Publication Ethics

IMPACTA Journal of Community Development is committed to upholding the highest standards of publication ethics and takes all possible measures against publication malpractice. This statement outlines the ethical responsibilities of all parties involved in the publication process, including authors, editors, reviewers, and the publisher. The journal adheres to the principles and best practices recommended by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).

1. Ethical Responsibilities of Authors

Authors submitting manuscripts to IMPACTA are expected to adhere to the following ethical standards:

a. Originality and Plagiarism

Manuscripts must be original works. Any form of plagiarism, data fabrication, data falsification, or inappropriate data manipulation is unacceptable. Proper acknowledgment of the work of others must be clearly stated.

b. Multiple, Redundant, or Concurrent Publication

Authors should not submit the same manuscript simultaneously to more than one journal or publish redundant publications describing essentially the same research.

c. Authorship and Contribution

Authorship should be limited to individuals who have made significant contributions to the conception, design, implementation, or evaluation of the community development activity. All contributors who meet these criteria should be listed as authors.

d. Acknowledgment of Sources

All sources of funding, institutional support, and relevant references must be properly acknowledged.

e. Ethical Community Engagement

Authors must ensure that community-based activities are conducted ethically, with respect for community participation, local values, and informed consent where applicable.

f. Disclosure of Conflicts of Interest

Authors must disclose any financial or non-financial conflicts of interest that could influence the interpretation of their work.

2. Ethical Responsibilities of Editors

Editors of IMPACTA are responsible for:

  1. Making fair, objective, and timely decisions on submitted manuscripts based solely on academic merit, relevance, originality, and clarity.
  2. Ensuring the confidentiality of submitted manuscripts and the anonymity of the peer review process.
  3. Avoiding conflicts of interest and recusing themselves from handling manuscripts where such conflicts exist.
  4. Taking appropriate action when ethical concerns arise, including suspected plagiarism, data misuse, or unethical community practices.

3. Ethical Responsibilities of Reviewers

Reviewers are expected to:

  1. Conduct reviews objectively, constructively, and within the agreed timeframe.
  2. Maintain the confidentiality of manuscripts and not use unpublished information for personal advantage.
  3. Identify relevant published work that has not been cited by the authors.
  4. Declare any potential conflicts of interest and decline review assignments when necessary.

4. Publisher’s Ethical Responsibilities

As the publisher, Denamide Media Pro is committed to:

  1. Supporting ethical editorial independence and transparent journal management.
  2. Ensuring that commercial interests do not compromise editorial decisions.
  3. Maintaining accurate and complete records of published articles.
  4. Facilitating corrections, retractions, or expressions of concern when ethical violations are confirmed.

5. Handling of Publication Malpractice

IMPACTA Journal of Community Development takes allegations of publication misconduct seriously. Any identified cases of plagiarism, unethical community engagement, authorship disputes, or other ethical violations will be investigated following COPE guidelines. Appropriate actions may include manuscript rejection, retraction of published articles, notification to authors’ institutions, or other corrective measures as necessary.

6. Corrections and Retractions

If significant errors or ethical issues are identified after publication, the journal will issue corrections, retractions, or expressions of concern to maintain the integrity of the scholarly record.

7. Commitment to Ethical Community Development

IMPACTA emphasizes ethical, participatory, and respectful community engagement. Manuscripts must demonstrate accountability, inclusiveness, and social responsibility in community development practices.