Publication Ethics

Buletin Dharmas Andalas (BDA) is committed to upholding the highest standards of publication ethics, ensuring transparency, integrity, and academic excellence in all aspects of scholarly publishing. The journal follows the ethical principles established by COPE (Committee on Publication Ethics), ICMJE (International Committee of Medical Journal Editors), and WAME (World Association of Medical Editors). This policy applies to all stakeholders, including authors, editors, reviewers, and the publisher, to maintain the credibility and trustworthiness of the scientific record.

1. Ethical Responsibilities of Authors

Authors submitting to Buletin Dharmas Andalas (BDA) must adhere to the following ethical principles:

1.1. Originality and Plagiarism

  • Authors must submit only original works and must properly cite all sources that influence their research.
  • Manuscripts found to contain plagiarism, self-plagiarism, redundant publication, or falsified data will be immediately rejected or retracted.
  • All submissions are screened using plagiarism detection software before peer review.

1.2. Authorship and Contributorship

  • Authorship must be limited to individuals who have made substantial contributions to:
    • The research conception, design, or execution.
    • Drafting or critically revising the manuscript.
    • Final approval of the published work.
  • Individuals who do not meet authorship criteria should be acknowledged under “Contributors” instead.
  • Any changes to the author list after submission (adding, removing, or changing author order) must be formally requested and approved by all authors.

1.3. Data Integrity and Research Misconduct

  • Authors must ensure that data are accurately presented without manipulation, fabrication, or falsification.
  • Raw data, experimental records, and statistical analysis should be made available upon request.
  • If errors are discovered post-publication, authors must promptly notify the editor for corrections or retractions.

1.4. Conflict of Interest Disclosure

  • Authors must disclose any financial, institutional, or personal conflicts of interest that may influence their work.
  • If a conflict of interest is identified after publication, corrective actions may be taken, including issuing a conflict-of-interest statement or retraction.

1.5. Ethical Research Involving Humans and Animals

  • Research involving human participants must comply with the Declaration of Helsinki and be approved by an institutional ethics committee.
  • Studies involving animals must follow international ethical guidelines for the humane treatment of animals.
  • Authors must state informed consent procedures for human participants and ensure anonymity where applicable.

2. Ethical Responsibilities of Editors

The Editor-in-Chief and the Editorial Board are responsible for ensuring the quality, integrity, and academic merit of published content. Editors must:

2.1. Editorial Independence and Decision-Making

  • Editorial decisions are based solely on academic merit, originality, and contribution to the field.
  • The editorial process is free from commercial or political influence.
  • Editors must avoid making decisions where they have a conflict of interest with the authors or institutions involved.

2.2. Confidentiality and Fair Handling of Submissions

  • Editors must maintain strict confidentiality regarding submitted manuscripts.
  • Manuscripts should not be shared, discussed, or disclosed outside of the editorial and review process.
  • Editors must ensure that peer reviewers remain anonymous and maintain professional objectivity.

2.3. Handling Allegations of Research Misconduct

  • The journal follows COPE guidelines for addressing:
    • Plagiarism and redundant publication
    • Data falsification or fabrication
    • Unethical research practices
    • Undisclosed conflicts of interest
  • If misconduct is detected before publication, the manuscript will be rejected.
  • If misconduct is discovered post-publication, the journal may issue a correction, retraction, or an expression of concern.

3. Ethical Responsibilities of Peer Reviewers

Peer reviewers play a critical role in maintaining scholarly integrity and ensuring rigorous academic assessment. Reviewers must:

3.1. Objectivity and Constructive Criticism

  • Reviews should be unbiased, constructive, and based on academic merit.
  • Personal criticism of the author is strictly prohibited.

3.2. Confidentiality and Ethical Conduct

  • Reviewers must maintain strict confidentiality and must not discuss, share, or use unpublished manuscripts for personal advantage.
  • If a reviewer identifies a conflict of interest, they must decline the review.

3.3. Ethical Reporting and Misconduct Awareness

  • Reviewers should report any suspected ethical violations (e.g., plagiarism, conflicts of interest, data fabrication).
  • If research misconduct is suspected, the journal will investigate the claims following COPE guidelines.

4. Conflict of Interest Policy

A conflict of interest arises when an author, editor, or reviewer has financial, personal, institutional, or professional relationships that could influence their objectivity.

  • Authors must fully disclose potential conflicts when submitting their manuscripts.
  • Editors and reviewers must recuse themselves from handling manuscripts where they have conflicts of interest.
  • Undisclosed conflicts of interest that are discovered after publication may lead to a correction or retraction.

5. Plagiarism and Redundant Publication Policy

  • BDA has zero tolerance for plagiarism, self-plagiarism, or duplicate publication.
  • All manuscripts are checked using plagiarism detection software.
  • If plagiarism is identified:
    • Minor cases: Authors will be asked to revise and properly attribute sources.
    • Major cases: The manuscript will be rejected immediately, and the author's institution may be notified.

6. Retractions, Corrections, and Editorial Expressions of Concern

BDA follows COPE guidelines for corrections and retractions.

6.1. Corrections

  • If an article contains minor errors (e.g., typographical errors or misinterpretation of minor data), a correction notice will be issued.

6.2. Retractions

  • Retractions are issued in cases of serious ethical violations, plagiarism, data fabrication, or duplicate publication.
  • A formal retraction notice will be published, detailing the reason for retraction.

6.3. Editorial Expressions of Concern

  • If serious concerns are raised but the investigation is ongoing, an expression of concern may be published to inform readers.

7. Open Access and Licensing Policy

BDA is an open-access journal, meaning all content is freely available without subscription fees.

  • Published articles are licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0).
  • Authors retain copyright ownership while allowing non-commercial sharing and adaptations of their work.

8. Ethical Compliance and Reporting

To ensure compliance with publication ethics, BDA encourages:

  • Authors to seek institutional ethics approval when required.
  • Readers and scholars to report ethical concerns or misconduct to the journal.