Editorial Policies

Publication Ethics

JEPS is dedicated to publishing original articles that align with research ethics, as outlined by global research organizations such as the APA. The journal follows a strict double-blind review process to maintain confidentiality. Editors are expected to evaluate manuscripts solely based on their intellectual merit, without any bias related to gender, nationality, race, or any form of discrimination. Manuscript details will not be disclosed except when necessary (e.g., during the review process). Editors and reviewers are prohibited from using unpublished manuscripts in their own work or from exploiting ideas from these manuscripts.

Reviewers are expected to adhere to publication ethics and provide a thorough, scientific assessment of the manuscripts. They should withdraw from reviewing a manuscript if they believe they are unqualified. Reviews should focus on the research’s scientific quality without any personal critique. Reviewers must report any suspected plagiarism to the journal editor, providing evidence of any ethical concerns.

Authors are fully responsible for their manuscript's content and must adhere to research ethics throughout the entire research process. They should provide a complete description of their research methodology to allow replication and make raw data available upon request. Authors must avoid plagiarism and use proper APA citations when referencing others' ideas or work. Only those who have made significant contributions to the manuscript should be listed as authors, and contributors should not be excluded without valid reason. The views expressed in the journal are those of the individual authors and are not necessarily endorsed by the journal.

The journal does not accept advertisements.

Appeals and Complaints

Any issues, complaints, or appeals related to authorship or the peer-review process, including those raised after publication, should be directed to the Editors-in-Chief. They will investigate the matter by first gathering information from all relevant parties and then recommending an appropriate course of action based on the academic ethical guidelines set by the Committee on Publishing Ethics (COPE; https://publicationethics.org/). The review or publication of submissions may be paused until the issue is resolved. If the Editors-in-Chief are involved in the complaint, the Editorial Board, led by the most senior member, will handle the investigation and determine the next steps.

Acknowledgment

Individuals who have contributed to the article in ways such as general supervision, securing funding, study design, data collection, data analysis, technical support, writing assistance related to formatting, or scholarly discussions that significantly influenced the article, but do not qualify for authorship, should be named in the ‘Acknowledgments’ section along with their affiliations. Authors are responsible for informing and obtaining consent from those they wish to include in this section. This consent process should involve sharing the article so the individuals can verify the context of their acknowledgment.

Groups of individuals who have made significant contributions but do not meet the authorship criteria may be listed under categories like “clinical investigators” or “participating investigators,” with a description of their specific contributions (e.g., “served as scientific advisors,” “reviewed the study proposal,” “collected data,” or “provided care for study patients”). As their acknowledgment may imply endorsement of the data and conclusions, these individuals must provide written permission to be included.

Any use of AI tools for content generation (such as large language models) or similar technical tools that contribute to the article must be clearly acknowledged. Authors are responsible for ensuring the validity, originality, and integrity of their content. They must use such tools responsibly and in alignment with editorial policies on authorship and publishing ethics.

Authorship Guidelines

Acknowledging authors on a publication is a key method of crediting individuals who have made substantial contributions to the work. It also promotes transparency by identifying those accountable for the integrity of the content.

To qualify as an author, individuals must meet all the following criteria:

Contributed significantly to the work, including activities such as conceptualization, study design, execution, data collection, analysis, interpretation, or a combination of these.
Participated in drafting, extensively revising, or critically reviewing the manuscript.
Consented to the selection of the journal for submission.
Reviewed and approved all versions of the manuscript, from submission to final publication, including any major changes during proofing.
Accepted responsibility for the article's content and committed to addressing any issues regarding its accuracy or integrity.

Any modifications to authorship, whether before or after publication, require agreement from all authors, including those being added or removed. The corresponding author is responsible for obtaining consent from all co-authors and providing a detailed explanation for the change. If authorship changes occur post-publication, they will be addressed through a formal post-publication notice. All changes must adhere to the authorship criteria, and requests for significant revisions to the author list after acceptance may be declined if insufficient justification or evidence of contributions is provided.

Authorship Criteria

Authorship should be granted only to those who have made significant contributions to all three of the following areas:

The study's conceptualization and design, data acquisition, or data analysis and interpretation.
Drafting the manuscript or revising it critically to enhance its intellectual content.
Providing final approval of the version to be published.

Activities such as securing funding or collecting data alone do not qualify for authorship, nor does general oversight of the research team. Each author must have been actively involved in the work to the extent that they can take public responsibility for specific parts of the manuscript.

The order of authors should reflect the relative contributions of each individual to the study and manuscript preparation. Once submitted, the author order cannot be altered without written agreement from all contributors.

The journal sets a maximum number of authors for submissions based on the manuscript type, its scope, and the number of participating institutions. If this limit is exceeded, authors must provide a clear justification.

Authorship Contribution Details

Authors must specify their individual contributions to the manuscript, categorized as applicable into areas such as: concept, design, intellectual content development, literature review, clinical studies, experimental work, data acquisition, data analysis, statistical analysis, manuscript drafting, editing, and review.

These contributions will be published alongside the article. At least one author must assume overall responsibility for the integrity of the work from its inception to publication and be identified as the "guarantor."

Citations

Research articles must reference relevant, up-to-date, and credible literature (preferably peer-reviewed) to substantiate claims made within the manuscript.

Authors should avoid excessive self-citation or coordinated agreements among groups to cite each other's work inappropriately, as this constitutes citation manipulation—a recognized form of academic misconduct. For further guidance, refer to the COPE guidelines on citation manipulation.

If you are uncertain about whether a source should be cited, consult the journal's editorial office for clarification.

Conflicts of Interest / Competing Interests

All authors must disclose any competing interests that are relevant to the article or could reasonably be perceived as such.

A competing interest arises when you (or your employer, sponsor, or close associates such as family or friends) have financial, commercial, legal, or professional ties with other organizations or individuals that could influence the research or its interpretation.
These interests may be financial or non-financial. To maintain transparency, any associations that might be seen by others as potential conflicts must also be declared.

Corrections, Expressions of Concern, and Retractions

Occasionally, changes may need to be made to an article after it has been published in its final edited form. Such changes are carefully considered by the Editor, supported by the journal staff, and are implemented following the guidance of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) . Any revisions will be accompanied by a permanent post-publication notice, which will remain permanently linked to the original article. These notices may take the form of a Correction (Corrigendum or Erratum), an Expression of Concern, a Retraction, or, in rare cases, a Removal. This process ensures transparency and safeguards the integrity of the scholarly record.

A Correction notice is issued to address errors or omissions that may affect the article’s interpretation but do not compromise its scholarly integrity. Examples include mislabeled figures or missing details on funding or competing interests. The journal uses two types of corrections:

Corrigendum: Issued for errors introduced by the authors.
Erratum: Issued for errors introduced by the publisher.

A Retraction notice is issued when a significant error (e.g., in methods or analysis) invalidates the article’s conclusions or when research or publication misconduct is identified (e.g., unethical research practices, data fabrication, manipulated images, plagiarism, or duplicate publication). Retractions are handled in line with COPE guidelines, and authors or institutions may request retractions if justified.

Retractions issued by the journal ensure:

Clear linking between the retraction and the original article.
Clear identification of the retracted article.
Retained access to the original HTML and PDF versions, both marked as "Retracted."
An explanation for the retraction’s reason.
Identification of the individual(s) (e.g., authors or Editor) requesting the retraction.

The primary goal of retractions is to correct the literature and maintain the integrity of the publication record, not to penalize authors. Retractions are generally not used to resolve authorship disputes, which are typically handled through corrigenda, provided the authors justify the changes with institutional support. Retractions are issued as promptly as possible to minimize the impact of inaccurate or misleading publications.

In some cases, an Expression of Concern may be issued when serious concerns arise (e.g., suspected research or publication misconduct) but the outcome of the investigation is inconclusive or delayed. If necessary, the Expression of Concern may later be followed by a Correction or Retraction notice. These notices, along with the original article, will remain part of the permanent publication record.

A Removal notice is issued in rare circumstances where issues cannot be resolved through a Correction or Retraction notice, such as when an article contains defamatory content, violates legal rights, or is subject to a court order. If an article is removed from the journal’s website, a removal notice will be issued in its place.

Consent for Publication

Manuscripts containing details or images of an individual must include written informed consent from that person (or their parent/legal guardian if the individual is under 18). This consent must explicitly allow publication under the Creative Commons Attribution License 4.0, ensuring the details are freely accessible online.

If the individual has passed away, consent must be obtained from their next of kin. The manuscript should include a statement confirming that written informed consent for publication has been secured.

Authors may use a standard consent form provided by the journal or one from their institution or region, provided it is appropriate. The consent form must specify that the details or images will be freely available online and accessible to the public. If requested, the consent form must be submitted to the Editor for review and will be handled with confidentiality.

Confidentiality

Submitted manuscripts are treated as confidential materials. Academic Journals will only share them with individuals directly involved in the review and publication process, such as editorial staff, corresponding authors, potential reviewers, actual reviewers, and editors.

In cases of suspected misconduct, the manuscript may be disclosed to members of the journal's ethics committees or relevant institutions/organizations involved in resolving the issue. Academic Journals will adhere to the appropriate COPE guidelines and flowcharts as needed.

Copyright Policy

Who Can Submit?

Anyone may submit an original manuscript to JEPS for publication, provided they either own the copyright to the work or have authorization from the copyright holder(s) to do so. Authors retain the initial copyright ownership of their works before publication, except in cases where employment agreements require the transfer of copyright to their employer, as may occur outside the academic context.

User Rights

JEPS operates as an Open Access journal, granting users the right to read, download, copy, distribute, print, search, or link to the full text of articles. These rights are provided under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License 4.0 (CC BY 4.0): https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/.

The copyright statement is included here and embedded within each published article.

Open Access Policy

The journal follows an Open Access model, allowing users to read, download, copy, distribute, print, search, or link to the full texts of articles under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License 4.0 (CC BY 4.0).

This license permits readers to copy, distribute, and transmit the article, as well as modify, transform, or build upon it. The article can also be used for commercial purposes, provided proper attribution is given to the original author(s) and source.

For more details, please refer to the full license here: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/.

Author Rights

Authors will assign copyright to Sultan Qaboos University alongside publishing and distribution rights.

Data Falsification/Fabrication

Data falsification or fabrication refers to the deliberate manipulation or creation of data with the intent to deceive, which is a serious form of misconduct. This action undermines the integrity of the scholarly record and has far-reaching, long-lasting consequences.

When submitting a manuscript, authors must ensure that all data presented is accurate and faithfully represents their research. To assist with manuscript evaluation, authors are expected to retain all raw data underlying their work.

If the original data cannot be provided upon request, the manuscript may be rejected or, if already published, retracted.

Data Sharing Policy

The Journal of Educational and Psychological Studies encourages the sharing of research data to enhance transparency, reproducibility, and knowledge development within the academic community. While we value the accessibility of data for other researchers, we also acknowledge the need to respect ethical and legal considerations. To support this, we have outlined guidelines for including data statements in submitted manuscripts:

Data Sharing Expectations

Authors are encouraged to make their data publicly available whenever possible, except where privacy, confidentiality, or legal restrictions apply. Data should be shared in a way that allows others to verify results and reuse the data for further research.

Data Availability

Authors must include a Data Availability Statement in their manuscript, clearly indicating where the data supporting the study's findings can be accessed or explaining why the data cannot be shared. Below are examples of acceptable Data Availability Statements:

Data Available in a Public Repository: The datasets created and/or analyzed during this study are accessible in the [NAME] repository at [PERSISTENT LINK TO DATASETS].
Data Available on Request: The datasets generated and/or analyzed during this study can be obtained from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.
No Data Available: No datasets were generated or analyzed during this study.

Desk Rejection Policy

A manuscript may be desk rejected under the following circumstances:

The topic or scope of the study is not relevant to the journal's field.
There are ethical issues related to publication, failure to follow international standards, or instances of plagiarism (with a similarity index exceeding 20%).
The topic lacks sufficient impact or does not contribute new knowledge to the field.
The study design contains significant flaws.
The study's objective is unclear or poorly defined.
The manuscript's organization is problematic, or certain essential components are missing.
There are significant issues with writing quality or frequent grammar/style errors.
The manuscript does not adhere to the journal's submission guidelines.

Duplicate Submission/Publication

Authors must confirm upon submission that the manuscript is not being considered for publication elsewhere. The discovery of a duplicate submission or publication is generally regarded as intentional. This includes articles that have been previously published in another language.

For acceptable forms of secondary submissions or publications (e.g., a translated version of an article), authors must obtain permission from the original publisher and copyright holder, and inform the editor of the receiving journal about the manuscript's prior history. It should also be clearly stated to readers that the article is a translation, with a proper citation to the original work provided.

Ethics Policies

JEPS is committed to publishing original articles that adhere to research ethics as described by international research associations such as APA. The journal adopts a full double-blind review process to ensure confidentiality.

Editors

Editors are expected to review manuscripts based on their intellectual contribution and should not involve any bias (related to gender, citizenship, race, or any form of discrimination) in their decision to accept/reject a manuscript. No information is disclosed related to the submitted manuscript except when necessary (e.g., during the review process). Editors and reviewers cannot use unpublished manuscripts in their own work and should not take advantage of any ideas from these unpublished manuscripts. In addition, the reviewers should adhere to publication ethics and help in providing a scientific review of the manuscripts. The reviewers need to withdraw from reviewing any manuscript that they feel unqualified to review.

Reviewers Relations

The reviews should focus merely on the scientific components of the research and need not show any personal criticism. Reviewers need to report any possible plagiarism to the journal editor and provide evidence for any identified ethical concerns in the manuscripts.

Author Relations

Authors take full responsibility for the content of their manuscripts and should adhere completely to research ethics in all steps of their research process. The authors need to present a full description of their research procedure to allow others for replication. They need to provide access to the raw data related to their submitted manuscripts, if requested. Authors need to avoid any kind of plagiarism and use APA citations to reference any cited materials, ideas, or any use of other people’s work. The authors are required not to include anyone in the authorship unless he/she has contributed significantly to the manuscript. In contrast, the authors should not exclude those people who have made significant contributions to the preparation of the manuscript. The Journal is not responsible for opinions printed in its publications; they represent the views of the individuals to whom they are credited and are not binding to the Journal.

Plagiarism is when someone acts to consider another person's work as his own. Duplicate publication, or self-plagiarism, occurs when an author reuses portions of his/her published work without providing appropriate references. This might be an identical research paper published in multiple journals or when the authors insert very limited modifications to a previous paper. The journal utilizes some plagiarism-checking software (e.g., Turnitin) to check for plagiarism. A similarity index of up to 20% is tolerated, assuming that it does not reflect a single direct quotation but rather a group of short joint vocabularies (usually common words used in research reports). In case of more than 20% similarities, the authors are advised to revise their writing and resubmit their manuscripts. If plagiarism is detected after publication, a full process of investigation is undertaken, and the journal contacts the authors’ institutes or funding agencies.

Funding

Authors are required to disclose all sources of funding, including any financial support, in their manuscript. They should describe the role of any sponsor(s) in the research process, from study design to manuscript submission for publication. If the sponsor(s) had no involvement, this should also be stated. Authors must ensure that the information provided is accurate and aligns with the requirements of their funding agency.

Images and Figures

Images and figures should only be included in your article if they are relevant and contribute meaningful value to the reported work. Please avoid adding content that is solely for illustration purposes and does not enhance the scholarly quality of the manuscript.

Misconduct

The journal takes all forms of misconduct seriously and will take appropriate actions, in line with COPE guidelines, to uphold the integrity of the scholarly record. Examples of misconduct include (but are not limited to):

Misrepresentation of affiliation
Violations of copyright or use of third-party material without proper permission
Manipulation of citations
Duplicate submission or publication
"Ethics dumping"
Image or data manipulation/fabrication
Manipulation of the peer review process
Plagiarism
Text recycling/self-plagiarism
Failure to disclose competing interests
Unethical research practices

Peer Review Process

All manuscripts undergo a peer review process to ensure they meet academic excellence standards. After the editor's approval, submissions will be reviewed by peer reviewers. The identities of the reviewers will remain anonymous to the authors, and vice versa, ensuring a double-blind review process. The editorial board is responsible for deciding whether a manuscript is accepted or rejected, based on the reviewers' recommendations.

Occasionally, our Research Integrity team may seek additional advice beyond the standard peer review process, particularly for submissions involving significant ethical, security, biosecurity, or societal concerns. In such cases, we may consult with experts and the academic editor to determine the best course of action, which may include recruiting specialized reviewers, involving additional editors, or choosing not to proceed with the submission.

Plagiarism Policy

Plagiarism occurs when someone presents another person's work as their own. Duplicate publication, or self-plagiarism, happens when an author reuses parts of their previously published work without proper citation. This may involve submitting the same paper to multiple journals or making minimal changes to a prior paper. The journal employs plagiarism-detection software (e.g., Turnitin) to identify potential plagiarism. A similarity index of up to 20% is acceptable, provided it doesn't consist of direct quotations but rather common research terminology. If the similarity exceeds 20%, authors will be asked to revise their manuscript and resubmit it. If plagiarism is discovered after publication, the journal will conduct a thorough investigation and may contact the authors' institutions or funding bodies.

Standards of Reporting

Research should be presented in a manner that facilitates verification and reproducibility. Therefore, we encourage authors to offer detailed explanations of their research rationale, protocol, methodology, and analysis.

Use of Third-Party Material

You must obtain the necessary permissions to reuse third-party material in your article, including, but not limited to, text, illustrations, photographs, tables, data, audio, video, film stills, screenshots, or musical notation. Limited use of short excerpts or some other types of material may be permitted for criticism and review purposes without formal permission. However, if you wish to include material for which you do not own the copyright and which isn't covered by this informal permission, you must secure written consent from the copyright owner before submission.

Use of Generative AI and AI-Assisted Technologies in Writing

This policy pertains solely to the writing process and not to the use of AI tools for analyzing and extracting insights from research data. Authors using AI and AI-assisted technologies in their writing should aim to enhance readability and language, rather than substitute for critical tasks such as generating scientific insights, drawing conclusions, or making clinical recommendations. AI use must be overseen by humans, with all content carefully reviewed and edited, as AI-generated content can be authoritative in tone but may still be incorrect, incomplete, or biased. Authors are fully responsible for the content they produce.

Any use of AI or AI-assisted technologies must be disclosed by authors in their manuscripts, and this disclosure will appear in the published work. Transparency ensures trust between authors, readers, reviewers, editors, and contributors while ensuring adherence to the relevant terms of use.

AI should not be credited with authorship or listed as a co-author. Authorship carries responsibilities that can only be fulfilled by humans, including addressing inquiries about the work’s accuracy and integrity, approving the final version, and consenting to its submission. Authors must ensure the originality of their work, confirm that the listed authors meet the authorship criteria, and guarantee that no third-party rights are violated.

Use of AI in Peer Review

To protect authors' rights and the confidentiality of research, this journal currently prohibits the use of generative AI or AI-assisted technologies, such as ChatGPT, in the peer review process. We are evaluating compliant AI tools and may update this policy in the future.

Special Issues

Special Issue topics are determined by the editorial team of the Journal of Educational and Psychological Studies and are typically released in the 4th issue of each volume. Special Issue submissions follow the same process and author guidelines as any issue submission. Potential authors are encouraged to review all submission guidelines and follow the process as outlined. Special issue topics are determined by the editorial team, and a call for submissions for special issues is typically included in the current year's special issue release.

Appointment of Guest Editors

Guest Editors for special issues are selected based on their expertise, academic reputation, and previous editorial experience. Potential Guest Editors can be nominated by the journal’s editorial board, existing editors, or through self-nomination. Nominations are reviewed by the journal’s editorial board and approved by the Editor-in-Chief. Guest Editors are responsible for defining the scope of the special issue, drafting the call for papers, managing manuscript submissions, overseeing the peer review process, ensuring quality and originality, and making final decisions on manuscript acceptance in consultation with the Editor-in-Chief.

Setup of Special Issues

To initiate a special issue, a detailed proposal must be submitted, including the theme, objectives, target audience, potential Guest Editors, and a timeline. The proposal is reviewed and approved by the journal’s editorial board and the Editor-in-Chief. Once approved, a call for papers is announced and promoted through various channels. A clear timeline is established for manuscript submission, peer review, and publication to ensure the special issue aligns with the journal’s regular publication schedule.

Editorial and Review Process

Manuscripts for special issues are submitted through the journal’s online submission system and undergo an initial screening by the Guest Editors to ensure they fit the scope and meet basic quality standards. The manuscripts then undergo a double-blind peer review process, with reviewers selected based on their expertise. Authors revise their manuscripts based on reviewer feedback and resubmit for further review if necessary. The Guest Editors recommend acceptance or rejection of manuscripts, with final approval from the Editor-in-Chief. Accepted manuscripts are formatted, proofread, and published according to the journal’s guidelines. The special issue is promoted through the journal’s distribution channels, and post-publication metrics and feedback are monitored to inform future special issues.

Review Process and Guidelines for Special Issues

All submissions, including those submitted to special issues, follow the same submission process and author guidelines as any issue of the Journal of Educational and Psychological Studies. Potential authors are encouraged to review all submission guidelines and follow the process as outlined. Special issues are reviewed and published in the same manner as every issue of the journal. Special issue topics are determined by the editorial team, and a call for submissions for special issues is typically included in the current year's special issue release.

Publication Timing & Review Process

Submissions to the Journal of Educational and Psychological Studies are accepted on an ongoing basis and should follow the requested submission types and adhere to the full author guidelines outlined here. The journal publishes four times annually with general issues in January, April, and July, and a special issue in October of each year. Submissions are considered for publication in a pending issue once deemed ready for publication, not necessarily based on the date of submission. All issues of the Journal of Educational and Psychological Studies, including the special issues, follow the same editorial and review process and adhere to the guidelines included here. We encourage and welcome your submission.