The editor-in-chief will conduct a preliminary investigation to determine the validity and severity of the allegation. If necessary, input may be sought from independent experts.
  • Author Notification: The authors involved will be informed of the allegations and given an opportunity to respond or provide additional information.
  • Formal Investigation: If the initial assessment confirms potential misconduct, a formal investigation will be initiated. This may involve the authors' affiliated institutions or funding bodies.
  • Resolution: Depending on the outcome, appropriate actions will be taken, which may include:
    • Corrections: Issuing a corrigendum or erratum for minor errors that do not affect the article's integrity.
    • Retractions: Retracting the article if the misconduct is substantiated and significantly undermines the validity of the findings.
    • Expressions of Concern: Publishing a statement to inform readers while investigations are ongoing.
  • Transparency: Any corrective actions taken will be clearly communicated to readers, ensuring transparency and maintaining the journal's credibility.

Handling Complaints and Appeals

The journal takes complaints and appeals seriously. Authors or readers can submit formal complaints regarding editorial decisions, ethical concerns, or publication errors. Complaints will be reviewed by the Editor-in-Chief or an appointed committee, and a response will be provided within a specified timeframe. Appeals to editorial decisions are welcomed if supported by substantial evidence, and they will undergo an independent review process.

Policies on Conflicts of Interest

Authors, reviewers, and editors are required to disclose any financial, personal, or professional relationships that might influence their work. All conflict of interest statements will be made transparent in published articles. Failure to disclose competing interests may lead to rejection or retraction of the manuscript.

Policies on Data Sharing and Reproducibility

The journal encourages authors to share research data to promote transparency and reproducibility. Authors should deposit their data in accessible repositories where applicable and include a data availability statement in their submission. Data must comply with ethical and legal standards, particularly regarding privacy and confidentiality.

Policy on Ethical Oversight

VNU-JOSSH adheres to the highest ethical standards, guided by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) principles. The journal ensures that research involving human participants, animals, or sensitive data complies with institutional and international ethical guidelines. Authors are recommended to provide ethics approval documentation for relevant studies.

Policy on Intellectual Property

The journal respects intellectual property rights and expects submitted manuscripts to be original and free from plagiarism. Authors must confirm they hold copyright or have obtained permissions for any third-party materials.

Copyright of published articles is retained by the authors, with the journal holding the right to distribute and archive the work under open access terms.

Options for Post-Publication Discussions and Corrections

The journal encourages post-publication discussions through letters to the editor or online comment sections. Authors or readers who identify significant errors in published work can request corrections or clarifications. If serious concerns arise, the journal will investigate and, if necessary, issue corrections, retractions, or expressions of concern in line with COPE guidelines.