Ethical Principles

The Quarterly of Experimental and Cognitive Psychology is committed to upholding the highest standards of publication ethics to maintain the integrity, transparency, and quality of the research it publishes. The journal adheres to the guidelines set forth by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and expects all parties involved in the publication process — authors, editors, reviewers, and the publisher — to act ethically and responsibly. Below is a detailed outline of the ethical principles and practices that guide our editorial process.

Responsibilities of Authors

Authors play a central role in maintaining the credibility and integrity of academic publishing. The following ethical responsibilities are expected of all authors submitting to the journal:

  1. Originality and Plagiarism

    • All submitted manuscripts must be original works of the authors.
    • Proper acknowledgment and citation of all sources, data, and materials used in the research are mandatory.
    • Plagiarism, including self-plagiarism (reuse of one's own previously published work without appropriate citation), is strictly prohibited. Manuscripts will be screened using iThenticate to ensure originality.

  2. Authorship Criteria

    • Authorship should be limited to individuals who have significantly contributed to the research design, data collection, analysis, or manuscript preparation.
    • All contributors who do not meet authorship criteria should be acknowledged appropriately.
    • The corresponding author is responsible for ensuring that all listed authors approve the manuscript and agree to its submission.

  3. Data Integrity and Transparency

    • Authors must ensure that data presented in the manuscript is accurate, complete, and free from fabrication, falsification, or selective reporting.
    • Raw data should be available upon request during the peer-review process or post-publication to verify findings.

  4. Conflict of Interest

    • Authors must disclose any financial, personal, or professional conflicts of interest that may influence the research or interpretation of results.
    • This includes funding sources, affiliations, or relationships that could be perceived as conflicts.

  5. Ethical Compliance

    • Research involving human participants, animals, or sensitive data must comply with ethical standards and obtain approval from appropriate ethics review boards.
    • A statement confirming ethical compliance and informed consent (where applicable) should be included in the manuscript.

  6. Multiple Submissions and Redundant Publication

    • Authors must not submit the same manuscript to more than one journal simultaneously.
    • Redundant or duplicate publication of the same research in different journals is unethical unless explicitly agreed upon by all parties and appropriately cited.

Responsibilities of Editors

Editors are entrusted with safeguarding the integrity of the journal and the peer-review process. Their responsibilities include:

  1. Editorial Independence and Fairness

    • Editorial decisions are made based on the scientific merit, originality, and relevance of submissions, without influence from personal biases or external pressures.
    • Editors must ensure a fair and unbiased review process for all submissions.

  2. Confidentiality

    • Editors must treat all submissions as confidential and must not disclose manuscript details to anyone outside the editorial team, reviewers, and publisher.

  3. Conflict of Interest

    • Editors must recuse themselves from handling manuscripts where they have a conflict of interest due to financial, professional, or personal relationships with the authors.

  4. Handling Ethical Violations

    • Editors are responsible for investigating and addressing ethical issues such as plagiarism, data fabrication, or authorship disputes.
    • Appropriate actions, including retraction or correction of published articles, will be taken when ethical breaches are identified.

  5. Transparency and Accountability

    • Editors should ensure that journal policies, submission guidelines, and review criteria are clearly communicated and consistently applied.
    • They are also responsible for publishing corrections, clarifications, or retractions as necessary.

Responsibilities of Reviewers

Reviewers play a crucial role in ensuring the quality and integrity of the research published in the journal. Their responsibilities include:

  1. Objective Evaluation

    • Reviews should be conducted objectively, focusing on the scientific content and quality of the manuscript.
    • Personal biases, criticisms, or unprofessional language are not acceptable.

  2. Confidentiality

    • Manuscripts under review must be treated as confidential. Reviewers must not share, discuss, or use the content of the manuscript for personal purposes.

  3. Conflict of Interest

    • Reviewers must disclose any conflicts of interest (financial, professional, or personal) that could influence their evaluation of the manuscript.
    • If a conflict exists, reviewers should recuse themselves from the review process.

  4. Timeliness

    • Reviewers are expected to provide their feedback within the agreed-upon timeframe.
    • If unable to meet the deadline or provide a thorough review, they should notify the editor promptly.

  5. Constructive Feedback

    • Reviewers should provide constructive, detailed, and evidence-based feedback to help authors improve the quality of their manuscript.
    • Criticism should be focused on the research content and methodology, not on the authors themselves.

Responsibilities of the Publisher

The publisher ensures that all aspects of the publication process are conducted ethically and transparently. Responsibilities include:

  1. Archiving and Accessibility

    • The publisher guarantees the long-term availability of published content through reliable archiving systems (e.g., Magiran, SID, Noormags, Civilica, Ensani).

  2. Addressing Ethical Concerns

    • The publisher collaborates with editors to investigate and resolve ethical issues, including publication misconduct, retractions, or disputes.

  3. Transparency and Communication

    • Clear communication of journal policies, including submission guidelines, peer-review processes, and APCs, is maintained to ensure author and reader trust.

Ethical Violations and Misconduct

The journal takes all forms of ethical violations seriously. Common issues include:

  1. Plagiarism: Detection using iThenticate.
  2. Data Fabrication/Falsification: Investigation through raw data verification.
  3. Authorship Disputes: Addressed in collaboration with all parties involved.
  4. Post-Publication Concerns: Errata, retractions, or expressions of concern will be issued as necessary to correct the academic record.

The journal follows COPE guidelines for investigating and addressing ethical misconduct.