Publication Ethics & Malpractice Statement

ETHICAL POLICY

Authors are expected to report their research findings and conclusions honestly, accurately, and transparently. Research misconduct undermines scholarly communication and may mislead readers, researchers, and practitioners. META: Journal of Science and Technological Education is committed to upholding high ethical standards in all stages of the publication process.

 

Research results

Fabrication, falsification, manipulation, or selective reporting of data intended to mislead or deceive, as well as the unauthorized use of data or research results belonging to others, are unethical practices. Research findings should be presented clearly and supported by appropriate evidence. Authors are encouraged to retain research data for a reasonable period after publication and to make such data available upon reasonable request, where appropriate. Exceptions may apply in cases involving confidentiality, privacy, intellectual property, or legal restrictions.

 

Authorship

Authorship should be limited to individuals who have made a substantial scholarly contribution to the conception, design, execution, or interpretation of the research. All contributors who meet the criteria for authorship should be listed as authors, while others who contributed in a more limited capacity should be acknowledged appropriately. Articles must include accurate and complete information regarding the authors’ institutional affiliations at the time the research was conducted.

 

Plagiarism

Plagiarism in any form, including the reproduction of text, ideas, data, or results without proper acknowledgment, is strictly prohibited. Self-plagiarism, redundant publication, and the submission of substantially similar manuscripts by the same authors without proper disclosure are also considered unethical practices. Authors must not submit the same manuscript to more than one journal simultaneously. Review articles may summarize previously published work but must do so with proper citation and original synthesis.

All manuscripts submitted to META: Journal of Science and Technological Education are screened for plagiarism using Turnitin/Thenticate. Plagiarism checks are conducted after acceptance prior to copyediting and, where necessary during the initial submission stage. A similarity index exceeding acceptable limits (excluding references, quotations, and properly cited material) may result in rejection. Manuscripts found to contain plagiarism will be rejected without further review.

 

Duplicate submission

The submission of the same manuscript to more than one journal at the same time is not permitted. Manuscripts identified as duplicate submissions will be rejected and removed from the review process.

 

Corrections and retractions

Authors are required to promptly inform the editors of any significant errors or inaccuracies discovered in their published work and to cooperate with the editorial team in issuing corrections or retractions where necessary.

Retractions will be issued by the journal under the following circumstances:

  • There is clear evidence that the findings are unreliable due to research misconduct (e.g., data fabrication or falsification) or significant unintentional error (e.g., miscalculation or methodological flaw);

  • The work has been previously published elsewhere without proper citation, permission, or justification;

  • The article contains plagiarism;

  • The research reported violates accepted ethical standards.

Errata or corrections will be published when:

  • A minor error is identified that does not invalidate the overall findings of the article;

  • There is an error in authorship, such as the omission of a qualified author or the inclusion of an individual who does not meet authorship criteria.

Misconduct also includes failure to comply with ethical and legal requirements, such as undisclosed conflicts of interest, breaches of confidentiality, lack of informed consent where required, or the misuse of research subjects or materials. Attempts to conceal misconduct or retaliate against individuals who report ethical concerns are also considered serious violations.

The primary responsibility for addressing research misconduct rests with the authors and their affiliated institutions. When potential misconduct is reported, the editorial team will conduct an initial assessment and, where appropriate, consult reviewers and the Managing Editor. If misconduct is confirmed, the journal may take appropriate actions, including issuing corrections or retractions, restricting future submissions for a defined period, and notifying relevant parties or institutions.

Minor ethical issues that do not warrant formal investigation may be addressed through editorial guidance, but they are nonetheless treated seriously and corrected where possible.

 

PUBLICATION ETHICS

a. META: Journal of Science and Technological Education publishes research conducted in accordance with accepted ethical and scholarly standards. Editorial review and double-anonymous peer review are applied to ensure academic quality, relevance, and integrity.

b. The editors and publisher recognize the importance of addressing ethical issues and the potential consequences of research misconduct.

c. In cases of suspected ethical violations or research misconduct, META: Journal of Science and Technological Education may temporarily remove the article from public access while requesting clarification from the author(s). Authors will be given a reasonable timeframe to respond. The Editorial Board will evaluate the response and make a final decision regarding the article.

d. META: Journal of Science and Technological Education is committed to transparency. Any corrections, clarifications, retractions, or apologies will be clearly indicated and published on the journal’s website.