Members of the editorial board serving in the SDU-SD Journal are selected from researchers who are both competent in their field and appropriate to the journal’s scope. The selected editorial board members have specific responsibilities. These responsibilities, in compliance with the COPE (Committee on Publication Ethics) principles, are outlined below.

Publication Decisions and Impartiality

The Editor is responsible for deciding which manuscripts submitted to the journal will be published. These decisions are made based on the manuscript’s originality, scientific contribution, clarity, and alignment with the journal’s scope, independently of the authors’ race, gender, religious beliefs, ethnic origin, or political views. The Editor also takes into account legal requirements such as defamation, copyright infringement, and plagiarism.

Confidentiality and Information Protection

The Editor and the editorial team share information about submitted manuscripts only with those involved in the process—namely the author(s), reviewers, editors, and publisher. This information is not shared with third parties, and confidentiality is strictly maintained.

Ensuring Ethical Standards

The Editor acts in accordance with the journal’s publishing policies, international ethical standards, and COPE guidelines. The Editor verifies that research involving humans and animals has obtained ethical committee approval and rejects any manuscript lacking such approvals.

Protection of Intellectual Property Rights

The Editor is responsible for protecting the intellectual property rights of all published articles. In the event of potential rights violations, the Editor defends the rights of both the journal and the author(s) and takes all necessary measures.

Management of Conflicts of Interest

The Editor identifies any conflicts of interest that may arise among reviewers, authors, or other stakeholders and implements measures to preserve the process’s impartiality. In cases of personal conflict, the Editor recuses themselves from the decision-making process.

Management of the Peer-Review Process

The Editor ensures that manuscripts undergo objective and constructive evaluation by at least two independent reviewers under a double-blind system. The Editor also arranges for additional reviewers as needed and ensures that all reviewers adhere to ethical standards.

Transparency and Accountability in the Publication Process

The Editor ensures that the publication process remains transparent and accountable. Publication decisions, procedures, and ethical practices are carried out openly and are subject to review when necessary.

Handling Complaints and Feedback

The Editor provides clear and informative responses to complaints from reviewers, authors, and readers. Criticisms of published works are taken seriously, and, when required, the Editor manages correction, retraction, or clarification procedures.