Publication Ethics

The Sunan Ampel Review of Political and Social Sciences (The SARPASS) is a peer-reviewed international journal committed to upholding the highest standards of publication ethics. This statement clarifies the ethical responsibilities of all parties involved in the publication process: the authors, the editorial board, the reviewers, and the publisher. The journal follows the Core Practices of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE, 2017) as a reference framework.

Ethical Guidelines for Journal Publication

The publication of scholarly work in peer-reviewed journals is an essential foundation of academic communication. It reflects the quality of the research and the integrity of the institutions that support it. To safeguard this process, The SARPASS requires adherence to standards of ethical behavior by all parties.

The Faculty of Social and Political Sciences (FISIP), State Islamic University of Sunan Ampel Surabaya, as publisher of The SARPASS, assumes the role of guardian of all publishing stages. The journal ensures that editorial decisions are free from commercial influence, advertising, or conflicts of interest, and supports communication with other publishers and journals where ethical concerns arise.

Duties of Editors

  • Publication Decisions
    Editors are responsible for deciding which manuscripts will be published. Decisions are guided by the manuscript’s academic merit, originality, relevance to the journal’s scope, and reviewers’ recommendations. Legal requirements regarding plagiarism, copyright, and libel are strictly observed.

  • Fair Play
    Manuscripts are evaluated solely on their intellectual content, without discrimination based on race, gender, religious belief, ethnicity, nationality, or political orientation.

  • Confidentiality
    Editors and editorial staff must not disclose information about submitted manuscripts to anyone other than the corresponding author, reviewers, and relevant editorial advisors.

  • Conflict of Interest
    Editors must not use unpublished information in their own research without written consent from the author. They should recuse themselves from handling manuscripts where conflicts of interest exist.

Duties of Reviewers

  • Contribution to Decisions
    Peer review assists editors in making publication decisions and helps authors improve their manuscripts through constructive feedback.

  • Promptness
    Reviewers who cannot complete a review in a timely manner should notify the editor immediately and withdraw from the process.

  • Confidentiality
    All manuscripts received for review must be treated as confidential and must not be shared with or discussed outside the review process.

  • Objectivity
    Reviews must be conducted objectively, focusing on the academic content of the manuscript. Personal criticism of authors is not acceptable.

  • Acknowledgment of Sources
    Reviewers should identify uncited relevant work and alert editors to any substantial overlap or similarity with other published works.

  • Conflicts of Interest
    Reviewers must not consider manuscripts in which they have competing interests arising from collaborative, financial, or other relationships with the authors or affiliated institutions.

Duties of Authors

  • Reporting Standards
    Authors must present an accurate account of their research and its significance. Data should be represented honestly and completely to allow replication. Fabrication or falsification of data constitutes unethical behavior.

  • Originality and Plagiarism
    Submissions must consist of the authors’ original work. If others’ work is used, it must be appropriately cited or quoted. Plagiarism in any form is unacceptable.

  • Multiple or Redundant Publication
    Authors should not submit the same manuscript to more than one journal at the same time. Publishing the same work in multiple outlets is unethical.

  • Acknowledgment of Sources
    Proper credit must always be given to the work of others. Authors should cite all publications that have influenced the reported study.

  • Authorship
    Authorship should be limited to individuals who made significant contributions to the conception, design, execution, or interpretation of the research. All significant contributors must be listed as co-authors, and all co-authors must approve the final manuscript before submission.

  • Conflicts of Interest
    Authors must disclose any financial or personal relationships that could inappropriately influence their work. Sources of research funding must also be declared.

  • Fundamental Errors
    If authors discover errors or inaccuracies in their published work, they must promptly inform the editor and cooperate in correcting or retracting the article.

Publisher’s Responsibilities

The publisher ensures that best practices are maintained at all stages of publication and works with editors, authors, and reviewers to handle cases of misconduct such as plagiarism, fraudulent data, or unethical research practices. The publisher is committed to maintaining editorial independence and upholding the integrity of the scholarly record.