Paper Selection and Publishing Process

Publishing Policy and Ethics

 Submission Acknowledgement

When you submit a manuscript online, you will receive a submission acknowledgment letter sent by the online system automatically. For email submission, the editor or editorial assistant sends an e-mail confirmation to the submission’s author within one to three working days. If you fail to receive this confirmation, please check your bulk email box or contact the editorial assistant.

 Peer Review Policy

a) Basic Review

The editor or editorial assistant determines whether the manuscript fits the journal’s focus and scope. Next, a check for the similarity rate is done using CrossCheck, powered by iThenticate. Any manuscripts out of the journal’s scope or containing plagiarism, including self-plagiarism, are rejected.

b) Double Blind Peer Review

Journal of Ethnic and Cultural Studies upholds sector standards of international excellence in academic publishing. This journal maintains a double-blind peer review policy, in which both the reviewers and the author/s are anonymous. To facilitate this, authors have to anonymize their manuscripts to ensure that their identity has not been given away in the article’s content.

Peer review is an important process of evaluation, designed to keep the quality of scholarly work high. The process aims to give constructive feedback to the authors, so that their work can become of the highest academic standard possible. Peer reviews are also helping editors to decide the paper’s suitability for publication in the journal. As a principle, Journal of Ethnic and Cultural Studies will not accept peer reviews that contain harsh or discriminatory comments, that are unduly negative or could be unduly biased toward a specific ideological or disciplinary position, or due to a range of reasons that result in an over-critical judgment. We wish to support scholars, particularly those who are at an early stage of their research career, or have not benefitted from training at an elite institution. Our peer review system is primarily designed to support authors in developing their work, and therefore peer reviewers must provide overall supportive and constructive criticism in aiding the author/s to develop and improve their submission and learn how better to compose a publishable article.

c) Timely Reviews

We ask reviewers to provide review reports in a timely manner, in order to help the journal to provide a high-quality publishing service that benefits the global scientific community. Please contact the editorial office if you need a deadline extension of your review.

A Step by Step Reviewer’s Guide:

  1. Investigate the article’s content and the journal to which it is submitted:
    • Does the article meet the submission criteria (aims, length, scope and presentation) of the journal?
  2. Make an assessment of the article:
    • Are research questions clearly formulated?
    • Are the research components well-defined?
    • Are all conclusions justified and supported by the results?
    • Is the data presented in an appropriate manner?
    • Is the article clearly structured, using subheadings and suitable signposts?
    • Is the English language level sufficient?
    • Have all the references and sources been presented in the publisher’s house style?
    • Is the research performed in accordance with the highest technical standards?
    • Are the data robust enough to draw conclusions?
    • Is the article well structured and the argument coherently formulated?
    • Are the references to other scholarly works sufficient and complete?
    • Is the article free of fraud, plagiarism or any other unethical behavior?
    • Is the same information already published before, either by the same author or by another scientist?
    • Are the article’s findings and argument novel and is there an overall benefit of publishing this work?
    • Is the methodology of the article accurate?
    • What is the quality of the presentation?
    • Does the article have the highest level of scientific soundness?
    • Is the research relevant?
  3. Write a review report:
    • Accept: if the manuscript can be published in its current form.
    • Accept after minor changes: if the manuscript needs some light revisions before publishing it.
    • Reject and start review process again after major changes: if the manuscript needs major revisions before publishing it.
    • Reject: if the paper is not suitable for publication within this journal or if the revisions that would have to be undertaken are too fundamental.
    • Follow the steps on the review form.
      Keep in mind: As a reviewer, you may disagree with the author’s opinions, but if they are consistent with the available evidence, you should allow them to stand. If you provide feedback, you are required to give constructive criticism. Positive feedback as well as negative feedback can help an author to improve the manuscript.
    • Make a recommendation:
  4. Some things to keep in mind:
    • Use appropriate language in addressing your comments to the author. Carefully construct your comments so that the author understands fully what to improve. Generalized and vague statements should be avoided, along with negative comments that are not supported with arguments. JECS editors never edit reviewer comments and thus we ask you to use appropriate language. Confidential comments to the editors can be made on the review form in the special box assigned for it.
    • Journal of Ethnic and Cultural Studies requires that reviewers give suggestions to the author on how to improve clarity, succinctness and overall quality of the manuscript particularly in the case of required revisions or rejections.

Editorial Board and Responsibilities

The editorial board of the Journal of Ethnic and Cultural Studies (JECS) consists of recognized scholars with expertise in relevant fields who actively contribute to the journal’s editorial processes, including manuscript evaluation, peer review coordination, and policy development.

The editorial board supports the journal in maintaining high academic standards, ensuring transparency in the editorial process, and upholding ethical publishing practices. Contact information for the editorial office is available on the journal’s website to facilitate communication with authors, reviewers, and readers.

Authors' Responsibilities

JECS holds authors accountable for upholding the highest standards of research and publication ethics. Authors are expected to:

  • Ensure that their manuscript is original and has not been previously published or submitted elsewhere for publication.
  • Participate in the peer review process and respond promptly and professionally to reviewer comments and editorial requests.
  • Ensure that all data presented in the manuscript are accurate, reliable, and verifiable.
  • Provide appropriate citations and acknowledgments for all referenced sources.
  • Disclose any potential conflicts of interest that may influence the research or interpretation of findings.
  • Obtain ethical approval for research involving human participants and include a statement confirming compliance with relevant ethical guidelines.
  • Notify the editorial board promptly if any errors are discovered after publication so that corrections or retractions can be issued when necessary.
  • Provide raw data related to their study for editorial review if requested. Authors should also be prepared to make the data publicly available when appropriate, unless restricted by ethical, legal, or privacy considerations. Data should remain accessible to qualified researchers for at least three years after publication, preferably through an institutional or subject-based data repository, provided that participant confidentiality and legal rights regarding proprietary data are protected.
  • Agree, upon submission, to comply with the publication policies of JECS.
  • Obtain all necessary permissions from individuals, organizations, or copyright holders for materials included in the manuscript.
  • Ensure that manuscripts are not submitted simultaneously to more than one journal for consideration.
  • Ensure that research involving human or animal subjects complies with relevant institutional and legal guidelines and that the manuscript includes a statement confirming that appropriate institutional ethics committees or review boards approved the research.
  • Confirm that informed consent was obtained from human participants and that participants’ privacy and confidentiality rights are protected.
  • Ensure that research involving human participants complies with the ethical principles outlined in the Declaration of Helsinki of the World Medical Association.
  • Obtain appropriate permissions, consents, and releases when including case details, personal information, or images of individuals in publications. Written consent must be retained by the authors and provided to JECS upon request.
  • Promptly notify the journal editor if a significant error or inaccuracy is discovered in their published work and cooperate fully with the editorial team to correct or retract the article when necessary.

Reviewers' Responsibilities

Reviewers play a critical role in maintaining the scholarly quality and integrity of JECS. Reviewers are expected to:

  • Treat submitted manuscripts as confidential documents and not disclose any information without the editor’s approval.
  • Provide objective, constructive, and professional feedback aimed at improving the manuscript while avoiding personal criticism of the authors.
  • Disclose any potential conflicts of interest and decline the review if such conflicts could compromise impartiality.
  • Notify the editorial team if they detect substantial similarity or overlap between the submitted manuscript and other published works.
  • Not share the content of the manuscript, including the abstract, with anyone else. Double-blind peer review is a confidential process, and both authors and reviewers must maintain confidentiality. If reviewers wish to involve a colleague in the review process, they must obtain prior approval from the editorial office.
  • Confirm that they will not upload the author’s manuscript to any third-party platforms or tools and have not used generative artificial intelligence tools to produce the reviewer report.
  • Complete their reviews within the timeframe specified by the editorial team (typically 4–6 weeks) to ensure a timely publication process.

Editors' Responsibilities

Editors are responsible for safeguarding the integrity and quality of the journal. Editors must:

  • Make publication decisions based on the scholarly merit, originality, and relevance of the manuscript to the journal’s scope.
  • Ensure that the peer review process is fair, unbiased, and conducted with transparency.
  • Maintain confidentiality regarding the identities of authors and reviewers throughout the review process.
  • Address ethical concerns or conflicts that arise before or after publication.
  • Take appropriate action when ethical issues or misconduct are identified, including issuing corrections, expressions of concern, or retractions in accordance with COPE guidelines.

Publisher Responsibilities

The publisher of the Journal of Ethnic and Cultural Studies (JECS) is committed to supporting ethical publishing practices and maintaining the integrity of the scholarly record. The publisher works in collaboration with the editorial team to ensure that all published content meets high academic and ethical standards.

The publisher is responsible for:

  • Supporting the editorial team in maintaining the independence of editorial decisions and ensuring that commercial or financial interests do not influence editorial policies or decisions.
  • Ensuring that the journal operates in accordance with internationally recognized ethical standards, including those established by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), and the World Association of Medical Editors (WAME).
  • Providing the technical infrastructure necessary for manuscript submission, peer review, publication, and digital archiving.
  • Ensuring that published articles remain permanently accessible through reliable digital preservation systems and archiving services.
  • Maintaining transparency in journal policies, including publication ethics, peer review procedures, author guidelines, and publication fees.
  • Supporting the editorial board in addressing allegations of research misconduct, plagiarism, or ethical violations in accordance with established ethical guidelines.
  • Facilitating the publication of corrections, retractions, or expressions of concern when necessary to maintain the integrity of the scholarly record.
  • Protecting the privacy and confidentiality of authors, reviewers, and editors throughout the editorial and publication process.
  • Promoting accessibility and dissemination of scholarly research through open access publishing and responsible dissemination practices.

The publisher is committed to maintaining the highest standards of ethical publishing and supporting the mission of JECS to advance high-quality scholarly research in ethnic and cultural studies.

Addressing Ethical Misconduct

JECS takes allegations of ethical misconduct seriously, whether involving authors, reviewers, or editors. When misconduct is suspected, the journal follows a thorough and fair investigation process consistent with COPE guidelines. The process may include:

  1. Initial Investigation
    The editor will assess the complaint, gather relevant evidence, and communicate with the individuals involved to clarify the situation.
  2. Resolution and Sanctions
    Depending on the outcome of the investigation, the journal may take appropriate actions, including:
  • Publishing corrections or retractions.
  • Informing the authors’ affiliated institutions or funding agencies.
  • Restricting future submissions from individuals involved in misconduct.
  • Reporting the case to relevant professional or ethical oversight organizations when necessary.

Authorship Policy

The Journal of Ethnic and Cultural Studies (JECS) is committed to maintaining transparency and integrity in authorship and contributorship. The journal follows internationally recognized standards and best practices in accordance with the guidelines of the Committee on Publication Ethics regarding authorship and publication ethics.

  1. Criteria for Authorship: Authorship should be based on substantial contributions to the conception, design, execution, or interpretation of the reported study. All individuals listed as authors must have made a meaningful intellectual contribution to the work and must approve the final version of the manuscript. JECS follows the authorship and contributorship guidelines established by COPE.
  2. Author Order: The order of authors should reflect their relative contributions to the work. All authors must agree on the order of authorship before submission. Any disputes regarding authorship or author order should be resolved among the authors prior to submission.
  3. Corresponding Author: One author must be designated as the corresponding author. The corresponding author is responsible for all communication with the journal during the submission, peer review, and post-publication stages. The corresponding author must ensure that all co-authors are aware of and comply with the journal’s policies and that all authors have approved the final version of the manuscript.
  4. Changes to Authorship: Any changes to authorship after manuscript submission—including additions, deletions, or changes in author order—must be approved by all authors and the Editor-in-Chief. Requests for authorship changes must be submitted in writing to info@ejecs.org and will be evaluated in accordance with COPE guidelines on authorship changes. Changes to authorship after manuscript acceptance will only be permitted in exceptional circumstances and with strong justification.
  5. Prohibited Authorship Practices: Ghost authorship (omitting individuals who made substantial contributions) and guest or honorary authorship (including individuals who did not contribute meaningfully to the research) are strictly prohibited and are considered forms of research misconduct. Artificial intelligence tools, including generative AI systems such as ChatGPT, cannot be listed as authors, in accordance with JECS’s Generative AI Use Policy.
  6. Contributorship: Authors are encouraged to clearly specify each author’s individual contribution to the research and manuscript preparation at the time of submission. This practice promotes transparency, accountability, and appropriate recognition of individual contributions.
  7. Acknowledgment of Non-Author Contributions: Individuals who contributed to the research or manuscript preparation but do not meet the criteria for authorship should be acknowledged appropriately in the Acknowledgments section of the manuscript. Such contributions may include technical assistance, language editing, data collection support, administrative assistance, or general supervision of the research project. Authors must ensure that all individuals acknowledged have provided permission to be named in the manuscript. Acknowledgment should not be used to misrepresent the level of contribution made by any individual. Proper acknowledgment helps maintain transparency and ensures that contributions to the research are accurately recognized while preserving the integrity of authorship.
  8. Group or Consortium Authorship: In cases where research is conducted by a large collaborative group, consortium, or research network, group authorship may be used. When a group name is listed as the author, the manuscript should clearly identify the individuals who take responsibility for the integrity of the work as corresponding author(s) or guarantor(s). All individuals listed as authors under group authorship must meet the journal’s authorship criteria. The manuscript should include a description of each contributor’s role, either in a contributorship statement or in a supplementary section. Individuals who contributed to the project but do not meet the authorship criteria should be acknowledged in the Acknowledgments section. The corresponding author must ensure that all members of the group have approved the manuscript and agree to its submission and publication. The editorial office may request documentation confirming authorship contributions if necessary.
  9. Author Identification (ORCID): JECS encourages authors to register for and use an Open Researcher and Contributor ID (ORCID) when submitting manuscripts. ORCID provides a persistent digital identifier that distinguishes researchers from others with similar names and supports transparent attribution of scholarly work. Authors are encouraged to include their ORCID iD during manuscript submission. The use of ORCID helps ensure accurate author identification, improves the visibility of research outputs, and facilitates integration with scholarly databases and indexing systems. The corresponding author is responsible for ensuring that the ORCID identifiers provided for all authors are accurate. ORCID iDs may be published alongside author names in the final article to promote transparency and improve the discoverability of scholarly contributions.

Research Data and Reproducibility Policy

The Journal of Ethnic and Cultural Studies (JECS) supports transparency, integrity, and reproducibility in scholarly research. Authors are encouraged to make the data underlying their research findings available to other researchers whenever possible in order to promote transparency and facilitate the verification and replication of research results. Authors should ensure that the data, methods, and materials used in their studies are described in sufficient detail to allow other researchers to understand, evaluate, and reproduce the research findings. When appropriate, authors are encouraged to deposit research data, instruments, coding frameworks, or supplementary materials in recognized institutional or subject-specific repositories.

Authors should include a Data Availability Statement within their manuscript indicating whether the data supporting the findings of the study are publicly available and where they can be accessed. If data cannot be shared due to ethical, legal, privacy, or confidentiality restrictions, authors should clearly state the reason. JECS recognizes that research involving human participants, sensitive cultural data, or confidential information may require restrictions on data sharing. In such cases, authors must ensure that all ethical standards and privacy protections are maintained. Editors and reviewers may request access to underlying data during the peer review process to verify the validity of the research if necessary. Authors are expected to cooperate with reasonable requests for data verification. This policy aims to support responsible research practices while respecting ethical obligations related to participant confidentiality, cultural sensitivity, and data protection.