The EPH - International Journal of Humanities and Social Science (IJHSS) adheres to the ethical principles and best-practice guidelines established by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE). The journal is committed to maintaining the highest standards of integrity, transparency, accountability, and ethical responsibility throughout the editorial, peer review, and publication processes.

In alignment with COPE’s Core Practices, the journal periodically reviews and updates its editorial and publication policies to ensure continuous improvement in academic quality and ethical compliance. Feedback from authors, reviewers, editors, and editorial board members is actively encouraged to strengthen publication standards and enhance research integrity.

All manuscripts submitted to the journal undergo a rigorous double-blind peer review process in accordance with recognized international publishing standards. Reviews are conducted by qualified editorial board members and independent subject-matter experts with appropriate academic credentials and research expertise. Editorial evaluations are also performed to ensure clarity, technical accuracy, formatting consistency, and compliance with scholarly and ethical requirements. Minor technical, grammatical, or language corrections may be applied where necessary to improve readability without altering the intellectual content of the work.

Research Misconduct Policy

The journal follows COPE guidelines when addressing allegations or suspicions of research misconduct. Research misconduct includes, but is not limited to:

• Duplicate submission or redundant publication
• Plagiarism or improper reuse of text, data, figures, or ideas without appropriate citation
• Data fabrication, falsification, or manipulation
• Citation manipulation or unethical authorship practices
• Undisclosed conflicts of interest

When a concern is raised by reviewers, editors, readers, or third parties, the editorial office conducts an initial assessment in accordance with COPE flowcharts and established procedures. Authors are formally contacted and provided with an opportunity to respond and supply supporting documentation where necessary.

If errors are confirmed, appropriate corrective measures may be implemented, including publication of corrections, expressions of concern, or retractions. If authors fail to provide a satisfactory explanation or if the integrity of the research cannot be verified, the manuscript may be rejected. In cases involving published articles, formal retraction or other corrective notices may be issued.

In situations where disputes remain unresolved or authors do not respond, the matter may be referred to the authors’ affiliated institutions or relevant authorities, in line with COPE best practices.

Authorship Changes Policy

The journal follows COPE guidance regarding authorship and contributorship when managing requests for changes in authorship. Requests may be made either prior to publication or after publication and may involve:

• Addition of an author
• Removal of an author
• Change in corresponding author
• Modification of author order

All authorship change requests must be submitted in writing with a clear justification. Written consent from all listed authors, including those being added or removed, is mandatory before any changes are approved.

If unanimous agreement is obtained, the requested change will be implemented. If consensus cannot be achieved, the manuscript or published article may be placed on hold until the issue is resolved. In post-publication cases where disputes persist, the matter may be referred to the authors’ affiliated institutions for investigation.

The EPH - International Journal of Humanities and Social Science (IJHSS) remains committed to protecting the integrity of the scholarly record and ensuring ethical, responsible, and transparent academic publishing practices.

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