Publication Ethics

Publication Ethics and Publication Malpractice Statement

Bhumidevi: Journal of Fashion Design

Bhumidevi: Journal of Fashion Design is dedicated to maintaining the highest standards of ethical conduct throughout the publishing process. Our publication ethics and malpractice statement are rigorously guided by the principles and best practice guidelines of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE). This journal requires all parties—Authors, Editors, and Reviewers—to adhere to these ethical standards.

1. Duties of Authors

Authors must ensure their submitted work adheres to the following ethical principles:

  • Reporting Standards: Authors must present an accurate and objective account of the research performed. The manuscript must contain sufficient detail and references to permit replication by others.

  • Originality and Plagiarism: Authors must ensure their work is entirely original. If the work or words of others have been used, they must be appropriately cited or quoted. Plagiarism (including self-plagiarism/redundant publication) in all its forms constitutes unethical publishing behaviour and is unacceptable.

  • Multiple, Redundant, or Concurrent Publication: Authors should not submit the same manuscript to more than one journal concurrently. Submitting the same research to more than one journal is considered unethical.

  • Acknowledgement of Sources: Proper acknowledgment of the work of others must always be given. Sources of funding and significant contributions must be disclosed.

  • Authorship: Authorship should be limited to those who have made a significant contribution to the conception, design, execution, or interpretation of the reported study. All those who have made significant contributions should be listed as co-authors.

  • Disclosure and Conflicts of Interest: Authors must disclose any financial or other substantive conflict of interest that might influence the results or interpretation of their manuscript.

2. Duties of Editors

The Editors of Bhumidevi: Journal of Fashion Design are responsible for deciding which articles should be published, acting in accordance with the COPE Code of Conduct and Best Practice Guidelines:

  • Fair Play and Editorial Independence: Editors evaluate manuscripts exclusively on their academic merit (importance, originality, validity, clarity) and relevance to the journal's scope, without regard to the authors' race, gender, sexual orientation, ethnic origin, religious belief, or institutional affiliation.

  • Confidentiality: Editors and editorial staff must not disclose any information about a submitted manuscript to anyone other than the corresponding author, reviewers, potential reviewers, and the publisher, as appropriate.

  • Disclosure and Conflicts of Interest: Editors will not use unpublished information from a submitted manuscript for their own research purposes without the authors' explicit written consent. Editors must recuse themselves from considering manuscripts in which they have conflicts of interest.

  • Decision on Publication: Editors ensure that all published articles have been subject to a rigorous peer-review process. The Editor's decision is final and informed by the reviewers' reports.

3. Duties of Reviewers (Peer Reviewers)

Reviewers assist the Editor in making editorial decisions and may help authors improve the paper:

  • Contribution to Editorial Decisions: Reviewers should assist in the peer review process by providing objective, clear, and well-supported feedback in a timely manner.

  • Confidentiality: Any manuscripts received for review must be treated as confidential documents. They must not be shown to or discussed with others, except as authorized by the Editor.

  • Standards of Objectivity: Reviews should be conducted objectively, and observations should be clearly formulated with supporting arguments. Personal criticism of the author is inappropriate.

  • Disclosure and Conflict of Interest: Reviewers should decline to review manuscripts where they have conflicts of interest resulting from competitive, collaborative, or other relationships/connections with any of the authors or institutions connected to the papers.

4. Handling of Unethical Publishing Behaviour (Malpractice)

Bhumidevi: Journal of Fashion Design takes all allegations of research and publication misconduct seriously. Should a journal staff member or third party be made aware of a breach of publication ethics, the journal will follow the COPE flowcharts to investigate and resolve the case.

Actions taken against potential malpractice may include:

  1. Informing the author(s) or reviewer(s) of the nature of the misconduct.

  2. A formal withdrawal or retraction of the published paper, with a retraction notice clearly stating the reason for the action.

  3. Imposing a time-limited ban on the author(s) from making future submissions to the journal.

  4. Notifying the author's institution or funding body.