Publication Ethics and Malpractice Statement

Simbolismo: Signs, Identities, Meanings, a peer-reviewed journal, is committed to upholding the highest standards of ethical publications and takes necessary steps to prevent any form of malpractice. The editorial process is guided by the principles of transparency, fairness, and accountability, in alignment with the Core Practices of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) (Code of Conduct | COPE: Committee on Publication Ethics)

Responsibilities of Authors

  • Originality and Plagiarism: Authors are required to submit entirely original work. Any form of plagiarism is considered unethical and will not be tolerated.
  • Authorship: Only individuals who have made significant contributions to the research should be listed as authors. All co-authors must review and approve the final manuscript before submission.
  • Data Access and Retention: Authors should be prepared to provide access to primary or secondary data when requested and ensure that such data are available for editorial review if necessary.
  • Disclosure and Conflicts of Interest: Authors must disclose any financial or non-financial conflicts of interest that could influence the publication of their research study.
  • Ethics Approval: Studies involving human participants must have received appropriate institutional ethics approval from their Institutional Review Board (IRB). In cases where formal ethics approval is not required, such as studies based on informal, non-intrusive, or naturally occurring interactions (studies that are open, dialogic, spontaneous, voluntary, and embedded in existing social interactions where trust, familiarity, and mutual recognition govern participation more meaningfully than formal documentation requiring controlled or interventionist settings), authors must provide a clear and honest justification and demonstrate that ethical principles of voluntary participation, respect for human dignity, and protection of participants were strictly upheld.

 Responsibilities of Editors

  • Fair Evaluation: Editors evaluate and assess manuscripts objectively and without bias and discrimination based on race, gender, institutional affiliation, or nationality.
  • Confidentiality: Editors and editorial staff must maintain strict confidentiality and must not disclose any information about submitted manuscripts to anyone.
  • Publication Decisions: The Editor-in-Chief has the final authority for publication decisions, guided by reviewers’ evaluations and the scholarly merit of the manuscript, as well as its significant contribution to the field of semiotics and its related fields.
  • Handling of Academic Misconduct: All allegations of ethical misconduct are taken seriously and investigated thoroughly. Proven misconduct will result in rejection or retraction of the manuscript, and additional actions may be taken if necessary.

 Responsibilities of Reviewers

  • Contribution to Editorial Decision: Peer review assists editors in making editorial decisions and helps authors improve their manuscripts.
  • Confidentiality: All manuscripts received for review must be treated as confidential documents. Reviewers must not disclose any information about submitted manuscripts to anyone.
  • Objectivity and Constructive Feedback: Reviews should be objective, clear, and constructive. They are aimed at improving the author’s works.
  • Acknowledgement of Sources: Reviewers must point out relevant published work that is not cited properly in the manuscript. Proper attribution must be observed at all times.
  • Conflict of Interest: Reviewers should not review manuscripts in which they have conflicts of interest.

 Statement on AI Usage

The use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools in the preparation of manuscripts must be transparent, responsible, and ethically grounded. Authors must clearly disclose or declare any use of AI or AI applications (e.g., for writing assistance on specific sections of the manuscript, data analysis, grammar, or language editing) and remain fully accountable for the accuracy, originality, and integrity of the content of their work. AI tools must not be used to fabricate data, generate misleading findings, or replace the writer's critical scholarly judgment. AI tools cannot be listed as authors of research papers as they do not meet the requirements of authorship, and so, they should not take on the accountability of submitted work. All outputs derived from AI should be carefully reviewed and verified by the authors. The journal upholds that AI is a support tool, e.g., brainstorming of ideas and offering models of good or effective writing, NOT a substitute for human authorship, intellectual responsibility, or ethical research practice.

Retraction Policy

Articles may be retracted due to plagiarism, unethical practice, falsification and fabrication of data, duplicate publication, or major content errors (e.g., omitting key data, inconsistent information between text and graphics). Retraction notices will be issued publicly and will be linked to the original article.

Policy on Complaints

Complaints regarding unethical practices or publication misconduct should be submitted to the Editor-in-Chief, Dr Nimrod L. Delante, editor@simbolismo.org. All complaints will be investigated thoroughly in accordance with COPE procedures.

 Research Ethics for Human Participants and Indigenous Studies

  • Studies involving humans must include a statement of ethical clearance and attach an IRB certificate. In cases where formal ethics approval is not required, such as studies based on informal, non-intrusive, or naturally occurring interactions (studies that are open, dialogic, spontaneous, voluntary, and embedded in existing social interactions where trust, familiarity, and mutual recognition govern participation more meaningfully than formal documentation requiring controlled or interventionist settings), authors must provide a clear and honest justification and demonstrate that ethical principles of voluntary participation, respect for human dignity, and protection of participants were strictly upheld.
  • Studies involving indigenous knowledge, culture and heritage of indigenous peoples must include permits and secure ethical review from their country’s lead agency tasked with protecting and preserving traditional culture and heritage. For example, in the Philippines, the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) is responsible for protecting and promoting the rights, welfare, and cultural heritage of Indigenous Cultural Communities/Indigenous Peoples (Home - National Commission on Indigenous Peoples)