SOCIETAS: Studies of Community Service and Sustainable Communities is committed to upholding the highest standards of publication ethics and academic integrity. This publication ethics policy establishes the responsibilities of authors, editors, reviewers, and the publisher to ensure that all manuscripts are handled transparently, fairly, and responsibly.

1. Ethical Responsibilities of Authors

Authors submitting manuscripts to SOCIETAS are expected to:

• Submit original work that has not been previously published and is not under consideration by another journal.
• Ensure that the manuscript is free from plagiarism, data fabrication, data falsification, and other forms of research misconduct.
• Provide accurate and honest reporting of research methods, data, findings, and conclusions.
• Properly acknowledge and cite all sources, ideas, and materials used in the manuscript.
• Ensure that all listed authors have made substantial contributions to the work and have approved the submitted version.
• Disclose funding sources, conflicts of interest, and any relevant ethical approvals.
• Obtain informed consent and protect the privacy and confidentiality of participants and community beneficiaries, where applicable.
• Cooperate with editors in correcting errors or addressing concerns about the integrity of their work.

2. Ethical Responsibilities of Editors

Editors of SOCIETAS are responsible for:

• Evaluating manuscripts based on academic quality, originality, relevance, and contribution to the journal's focus and scope.
• Making editorial decisions fairly and objectively, without discrimination based on personal characteristics, institutional affiliation, or beliefs.
• Maintaining the confidentiality of submitted manuscripts and editorial communications.
• Selecting qualified reviewers with relevant expertise and managing potential conflicts of interest.
• Ensuring that the peer review process is conducted consistently, transparently, and in accordance with the journal's policies.
• Taking appropriate action when allegations of misconduct, plagiarism, or ethical violations arise.
• Issuing corrections, expressions of concern, or retractions when justified by the evidence and applicable editorial procedures.

3. Ethical Responsibilities of Reviewers

Reviewers are expected to:

• Provide objective, constructive, and evidence-based evaluations of submitted manuscripts.
• Maintain strict confidentiality and not share or use unpublished material for personal advantage.
• Identify relevant published work that has not been cited by the authors, where appropriate.
• Notify the editor of any substantial similarity between the manuscript under review and other known publications.
• Decline review assignments when they have conflicts of interest or lack the relevant expertise.
• Submit review reports within the agreed timeframe or inform the editor if additional time is needed.
• Respect the double-blind peer review process and avoid attempts to identify or contact authors directly about the manuscript.

4. Peer Review and Editorial Independence

SOCIETAS applies a double-blind peer review process in which the identities of authors and reviewers are concealed from each other. Editorial decisions are based on the quality, originality, relevance, and scholarly contribution of the manuscript. Editors are expected to exercise independent judgment and manage any actual or potential conflicts of interest.

5. Plagiarism and Research Misconduct

SOCIETAS does not tolerate plagiarism, self-plagiarism that misrepresents previously published work as new, data fabrication, data falsification, duplicate submission, or other forms of publication misconduct. Submitted manuscripts may be screened using appropriate similarity-checking tools.

If potential misconduct is identified, the editorial team will assess the available evidence and may contact the authors for clarification. Appropriate actions may include rejection, requests for correction, or retraction of a published article, depending on the nature and seriousness of the case.

6. Conflicts of Interest

Authors, editors, and reviewers must disclose any financial, professional, personal, or institutional relationships that could reasonably be perceived as influencing their work or editorial judgment. Where a conflict of interest exists, appropriate measures must be taken to ensure an impartial review and decision-making process.

7. Human Participants and Community Engagement

Manuscripts involving human participants or community beneficiaries must demonstrate respect for dignity, rights, safety, and privacy. Authors should obtain informed consent where applicable and secure ethical approval from a relevant institution or authority when required. Community engagement activities should be conducted respectfully, with attention to local contexts, cultural values, and the potential risks and benefits to participants.

8. Corrections and Retractions

SOCIETAS is committed to maintaining the integrity of the scholarly record. If significant errors or ethical concerns are identified after publication, the journal may publish corrections, expressions of concern, or retractions, as appropriate. Such actions will be handled transparently and documented in accordance with the journal's editorial procedures.

9. Publisher's Responsibilities

The publisher supports the editorial team in maintaining publication integrity, preserving the scholarly record, and ensuring that journal policies are implemented consistently. The publisher does not interfere with editorial decisions based on academic merit and ethical considerations.

10. Commitment to Publication Integrity

All parties involved in the publication process are expected to uphold honesty, transparency, accountability, fairness, and respect. SOCIETAS may review and update this policy periodically to reflect developments in scholarly publishing standards and ethical practices.