Ethics and Policies

The Journal of Marketing Review (JMR) is committed to maintaining the highest standards of academic integrity, transparency, and ethical publishing. The journal follows internationally recognized best practices and adheres to the principles of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE). These policies apply to authors, reviewers, editors, and the publisher.

1. Publication Ethics and Integrity

JMR ensures that all published research is:

  • Original, methodologically rigorous, and theoretically sound
  • Conducted ethically and reported transparently
  • Free from plagiarism, data fabrication, or selective reporting
  • Relevant to marketing theory, practice, and consumer behaviour

Any breach of ethical standards will be addressed in accordance with COPE guidelines.

2. Authorship and Contributorship

2.1 Authorship Criteria

Authorship is limited to individuals who have made substantial contributions to:

  • Research design, conceptualisation, or theoretical development
  • Data collection, analysis, or interpretation
  • Drafting or critical revision of the manuscript
  • Final approval of the submitted version

All authors must approve submission and publication.

2.2 Unacceptable Practices

JMR does not permit:

  • Ghost authorship
  • Gift or honorary authorship
  • Unauthorised changes in authorship after submission

Any changes must be supported by written consent from all authors.

3. Plagiarism and Originality

All submissions must be original and not under consideration elsewhere.

Plagiarism includes:

  • Copying text without proper citation
  • Self-plagiarism or duplicate publication
  • Improper paraphrasing or unattributed ideas

Manuscripts violating originality standards may be rejected or retracted.

4. Data Integrity and Research Transparency

Authors are expected to:

  • Ensure accuracy and honesty in data reporting and analysis
  • Avoid fabrication, falsification, or selective reporting
  • Retain research data for verification when required
  • Promote transparency and reproducibility

Data availability statements are encouraged where applicable.

5. Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)

AI tools must be clearly disclosed.

AI tools:

  • May assist in language editing, formatting, or data analysis
  • Must not replace scholarly judgment or intellectual contribution
  • Must not be listed as authors
  • Must not generate fabricated data, citations, or findings

Undisclosed AI usage may result in rejection.

6. Ethical Approval and Human Subjects

Research involving human participants must:

  • Comply with institutional and national ethical standards
  • Obtain ethical approval where required
  • Ensure informed consent, confidentiality, and anonymity

Authors must clearly state ethical approval or provide justification for exemption.

7. Conflict of Interest Policy

All authors, reviewers, and editors must disclose conflicts of interest, including:

  • Financial funding or sponsorships
  • Employment or consultancy relationships
  • Personal or professional affiliations affecting objectivity

All disclosures will be reviewed for transparency.

8. Peer Review Policy

JMR 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 marketing and related disciplines
  • All review reports are confidential

Reviewer Responsibilities:

  • Provide objective, constructive, and timely feedback
  • Maintain confidentiality
  • Declare conflicts of interest
  • Report ethical concerns to editors

9. Editorial Responsibilities

Editors are responsible for:

  • Ensuring fair, unbiased, and independent editorial decisions
  • Maintaining confidentiality of submissions
  • Managing conflicts of interest appropriately
  • Upholding ethical and academic publishing standards

Decisions are based solely on scholarly merit and relevance.

10. Open Access Policy

JMR is a fully open-access journal:

  • All content is freely accessible worldwide
  • No subscription fees are charged
  • Publication is currently free; No fees/APC will be charged for articles, and no surcharges will apply for the length of an article, for illustrations and figures (including color figures), and for supplementary data unless noted otherwise.
  • APC supports 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
  • Users may share and adapt content with proper attribution

12. Retractions, Corrections, and Expressions of Concern

JMR may issue:

  • Corrections for minor errors
  • Retractions for serious ethical violations
  • Expressions of concern during ongoing investigations

All actions follow COPE guidelines and are transparently documented.

13. Complaints and Appeals

  • Authors may appeal editorial decisions with a reasoned request to the Editor-in-Chief
  • Complaints related to ethics, peer review, or editorial conduct are handled confidentially and fairly

14. Archiving and Preservation Policy

To ensure long-term accessibility:

  • All published articles are digitally archived
  • DOI assignment ensures permanent access and citation stability
  • Content remains accessible even if publication ceases

15. Advertising and Sponsorship Policy

  • JMR does not accept advertising that influences editorial independence
  • Any sponsorship arrangements are fully disclosed
  • Editorial decisions remain completely independent of financial influence

16. Compliance with International Standards

JMR adheres to:

  • Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE)
  • DOAJ Principles of Transparency and Best Practice
  • International standards of ethical scholarly publishing