Publication Ethics and Research Integrity

 

 

This Publication Ethics and Research Integrity Statement has been developed in accordance with the principles and guidelines of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).  Youth in Central and Eastern Europe adheres to internationally recognized standards of publication ethics in order to ensure scientific integrity, transparency of the editorial process, fairness in peer review, and the highest quality of published research.

1. Editorial Responsibilities

The Editorial Team of Youth in Central and Eastern Europe is responsible for ensuring the integrity, transparency, and quality of the editorial and publishing process. Editorial decisions are based exclusively on the scientific merit, originality, methodological quality, and relevance of submitted manuscripts to the journal's scope, regardless of the authors' nationality, gender, ethnic origin, political views, religious beliefs, or institutional affiliation.

For multi-author manuscripts, the Editorial Team requires a clear statement describing the contribution of each author. The corresponding author is responsible for providing accurate information regarding authorship, institutional affiliations, and individual contributions.

The Editorial Team investigates all suspected cases of publication misconduct in accordance with the recommendations of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).

Publication misconduct includes, but is not limited to:

  • Ghostwriting;
  • Guest Authorship;
  • Plagiarism;
  • Self-plagiarism;
  • Data fabrication or falsification;
  • Peer-review manipulation;
  • Citation manipulation.

Where publication misconduct is confirmed, the Editorial Team may reject the manuscript, retract the published article, publish a correction or expression of concern, and notify the relevant institutions in accordance with COPE recommendations.

2. Reviewer Responsibilities

Reviewers play a crucial role in maintaining the scientific quality and integrity of the journal. They are expected to conduct reviews objectively, fairly, and confidentially.

All manuscripts received for review are treated as confidential documents and must not be disclosed to third parties without the permission of the Editorial Office.

Reviewers are expected to:

  • provide objective, constructive and unbiased evaluations;
  • complete reviews within the agreed timeframe;
  • disclose any actual or potential conflicts of interest;
  • evaluate manuscripts solely on their scientific quality and originality;
  • identify possible cases of plagiarism, self-plagiarism, data manipulation or other forms of publication misconduct;
  • refrain from using unpublished information contained in manuscripts for personal research or professional advantage.

Reviewers should decline invitations to review manuscripts whenever personal, professional, financial, or collaborative relationships with the authors may compromise their impartiality.

3. Author Responsibilities

Authors submitting manuscripts to Youth in Central and Eastern Europe are expected to ensure that their work is original, scientifically sound, transparent, and relevant to the journal's scope.

Authors bear full responsibility for the content of their manuscripts and the accuracy of the reported research findings.

Authors are expected to:

  • submit only original manuscripts that have not been previously published or simultaneously submitted to another journal;
  • present research findings honestly, without fabrication, falsification, or selective reporting of data;
  • appropriately acknowledge and cite all sources used in preparing the manuscript;
  • disclose all sources of research funding and any potential conflicts of interest;
  • obtain all necessary ethical approvals and informed consent where required by applicable regulations or the nature of the research;
  • cooperate fully with the Editorial Team during the peer-review process;
  • promptly notify the journal if significant errors are identified after publication.

The Editorial Team does not consider manuscripts that have already been published in whole or in substantial part, or manuscripts falling outside the journal's scope.

4. Authorship, Ghostwriting, Guest Authorship and Plagiarism

Youth in Central and Eastern Europe follows the principles of transparent authorship established by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).

All listed authors must have made a substantial contribution to the conception, design, execution, analysis, or preparation of the manuscript and must approve the final version before submission.

For multi-author manuscripts, the corresponding author is responsible for providing an accurate description of each author's contribution.

The Editorial Team considers the following practices to constitute publication misconduct:

  • Ghostwriting – failure to disclose an individual who made a substantial contribution to the manuscript.
  • Guest Authorship – listing an individual as an author despite little or no contribution to the work.
  • Plagiarism – presenting another person's ideas, data, figures, or text as one's own without appropriate acknowledgment.
  • Self-plagiarism – reusing previously published material without proper citation or disclosure.

All submitted manuscripts may be screened using plagiarism detection software.

Where publication misconduct is identified, the Editorial Team will act in accordance with COPE guidelines, which may include rejection of the manuscript, publication of corrections, retraction of the article, or notification of relevant institutions.

5. Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Authors may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools, including ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, Copilot, or similar systems, solely as supportive tools during manuscript preparation, particularly for language editing, translation, or improving readability.

Artificial intelligence tools cannot be listed as authors or co-authors because they do not meet internationally accepted authorship criteria.

Authors are required to disclose any substantial use of AI tools during manuscript preparation. Such disclosure should be included in the Acknowledgements section or another section specified by the Editorial Office.

Regardless of the extent of AI use, authors remain fully responsible for the accuracy, originality, interpretation of the results, and overall integrity of the submitted work.

AI tools must not be used to fabricate, falsify, manipulate, or generate research data, scientific images, or research findings in a manner that could mislead readers.

6. Retractions and Corrections

To ensure scientific integrity and maintain the reliability of the published record, Youth in Central and Eastern Europe follows the recommendations of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) regarding corrections and retractions.

The journal may publish:

  • Erratum – to correct errors introduced during the editorial or publishing process.
  • Corrigendum – to correct errors identified by the authors that do not affect the main findings or conclusions of the article.
  • Expression of Concern – when serious concerns regarding the integrity of a publication exist but the investigation has not yet been completed.
  • Retraction – in cases of plagiarism, fabrication or falsification of data, peer-review manipulation, serious breaches of publication ethics, or other circumstances that significantly undermine the reliability of the published work.

Retracted articles remain part of the permanent scholarly record but are clearly identified as Retracted, together with the reason for the retraction.

All decisions regarding corrections or retractions are made by the Editor-in-Chief following an appropriate investigation and in accordance with the COPE Retraction Guidelines.

7. Publication Ethics Complaints and Investigation Procedure

The Editorial Team of Youth in Central and Eastern Europe treats all allegations of publication misconduct with due diligence, confidentiality, fairness, and impartiality.

All reports concerning suspected plagiarism, data fabrication, peer-review manipulation, inappropriate authorship, or other forms of publication misconduct are investigated by the Editor-in-Chief in accordance with the guidelines of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).

Depending on the nature of the case, the Editorial Team may:

  • request explanations or additional documentation from the authors;
  • consult reviewers or independent experts;
  • contact the authors' institutions or research funders;
  • publish a correction, an Expression of Concern, or retract the article;
  • reject the manuscript or decline future submissions from authors responsible for serious breaches of publication ethics.

Authors are given an opportunity to respond before a final editorial decision is made.

In all cases, the Editorial Team follows the principles of scientific integrity, fairness, transparency, and the recommendations of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).

8. Appeals

Authors have the right to appeal editorial decisions concerning manuscript rejection or actions resulting from violations of publication ethics. Appeals must be submitted in writing to the Editor-in-Chief together with a detailed justification.

Each appeal is considered individually in accordance with the principles of fairness, transparency, and the recommendations of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE). The decision made after the appeal procedure is final.

9. Compliance with COPE Guidelines

Youth in Central and Eastern Europe follows the principles and recommendations developed by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and continuously monitors updates to international standards of publication ethics.

In matters not explicitly covered by this Publication Ethics Statement, the Editorial Team acts in accordance with the current COPE Core Practices, Ethical Guidelines for Peer Reviewers, and COPE Retraction Guidelines.

10. Conflict of Interest

Authors, reviewers, and members of the Editorial Team are required to disclose any actual, potential, or perceived conflicts of interest that could influence the objectivity, integrity, or transparency of the editorial and peer-review process.

Conflicts of interest may include, but are not limited to:

  • financial relationships;
  • employment or institutional affiliations;
  • research funding;
  • personal or family relationships;
  • academic collaboration or competition;
  • political or ideological commitments that may influence editorial judgement.

Where a conflict of interest is identified, the Editorial Team will take appropriate measures to ensure the independence, impartiality, and fairness of editorial decisions and the peer-review process.

Failure to disclose relevant conflicts of interest may result in rejection of the manuscript, publication of a correction, or retraction of the published article, depending on the nature and severity of the omission.

Kontakt

Questions concerning publication ethics, suspected publication misconduct or requests for additional information should be addressed to the Editor-in-Chief via the Editorial Office of Youth in Central and Eastern Europe.