The Indonesian Journal of Political Studies (IJPS) is committed to maintaining the highest standards of research integrity, publication ethics, and the protection of human participants involved in scholarly research. Manuscripts reporting research involving human participants must comply with internationally recognized ethical principles, applicable laws and regulations, and relevant institutional and disciplinary standards.

Authors are responsible for ensuring that their research has been conducted ethically and, where applicable, has received approval from an appropriate ethics review body, such as an Institutional Review Board (IRB), Research Ethics Committee, or equivalent authority.

IJPS adheres to internationally recognized publication ethics standards and follows the principles and guidelines established by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).

Ethical Principles for Research Involving Human Participants

Research submitted to IJPS that involves human participants—including interviews, surveys, focus group discussions, field observations, experiments, elite interviews, community-based research, and other forms of social and political inquiry—must demonstrate adherence to the following principles:

1. Respect for Human Dignity and Participant Rights

Researchers must treat all participants with dignity, fairness, and respect. Appropriate safeguards should be implemented to protect participants’ rights, autonomy, welfare, and well-being throughout the research process.

2. Risk Assessment and Harm Minimization

Researchers must identify and assess potential risks associated with the study and take reasonable measures to minimize any physical, psychological, social, political, economic, legal, cultural, or reputational harm that participants may experience.

Particular attention should be given to research conducted in politically sensitive contexts, conflict-affected areas, or situations where participation could expose individuals to social or political consequences.

3. Privacy, Confidentiality, and Data Protection

Researchers must respect participants’ privacy and avoid unnecessary intrusion into their personal lives, political beliefs, affiliations, identities, or cultural practices.

Personal information and research data must be handled securely and in accordance with applicable data protection regulations. Researchers should implement appropriate measures to safeguard confidential information throughout the research lifecycle.

4. Informed Consent

Participation in research must be voluntary. Researchers must obtain informed consent from participants prior to data collection.

Participants should be provided with clear and accessible information regarding:

• the purpose and objectives of the research;

• the nature of their participation;

• research procedures and methods;

• potential risks and benefits;

• measures for confidentiality and data protection;

• their right to refuse participation or withdraw from the study at any time without penalty.

When research involves minors or individuals with limited decision-making capacity, consent must be obtained from a parent, guardian, or legally authorized representative, in addition to assent from participants where appropriate.

5. Anonymity and Confidentiality

Researchers must protect participants’ identities whenever possible. Identifiable information should not be disclosed without explicit permission from participants.

Where anonymity is promised, authors must ensure that individuals cannot be identified directly or indirectly through published information, quotations, or contextual details.

6. Fair and Equitable Treatment

Participants must not be coerced, manipulated, or exploited. Researchers should ensure equitable treatment of all participants and avoid practices that may create undue pressure or influence participation decisions.

7. Respect for Intellectual, Cultural, and Community Rights

Researchers must acknowledge and respect the knowledge, perspectives, experiences, and cultural values shared by participants and communities.

Any use of participant-generated information, community knowledge, or locally derived insights must be conducted with integrity, transparency, and appropriate attribution where applicable.

8. Ethical Engagement in Political and Social Research

Given the nature of political studies, researchers are encouraged to conduct research in a manner that promotes trust, transparency, and respect for participants and communities.

Special care should be taken when engaging with politically vulnerable groups, public officials, activists, political organizations, minority communities, or populations affected by conflict, discrimination, or social exclusion.

Ethical Approval Requirements

For studies involving human participants, authors should indicate whether the research received formal ethical approval from an Institutional Review Board (IRB), Research Ethics Committee, or equivalent authority.

Manuscripts should include:

• the name of the approving institution or ethics committee;

• the approval number or reference code, where available;

• confirmation that the research complied with relevant ethical standards and guidelines.

Example statement:

“This study received ethical approval from the [Name of Ethics Committee/Institution] under approval number [XXXX]. All participants provided informed consent prior to participation.”

If formal ethical approval was not required under applicable institutional or national regulations, authors must clearly explain the reason within the manuscript.

Research Involving Vulnerable Populations

Additional ethical safeguards are required when research involves vulnerable populations, including but not limited to:

• children and adolescents;

• individuals with limited decision-making capacity;

• marginalized or disadvantaged communities;

• refugees, migrants, and displaced populations;

• political dissidents or individuals exposed to political risk;

• indigenous peoples and culturally sensitive communities.

Researchers must ensure that participation is voluntary, respectful, culturally appropriate, and free from coercion or undue influence.

Consent for Publication

When manuscripts include interview excerpts, personal narratives, images, recordings, or any information that may reasonably identify an individual, authors must confirm that participants have provided consent for publication.

Where anonymity cannot be guaranteed, explicit written consent must be obtained prior to publication.

Documentation and Verification

IJPS reserves the right to request documentation related to ethical approval, informed consent, participant information sheets, or other relevant ethical materials at any stage of the editorial and publication process.

Failure to provide adequate ethical documentation may result in:

• rejection of the manuscript;

• suspension of the peer-review process;

• retraction or withdrawal of the article after publication if ethical misconduct or violations are identified.

Commitment to Ethical Research

By submitting a manuscript to IJPS, authors affirm that their research has been conducted in accordance with recognized ethical standards and that all necessary approvals, permissions, and participant consents have been obtained.

The Indonesian Journal of Political Studies (IJPS) periodically reviews and updates its ethical policies to ensure alignment with evolving international standards, best practices in social science research, and the ethical guidelines promoted by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).