Publication Ethics Policy

EIU Press is committed to maintaining the highest standards of integrity, transparency, professionalism, and ethical conduct in academic publishing.

This Publication Ethics Policy establishes the responsibilities of authors, reviewers, editors, and all individuals involved in the publication process and is intended to promote trust, accountability, and scholarly excellence.

EIU Press adheres to the following principles:

• Academic integrity
• Honesty and transparency
• Fairness and impartiality
• Respect for intellectual property
• Responsible research and publication practices
• Accountability in scholarly communication

All participants in the publishing process are expected to uphold these principles.

Authors submitting work to EIU Press must ensure that:

Submitted works are original and have not been plagiarized from other sources.

All ideas, data, quotations, figures, tables, and materials derived from other sources are appropriately acknowledged and cited.

Information presented within the publication is accurate to the best of the author's knowledge.

The same manuscript is not simultaneously under consideration by another publisher unless explicitly disclosed and approved.

All listed authors have made a meaningful contribution to the work and have approved the final manuscript.

Individuals who have not made a substantial contribution should not be listed as authors.

Authors must disclose any financial, professional, institutional, or personal relationships that could reasonably be perceived as influencing the work.

Authors may use artificial intelligence tools to support writing, editing, language improvement, literature exploration, or other academic activities.

However:

• Authors remain fully responsible for all submitted content.
• AI tools may not be listed as authors.
• Authors must verify the accuracy of AI-generated content.
• Fabricated citations, references, or data are strictly prohibited.
• Significant use of AI tools should be disclosed where appropriate.

The Editor-in-Chief may request clarification regarding AI use during the editorial process.

Where publications involve research involving human participants, animals, or sensitive data, authors must ensure compliance with applicable ethical standards and regulatory requirements.

Authors may be required to provide evidence of:

• Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval
• Ethics committee approval
• Participant consent
• Data protection compliance

where applicable.

Reviewers engaged by EIU Press shall:

• Conduct reviews objectively and professionally.
• Evaluate manuscripts based on scholarly merit.
• Maintain confidentiality.
• Avoid personal criticism.
• Disclose conflicts of interest.
• Decline review assignments where impartiality cannot be maintained.

Reviewers shall not use unpublished information obtained through the review process for personal, professional, or financial advantage.

The Editor-in-Chief shall:

• Make editorial decisions fairly and objectively.
• Evaluate submissions solely on academic merit.
• Maintain confidentiality during the review process.
• Address ethical concerns promptly and appropriately.
• Ensure compliance with EIU Press policies.
• Promote transparency and integrity in all publishing activities.

Editorial decisions shall not be influenced by personal, political, institutional, financial, or commercial interests.

EIU Press maintains a zero-tolerance policy toward plagiarism.

Plagiarism includes, but is not limited to:

• Copying text without attribution
• Presenting another person's ideas as one's own
• Improper paraphrasing
• Unauthorized use of figures, tables, or images
• Self-plagiarism without appropriate disclosure

Manuscripts found to contain significant plagiarism may be rejected immediately.

Where plagiarism is discovered after publication, corrective action may be taken.

Authors must not:

• Fabricate data
• Manipulate data deceptively
• Falsify results
• Misrepresent findings

Any evidence of fabrication or falsification may result in rejection, retraction, or other corrective actions deemed appropriate by EIU Press.

Authors must not submit or publish substantially identical works in multiple publications without appropriate disclosure and approval.

Legitimate republication, translation, or adaptation may be considered when properly disclosed and approved.

All participants in the publication process shall disclose conflicts of interest that may influence, or appear to influence, editorial decisions, reviews, or publication outcomes.

Conflicts may include:

• Financial interests
• Employment relationships
• Institutional affiliations
• Personal relationships
• Professional rivalries

The Editor-in-Chief shall determine appropriate management of disclosed conflicts.

Authors may appeal editorial decisions by submitting a written explanation to the Editor-in-Chief.

Complaints regarding editorial conduct, reviewer conduct, publication ethics, or procedural concerns shall be reviewed fairly and objectively.

The decision of the Editor-in-Chief shall normally be considered final.

EIU Press reserves the right to issue:

• Corrections
• Clarifications
• Expressions of Concern
• Retractions

when necessary to maintain the integrity of the scholarly record.

Such actions may be taken in cases involving:

• Significant errors
• Ethical violations
• Plagiarism
• Data fabrication
• Authorship disputes
• Other integrity concerns

EIU Press is committed to fostering a culture of ethical scholarship, responsible publishing, intellectual honesty, and academic excellence.

All individuals participating in the publication process are expected to uphold these standards and contribute to the integrity and credibility of scholarly communication.