Publishing Ethics
Selcuk Journal of Science is committed to upholding the highest standards of publication ethics and integrity. The journal strictly adheres to the guidelines and principles set forth by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE).

These standards apply to all parties involved in the publication process—authors, editors, reviewers, and the publisher. The journal promotes a culture of honesty, accountability, transparency, and respect in all editorial and academic communications.

Duties of the Publisher
The publisher safeguards the integrity and permanence of the scientific record by ensuring that all published content remains accessible, citable, and unaltered except in cases where ethical corrections are warranted. Editorial independence is fully guaranteed, and all editorial decisions are protected from commercial interests or external pressures. The publisher actively supports editors and reviewers in addressing ethical concerns by providing procedural, legal, and technical assistance where needed. Furthermore, the publisher offers clear guidance on issues of publication ethics and research integrity to all stakeholders involved in the editorial process. In cases of suspected misconduct, the publisher collaborates with institutions, funding bodies, and relevant authorities to conduct transparent and thorough investigations.

Duties of Editors
Editors are responsible for ensuring an impartial and timely peer review process for all submissions. Editorial decisions must be based solely on the scholarly quality, originality, and relevance of the work, without influence from external or commercial interests. Editors must maintain the confidentiality of all submitted manuscripts and peer review communications throughout the evaluation process. They are required to disclose and appropriately manage any conflicts of interest that may arise. In cases of ethical misconduct—such as plagiarism, data fabrication, or authorship manipulation—editors must take appropriate corrective action, including issuing retractions or corrections where necessary. Editors also play a critical role in fostering ethical awareness and ensuring adherence to internationally accepted standards, including those established by COPE and ICMJE.

Duties of Reviewers
Reviewers play a fundamental role in upholding the quality and credibility of the scientific record. They are expected to provide objective, constructive, and timely evaluations of submitted manuscripts. The confidentiality of both the manuscript and the review process must be strictly maintained. Reviewers must avoid any personal or professional biases, and disclose any potential conflicts of interest to the editorial team. If reviewers identify ethical issues such as plagiarism, duplicate publication, or data concerns, they should promptly report them to the editor. Throughout the peer review process, reviewers must act with fairness, professionalism, and integrity.

Duties of Authors
Authors are expected to ensure that all submitted work is original, factually accurate, and not under simultaneous consideration by another journal. All sources, data, and contributions must be properly cited and acknowledged. Authors are required to disclose all relevant funding sources, institutional or ethical approvals, and any potential conflicts of interest. For studies involving human participants or animal subjects, appropriate ethics committee approval must be obtained and clearly stated within the manuscript. Following publication, authors must promptly notify the journal of any significant errors or inaccuracies and cooperate fully in issuing corrections or retractions if necessary. All authors must comply with the authorship, data transparency, and ethical reporting guidelines outlined by COPE and the ICMJE.

Misconduct and Resolution
Suspected ethical violations—such as plagiarism, data fabrication, or authorship manipulation—are investigated in accordance with COPE’s flowcharts and recommendations. The journal reserves the right to reject, retract, or correct any submission or published article found to breach ethical standards.

Use of AI Tools
If generative AI (e.g., ChatGPT) is used in the preparation of a manuscript (for language polishing, summarization, etc.), it must be transparently declared in a dedicated section before the references. AI tools may not be listed as authors.

Reference Guidelines
This journal recognizes and follows the publication ethics frameworks of:

COPE – Committee on Publication Ethics

ICMJE – International Committee of Medical Journal Editors

Authors, reviewers, and editors are expected to familiarize themselves with these international guidelines and apply them throughout the submission and review process.