Conflict of Interest Policy

The Journal of Studies in Language, Culture, and Society (JSLCS) is committed to upholding the highest standards of integrity, transparency, and impartiality in its editorial and peer review processes. This policy aims to prevent potential conflicts of interest and ensure fair and unbiased decision-making.

1. Publishing by Editors and Reviewers

  • Editors and reviewers of JSLCS may submit their work to the journal, but their submissions will undergo a rigorous double-blind peer review process handled independently.

  • A different editor with no professional or personal connection to the submitting editor or reviewer will oversee the editorial process. The submitting editor or reviewer will not have any influence on the decision-making process.

  • Editors and reviewers submitting their work must disclose their role in the journal at the time of submission.

2. Submission by an Author at the Same Institution as One of the Editors

  • Authors affiliated with the same institution as an editor must disclose this information during the submission process.

  • To ensure fairness, the manuscript will be assigned to an editor from a different institution, and no editor from the same institution as the author will be involved in the decision-making process.

3. Submission by a Family Member of an Editor or by an Author Whose Relationship with an Editor Might Create the Perception of Bias

  • Submissions from a family member of an editor or from an author with a close personal or professional relationship (e.g., spouse, partner, close collaborator, former advisor/student) with an editor must be declared at the time of submission.

  • To prevent any perceived bias, the submission will be handled by an independent editor with no connection to the author or the conflicted editor.

  • The journal may also involve external reviewers or an independent editorial board member to ensure an unbiased evaluation.

4. Managing Conflicts of Interest in Peer Review

  • Reviewers must disclose any potential conflicts of interest before accepting an invitation to review a manuscript. If a reviewer has a direct personal, professional, or financial relationship with the author(s) or their institution, they must decline the review request.

  • Editors must ensure that reviewers have no conflicts of interest with the authors whose manuscripts they evaluate.

  • Editors must recuse themselves from handling manuscripts authored by colleagues from the same institution, close collaborators, or individuals with whom they have a personal or financial relationship.

5. Disclosure and Transparency

  • Authors, reviewers, and editors must disclose any financial, professional, or personal conflicts of interest that could influence the research or editorial process.

  • If an undisclosed conflict of interest is discovered after publication, the journal may take corrective actions, including publishing an editorial note, issuing a correction, or retracting the article if necessary.

6. Editorial Independence

  • The editorial team ensures that all decisions regarding manuscript acceptance or rejection are based solely on scholarly merit, originality, and relevance to the journal’s scope.

  • The journal upholds an unbiased editorial process, free from undue influence by authors, institutions, sponsors, or external entities.