Ethical Principles Policy

This statement outlines the ethical responsibilities of all parties involved in the publication process, including authors, editors, peer reviewers, and the publisher. It follows the COPE Best Practice Guidelines for Journal Editors.

Ethical Guidelines for Journal Publication

Publishing an article in a peer-reviewed MATCHA: Modern Approaches To Communication, Humanities, and Academia is a critical step in developing a credible and respected knowledge network. The quality of the published work reflects not only the authors but also the supporting institutions. Peer-reviewed articles are a cornerstone of the scientific method, which is why it is important to establish ethical standards for all involved in the publishing process: authors, editors, peer reviewers, publishers, and the scholarly community.

Akademi Merdeka, the publisher of this journal, takes its role in managing the publishing process seriously, ensuring that all ethical standards are upheld. The journal is committed to maintaining editorial independence from advertising, reprint sales, or other commercial interests. The Editorial Board also facilitates communication with other journals and publishers as necessary.

Publication Decisions

Editors of the MATCHA: Journal of Modern Approaches to Communication, Humanities, and Academia are responsible for deciding which submitted articles should be published, prioritizing the work’s relevance and importance to researchers and readers. Decisions are guided by the journal’s policies and legal considerations regarding libel, copyright infringement, and plagiarism. Editors may consult with other reviewers or editors as needed.

Fair Play

Editors evaluate submissions based solely on intellectual content, without regard to the authors' race, gender, sexual orientation, religious beliefs, ethnicity, nationality, or political views.

Confidentiality

The editor and editorial staff must treat all manuscript submissions as confidential, sharing information only with the corresponding author, reviewers, potential reviewers, other editorial advisers, and the publisher as necessary.

Disclosure and Conflicts of Interest

Unpublished material from submitted manuscripts must not be used in the editor’s own research without the author’s explicit written consent.

Duties of Reviewers

Contribution to Editorial Decisions

Peer review helps editors make informed decisions, and feedback may assist authors in improving their work.

Promptness

Reviewers who are unqualified to review a manuscript or unable to do so in a timely manner should inform the editor and withdraw from the review process.

Confidentiality

Manuscripts under review should be treated as confidential and not discussed with others except with the editor's permission.

Standards of Objectivity

Reviews should be conducted impartially, with critiques supported by clear arguments. Personal attacks are inappropriate.

Acknowledgment of Sources

Reviewers should identify relevant, uncited works. If they notice significant similarities between the manuscript and other publications, they should inform the editor.

Disclosure and Conflicts of Interest

Privileged information from peer review must remain confidential and should not be used for personal gain. Reviewers should recuse themselves if they have conflicts of interest with the authors or institutions involved in the manuscript.

Duties of Authors

Reporting Standards

Authors should present an accurate and objective account of their research. The paper should include sufficient detail and citations to allow others to replicate the work. Misrepresentation of data or findings is unethical.

Data Access and Retention

Authors should be prepared to provide the raw data for editorial review and, if possible, make it publicly accessible. They should retain the data for a reasonable period after publication.

Originality and Plagiarism

Authors must ensure their work is original and that they appropriately cite or quote any material from other sources.

Multiple, Redundant, or Concurrent Publication

Authors should not submit the same manuscript to multiple journals at the same time, as this is unethical.

Acknowledgment of Sources

Proper acknowledgment of other works is required. Authors should cite influential publications relevant to their research.

Authorship of the Paper

Only those who have made significant contributions to the research should be listed as authors. Others who contributed should be acknowledged appropriately. The corresponding author should ensure that all co-authors have approved the final version of the paper and consent to its submission.

Hazards and Human or Animal Subjects

If the research involves chemicals, procedures, or equipment that pose unusual hazards, the author must clearly state this in the manuscript.

Disclosure and Conflicts of Interest

Authors should disclose any financial or other conflicts of interest that might influence the results or interpretation of the manuscript. Funding sources should also be disclosed.

Fundamental Errors in Published Works

If an author discovers a significant error in their published work, they must promptly notify the editor or publisher and cooperate in correcting or retracting the paper.