Publication Ethics and Research Integrity

JASSR is a peer-reviewed journal that upholds the highest standards of ethical publishing. This policy outlines the responsibilities of all parties—authors, reviewers, editors (including the Editor-in-Chief and Editorial Board), and the publisher (Centre for Asian Social Science Research, FISIP UIN Sunan Gunung Djati Bandung). JASSR’s practices are guided by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) Best Practice Guidelines and relevant COPE flowcharts.

Ethical Principles and Editorial Independence
Articles published in JASSR form part of a reliable scholarly record in Asian social science. Editorial decisions are based solely on academic merit, relevance, methodological soundness, and contribution to the field—irrespective of authors’ race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, ethnicity, nationality, or political views. Commercial considerations (e.g., advertising, reprints) do not influence editorial decisions or the peer-review process.

Allegations of Misconduct
Misconduct includes (but is not limited to) fabrication, falsification, plagiarism, inappropriate manipulation of data or citations, and unethical research practices. When concerns arise, the Editor-in-Chief initiates an assessment—potentially involving the handling editor and, where needed, external experts (e.g., statistical reviewers). Authors are invited to respond to substantiated concerns and disclose any conflicts of interest. JASSR follows COPE procedures to ensure a fair, thorough, and confidential investigation. Submissions involving misconduct are rejected; if issues are confirmed post-publication, JASSR will issue the appropriate correction, expression of concern, or retraction linked to the original article to protect the scholarly record.

Publication Decisions
The Editor-in-Chief, supported by the Editorial Board, makes the final decision on manuscripts. Editors may consult reviewers and other editors as necessary and will consider legal and ethical requirements, including those related to defamation, copyright, and plagiarism.

Complaints and Appeals
JASSR maintains a clear process for handling complaints about journal procedures or personnel, including concerns regarding editorial bias, peer-review manipulation, or citation malpractice. Complaints are addressed in line with COPE guidance, ensuring due process, confidentiality, and documentation of outcomes. Reasoned appeals are considered when they offer substantive new information or identify a procedural error.

Post-Publication Dialogue
JASSR welcomes constructive scholarly exchange after publication (e.g., letters to the editor or moderated commentary) that contributes meaningfully to academic debate. Where warranted, the journal will publish clarifications, corrections, or retractions to maintain an accurate record.

Confidentiality
Editors and editorial staff treat all submissions as confidential. Manuscripts and related materials are shared only with those directly involved in editorial handling—authors, reviewers, potential reviewers, and editorial advisors—as appropriate. Unpublished material from submissions may not be used in editors’ or reviewers’ own research without explicit written permission from the authors.

Conflicts of Interest and Disclosure (Editors and Reviewers)
Editors and reviewers must disclose any relationships or interests that could be perceived as influencing their assessment and should decline assignments where conflicts exist. Privileged information obtained during peer review must remain confidential and must not be used for personal advantage.

Data Sharing and Research Transparency
To support transparency, reproducibility, and verification, JASSR encourages data sharing—including raw/processed data, code, analytical protocols, and instruments—where ethically and legally permissible. Data availability statements should specify access conditions, repositories used, and any restrictions (e.g., privacy, confidentiality, contractual limits).

Duties of Reviewers
Reviewers assist editorial decisions by providing timely, evidence-based, and impartial evaluations of a manuscript’s originality, methodological rigor (qualitative, quantitative, or mixed methods), ethical compliance, clarity, and contribution—especially to Asia-focused, comparative, and Global South debates. Manuscripts are confidential and must not be shared or discussed outside the review process. Critiques should address content—not authors—and include appropriate citations to overlooked prior work. Reviewers should recuse themselves if they lack expertise, face time constraints, or have conflicts of interest.

Duties of Authors
Authors must present an accurate account of their work and its significance, with sufficient detail and references to allow evaluation or replication of key elements. Submissions must be original; prior work and others’ ideas must be properly cited. Simultaneous submissions or redundant publication are not permitted. Authorship should reflect substantial contributions (e.g., conceptualization, design, data collection, analysis/interpretation, drafting/revision, final approval). The corresponding author must ensure that all co-authors meet authorship criteria and have approved the final manuscript and its submission. Funding sources and potential conflicts of interest must be disclosed. When significant errors are discovered post-publication, authors are obliged to notify the journal promptly and cooperate in issuing corrections or retractions.

Ethical Oversight (Human/Animal Subjects, Safety, and Sensitive Data)
For studies involving human participants, animals, hazardous materials, or sensitive procedures, authors must state that appropriate ethical approvals and informed consent were obtained and describe measures to minimize risk. Where research uses confidential, proprietary, or commercially sensitive data, authors must explain how confidentiality and data security were protected and whether any restrictions apply to data sharing.