Ethics and Policies

The Human Social Review (HSR) is committed to upholding the highest standards of academic integrity, transparency, and ethical publishing. The journal follows internationally recognized best practices and adheres to the principles outlined by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE). These policies apply to all authors, reviewers, editors, and the publisher.

1. Publication Ethics and Integrity

HSR ensures that all published research is:

  • Original, methodologically rigorous, and evidence-based

  • Conducted ethically and transparently reported

  • Free from plagiarism, data manipulation, or undisclosed conflicts of interest

Any unethical behavior will be addressed according to COPE guidelines.

2. Authorship and Contributorship

2.1 Authorship Criteria
Authorship should be limited to individuals who have made substantial contributions to:

  • Conceptualization, design, or theoretical framing of the study

  • Data collection, analysis, or interpretation

  • Drafting or critically revising the manuscript

  • Approving the final version for publication

All authors must consent to the submission and publication of the manuscript.

2.2 Unacceptable Practices
HSR does not permit:

  • Ghost authorship

  • Gift or honorary authorship

  • Changes to authorship after submission without written consent from all authors

3. Plagiarism and Originality

All submissions must be original and not under review elsewhere. HSR may use plagiarism detection tools to screen manuscripts. Plagiarism includes, but is not limited to:

  • Verbatim copying without citation

  • Self-plagiarism or redundant publication

  • Inadequate paraphrasing

Manuscripts violating originality standards will be rejected or retracted.

4. Data Integrity and Research Transparency

Authors are expected to:

  • Report data, methods, and findings accurately

  • Avoid fabrication, falsification, or selective reporting

  • Retain research data for verification if required

Where appropriate, authors are encouraged to provide data availability statements and ensure reproducibility.

5. Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Use of AI tools (e.g., for data coding, content analysis, or language editing) must be clearly disclosed. AI tools:

  • May assist but cannot replace scholarly judgment

  • Cannot be listed as authors

  • Must not generate fabricated data, citations, or results

Failure to disclose AI use may result in rejection.

6. Ethical Approval and Human Subjects

Research involving human participants must:

  • Comply with institutional and national ethical standards

  • Obtain prior ethical approval when required

  • Ensure informed consent, confidentiality, and anonymity

Authors must clearly state ethical approval details or justify exemptions.

7. Conflict of Interest Policy

All authors, reviewers, and editors must disclose any financial or non-financial conflicts of interest that could influence the research or review process, including:

  • Funding from governmental, non-governmental, or private organizations

  • Employment, consultancy, or advisory roles

  • Personal or professional relationships

Declared conflicts will be evaluated to ensure transparency.

8. Peer Review Policy

HSR operates a double-blind peer review system.

Review Process:

  • Manuscripts are reviewed by at least two independent experts

  • Reviewers are selected based on expertise in sociology, anthropology, political science, human development, or related disciplines

  • Reviewer reports are confidential

Reviewer Responsibilities:

  • Provide objective, constructive, and timely feedback

  • Maintain confidentiality

  • Declare conflicts of interest

  • Report any ethical concerns to the editor

9. Editorial Responsibilities

Editors are responsible for:

  • Making impartial, independent decisions

  • Ensuring submission confidentiality

  • Managing conflicts of interest

  • Upholding academic and ethical standards

Editorial decisions are based solely on academic merit and relevance.

10. Open Access Policy

HSR is a fully open-access journal:

  • All content is freely available upon publication

  • No subscription or access fees are charged

  • Currently, publication is free; from January 2028, an APC of USD 1,200 will apply to support editorial management, peer review, and digital preservation

11. Copyright and Licensing Policy

  • Authors retain copyright of their work

  • Articles are published under the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY 4.0) Licence

  • Readers may share and adapt the work with proper attribution

12. Retractions, Corrections, and Expressions of Concern

HSR will issue:

  • Corrections for minor errors

  • Retractions for serious ethical breaches

  • Expressions of Concern during ongoing investigations

All actions follow COPE guidelines and are transparently documented.

13. Complaints and Appeals

  • Authors may appeal editorial decisions by submitting a reasoned request to the Editor-in-Chief

  • Complaints regarding ethical issues, editorial conduct, or peer review will be handled confidentially and impartially

14. Archiving and Preservation Policy

To ensure long-term accessibility:

  • All published content is archived digitally

  • Articles remain accessible even if publication ceases

  • DOI registration ensures permanent, stable linking

15. Advertising and Sponsorship Policy

  • HSR does not accept advertising that compromises editorial independence

  • Any sponsorship arrangements are transparently disclosed and do not influence editorial decisions

16. Compliance with International Standards

HSR aligns with:

  • Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE)

  • DOAJ Principles of Transparency

  • Best practices in scholarly publishing