Publication Ethics and Malpractice Statement

Publication Ethics and Malpractice Statement

Publication Ethics and Malpractice Statement

General Principles

The journal “Psychological Journal” adheres to high standards of publication ethics and ensures the quality and transparency of scholarly publications at all stages of the editorial process.

The journal follows the principles and guidelines of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), including:

  • COPE Code of Conduct and Best Practice Guidelines for Journal Editors
  • COPE Code of Conduct for Journal Publishers

All participants in the publication process (authors, editors, reviewers, and the publisher) are responsible for maintaining academic integrity and preventing misconduct, including:

  • plagiarism and self-plagiarism
  • data fabrication and falsification
  • duplicate publication
  • unethical authorship practices

Editorial decisions are independent of commercial influences (such as advertising or sponsorship).

Duties of Editors

Publication Decisions

The editor makes decisions regarding the publication of submitted manuscripts based on:

  • scientific quality
  • originality
  • relevance of the research
  • results of double-blind peer review

Decisions are made without discrimination of any kind.

Confidentiality

The editorial team ensures full confidentiality of submitted materials. Information about a manuscript is not disclosed to third parties except:

  • the authors
  • the reviewers
  • the publisher (when necessary)

Conflict of Interest

Editors must:

  • avoid conflicts of interest
  • withdraw from handling manuscripts in cases where such conflicts arise

Unpublished materials must not be used without the author’s written consent.

Response to Ethical Issues

In cases of suspected or confirmed misconduct, the journal may:

  • reject the manuscript
  • publish corrections (erratum)
  • issue an expression of concern
  • retract the article

In serious cases, the journal may notify the author’s institution.

Duties of Reviewers

Reviewers must:

  • provide objective, reasoned, and timely evaluations
  • maintain confidentiality
  • report any suspected plagiarism or ethical violations
  • recommend relevant sources

Reviewers must decline to review manuscripts in cases of:

  • conflict of interest
  • insufficient expertise

Any misuse of confidential information is considered a serious breach of ethics.

Duties of Authors

Submission Standards

Authors must:

  • submit original research
  • accurately present results
  • ensure reproducibility

Plagiarism and Originality

The journal applies a zero-tolerance policy toward plagiarism.

Manuscripts must:

  • be original
  • not have been previously published
  • not be submitted simultaneously to other journals

Authorship

Authorship is limited to individuals who have made a significant contribution to:

  • the conception
  • the research
  • the analysis
  • the writing

All co-authors must approve the final version of the manuscript.

Data and Transparency

Authors must:

  • retain primary research data
  • provide data upon editorial request
  • include a Data Availability Statement

Ethical Standards of Research

Research involving:

  • human participants
  • animals
  • personal or confidential data

must comply with international ethical standards and the legislation of Ukraine and must be supported by appropriate ethical approval.

Conflict of Interest

Authors must disclose all potential conflicts of interest.

Corrections of Errors

If an author identifies a significant error in their work, they must promptly notify the editorial office.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) Policy

The journal allows the use of AI tools for:

  • language editing
  • text structuring

The following is prohibited:

  • generating research results without verification
  • fabricating references
  • submitting fully AI-generated manuscripts

Authors must:

  • disclose the use of AI
  • take full responsibility for the content

AI tools cannot be listed as authors.

Editors and reviewers are prohibited from uploading manuscripts to external AI systems that may compromise confidentiality.

Integrity and Retraction Policy

The journal maintains the integrity of the scholarly record through:

  • publication of corrections
  • retraction of articles
  • informing readers

Retracted articles remain available online with clear marking.

Disclaimer

The editorial board is not responsible for:

  • the opinions of authors
  • the content of published articles

Responsibility for the accuracy of the data lies solely with the authors.

Peer Review

All manuscripts undergo double-blind peer review.

Publication decisions are based on reviewers’ evaluations and editorial judgment.