Publication Ethics and Publication Malpractice Statement

This document describes the ethical principles and responsibilities governing all parties involved in the publication of articles in Jurnal Leverage, Engagement, Empowerment of Community (LeECOM). These parties include authors, editors, peer reviewers, and the publisher, namely the Institute of Research and Community Development, Universitas Ciputra Surabaya.

The ethical framework outlined in this statement is developed in accordance with the COPE’s Best Practice Guidelines for Journal Editors.

Ethical Guideline for Journal Publication

The dissemination of research through a peer-reviewed journal such as Jurnal Leverage, Engagement, Empowerment of Community (LeECOM) is fundamental to the development of trustworthy and high-quality academic knowledge. Published articles represent the scholarly integrity of the authors and the institutions supporting their work. Therefore, all stakeholders involved in the publication process—including authors, editors, reviewers, the publisher, and the wider academic community—are required to comply with recognized ethical standards.

As the journal’s publisher, the Institute of Research and Community Development of Universitas Ciputra Surabaya is dedicated to ensuring ethical conduct throughout every stage of the publication process. Editorial independence is fully maintained, and decisions are free from the influence of advertising, reprint services, or other commercial considerations. Where necessary, the publisher and editorial board facilitate communication and cooperation with other journals or publishing institutions.

Editorial Decision-Making

The Editor-in-Chief is responsible for determining the acceptance or rejection of submitted manuscripts. Publication decisions are made based on scholarly assessments and recommendations provided by the editorial board and peer reviewers, while adhering to applicable legal requirements concerning defamation, copyright protection, and plagiarism. Final decisions are reached through consultation with the editorial team and reviewers.

Equity and Non-Discrimination

Manuscripts are evaluated solely on their academic quality and relevance. Editors and reviewers do not take into account the authors’ personal characteristics, including race, gender, sexual orientation, religious beliefs, ethnicity, nationality, or political views.

Confidentiality

All manuscripts submitted to the journal are treated as confidential documents. Editors, reviewers, and editorial staff may disclose information related to a manuscript only to the corresponding author, assigned reviewers, potential reviewers, the editorial board, or the publisher, as required for the publication process.

Disclosure and Conflict of Interest

Any unpublished data, ideas, or materials obtained through manuscript submission must not be used by editors or reviewers for personal research or professional benefit.

 
Duties of Reviewers

Role in Editorial Assessment

LeECOM applies a double-blind peer review system. Reviewers provide independent and objective evaluations to support the Editor-in-Chief in making publication decisions and may offer constructive suggestions to enhance manuscript quality.

Timeliness

Reviewers are expected to complete their assessments within the agreed timeframe. If a reviewer is unable to do so, the manuscript will be reassigned to another qualified reviewer without delay.

Confidential Treatment of Manuscripts

The content of manuscripts under review must remain strictly confidential. Except for the Editor-in-Chief, editors and reviewers are prohibited from discussing manuscripts with unauthorized parties, including the authors.

Objectivity and Professional Standards

Reviews must be conducted impartially and respectfully. Reviewers are required to clearly justify their evaluations and recommendations based on the scholarly merit of the manuscript.

Recognition of Relevant Literature

Reviewers should draw attention to relevant published studies that have not been cited by the authors and notify the editor of any substantial similarity or overlap with other known publications.

Conflicts of Interest

Information acquired during the peer review process must not be used for personal advantage. Reviewers should decline to review manuscripts in which they have personal, professional, or financial conflicts of interest with the authors or affiliated institutions.

Duties of Authors

Research Reporting Standards

Authors are responsible for presenting a truthful, accurate, and objective account of their research. Manuscripts should provide sufficient methodological detail to allow replication. Any form of data fabrication or falsification is considered unethical.

Data Availability

Authors may be requested to submit raw research data for editorial examination and must be prepared to provide such data within a reasonable period.

Originality and Plagiarism

Authors must ensure that their submissions are original works. Proper citation is required when incorporating the ideas, data, or words of others. Manuscripts containing plagiarism will be rejected.

Duplicate or Concurrent Submission

Authors must confirm that their manuscripts have not been previously published and are not under consideration by another journal. Submitting the same work to multiple journals simultaneously is regarded as unethical.

Authorship Criteria

Authorship should be restricted to individuals who have made substantial contributions to the research. The corresponding author is responsible for keeping all co-authors informed throughout the review process. Upon acceptance, all authors must provide written confirmation of the originality of the work.

Research Hazards and Ethical Considerations

Any unusual hazards associated with chemicals, procedures, or equipment used in the study must be clearly disclosed in the manuscript.

Disclosure of Conflicts of Interest

Authors must declare any financial or personal interests that could influence the interpretation of their research findings, as well as acknowledge all sources of funding.

Correction of Published Errors

If significant errors are identified after publication, authors are obliged to promptly inform the editor or publisher and cooperate fully in issuing corrections or retractions when necessary.