Ethics and Malpractice

Publication Ethics and Malpractice Statement

Knowlet: Journal of Knowledge Management and Library Innovation

The Knowlet is committed to upholding the highest standards of publication ethics and ensuring that all parties involved in the publishing process—authors, editors, reviewers, and the publisher—adhere to ethical practices. The following statement is based on the guidelines of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).

1. Responsibilities of Authors

  • Authors must submit original works, free from plagiarism, fabrication, falsification, or duplicate publication.
  • Proper acknowledgment of the work of others must always be given through correct citations.
  • All authors listed must have made a significant contribution to the research and must approve the final manuscript.
  • Authors must disclose any conflicts of interest and all sources of financial or institutional support.
  • If an error or inaccuracy is discovered after publication, authors are obliged to promptly notify the editor and cooperate in retractions or corrections.

2. Responsibilities of Editors

  • The Editor-in-Chief and Editorial Board are responsible for fair and unbiased evaluation of submitted manuscripts, considering only academic merit without regard to race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, ethnicity, or political views of the authors.
  • Editors must ensure confidentiality of submitted manuscripts and not disclose information to anyone other than the corresponding author, reviewers, and editorial staff.
  • Editors must prevent and address any misconduct such as plagiarism, citation manipulation, or data falsification.
  • Decisions on acceptance, revision, or rejection are made solely based on the significance, originality, and clarity of the work and its relevance to the journal’s scope.

3. Responsibilities of Reviewers

  • Reviewers must provide objective, constructive, and timely feedback to help authors improve their manuscripts.
  • They must maintain confidentiality of all information regarding the manuscript.
  • Reviewers should declare any conflicts of interest that may affect their judgment (e.g., financial, institutional, or personal relationships with the authors).
  • If a reviewer suspects plagiarism, ethical misconduct, or duplicate publication, they should inform the editor immediately.
  • Reviewers must refuse to review if the manuscript is outside their area of expertise.

4. Publisher’s Responsibilities

  • The publisher ensures that all published material follows internationally accepted ethical guidelines.
  • The publisher works with editors to address claims of misconduct and will publish corrections, clarifications, retractions, or apologies when necessary.
  • The publisher guarantees the integrity and transparency of the scholarly record.

5. Plagiarism and Misconduct Policy

  • All manuscripts are screened for plagiarism using appropriate software before review.
  • Plagiarism in any form—including self-plagiarism, data fabrication, and image manipulation—is strictly prohibited.
  • If misconduct is detected, the manuscript will be rejected; if discovered post-publication, a retraction will be issued.

6. Conflict of Interest

  • All participants in the publishing process (authors, reviewers, editors) must disclose any conflicts of interest that could influence the work.
  • Conflicts may include personal, financial, academic, or political relationships.

7. Corrections and Retractions

  • In cases of honest error, the journal will publish a correction notice.
  • In cases of proven misconduct (plagiarism, data falsification, unethical research), the journal will issue a retraction notice and may ban the author from future submissions.

8. Ethical Oversight of Research

  • Research involving human subjects, data, or institutions must comply with relevant ethical standards and include necessary approvals.
  • Authors should clearly indicate if ethical approval was obtained (e.g., Institutional Review Board clearance).