Publication Ethics

Theologicum Didacticum: Journal of Theology and Christian Education upholds the highest standards of ethics and academic integrity throughout the publication process. This journal adheres to a set of publication ethics adapted from the Guidelines on Good Publication Practice issued by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).

A. Ethical Guidelines for Authors

  1. Authorship Criteria
    Authors must have made substantial contributions to the manuscript's conceptualization, analysis, and writing. Mere data collection or technical assistance does not suffice to warrant authorship.
  2. Preliminary Agreement
    The designation of authors, contributors, and individuals acknowledged in the manuscript should be determined at the outset to prevent potential conflicts.
  3. Authorial Responsibility
    Each author is accountable for the publication's content and must explicitly state their role, particularly in multidisciplinary research.
  4. Adherence to Publication Guidelines
    Authors must comply with the journal’s or publisher’s policies to ensure their work meets established scientific and ethical standards.

B. Ethical Responsibilities of Editors

  1. Quality-Based Decision Making
    Editorial decisions regarding accepting or rejecting manuscripts must be based on scholarly merit, originality, clarity, and relevance to the journal’s scope.
  2. Fair Consideration of Critical Research
    Studies challenging existing literature should be evaluated fairly and objectively, without bias.
  3. No Discrimination Against Research Outcomes
    Manuscripts presenting negative or unexpected results should not be rejected solely based on their findings contradicting specific hypotheses.
  4. Peer Review Process
    All submitted research must undergo a peer review process before publication, with due consideration given to reviewers’ recommendations.
  5. Confidentiality of Manuscripts
    Editors must maintain the confidentiality of submitted manuscripts until a final editorial decision has been made.

C. Ethical Responsibilities of Peer Reviewers

  1. Role of Reviewers
    Peer reviewers are independent subject-matter experts who provide critical evaluations to improve the quality of submitted research. The journal’s policies may conduct the review process openly or anonymously.
  2. Confidentiality and Professional Integrity
    Reviewers must uphold the confidentiality of submitted manuscripts, including restricting access to colleagues unless explicitly permitted by the editor. Under no circumstances should reviewers retain or duplicate manuscripts.
  3. Prohibition of Data Misappropriation
    Reviewers and editors are strictly prohibited from using any data, arguments, or interpretations from the manuscript for personal research or other purposes without the author’s explicit consent.
  4. Objective and Timely Evaluations
    Reviewers must provide thorough, precise, and unbiased evaluations in a timely manner.
  5. Reporting Ethical Concerns
    If a reviewer suspects ethical misconduct, they must report their concerns confidentially to the editor for further investigation.
  6. Periodic Audits and Evaluations
    The journal should conduct routine audits to assess acceptance rates and publication timelines, ensuring the efficiency and integrity of the peer review process.
  7. Independence in Reviewer Selection
    Editors may consider author-suggested reviewers but are under no obligation to accept these recommendations.