Publication Ethics

1. General Statement

The Borneo Journal of Language and Education (BENJOLE) is committed to maintaining high standards of publication ethics, academic integrity, transparency, and accountability throughout the scholarly publishing process. The journal seeks to ensure that research submitted to and published in BENJOLE is evaluated fairly, reported accurately, and handled in accordance with responsible scholarly practices.

This policy establishes the ethical responsibilities of authors, editors, reviewers, and the publisher. It addresses originality, authorship, research integrity, peer review, conflicts of interest, research ethics, data availability, artificial intelligence, complaints, appeals, and the correction of the scholarly record.

BENJOLE's publication ethics framework is informed by relevant guidance from the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and the Principles of Transparency and Best Practice in Scholarly Publishing developed collaboratively by COPE. The journal applies these principles in a manner appropriate to its scope, editorial procedures, and publishing practices.

2. Ethical Responsibilities of Authors

Authors are responsible for the originality, accuracy, integrity, and ethical compliance of their manuscripts. By submitting a manuscript to BENJOLE, authors are expected to comply with the following requirements.

2.1. Originality and Plagiarism

Manuscripts must present original scholarly work. All ideas, quotations, data, findings, and materials derived from other sources must be appropriately acknowledged and cited.

Plagiarism, misrepresentation of previously published work as new, inappropriate text recycling, and other practices that misrepresent the originality of a manuscript are unacceptable. Authors must ensure that their submissions comply with BENJOLE's Plagiarism Policy.

2.2. Exclusive Submission and Redundant Publication

A manuscript submitted to BENJOLE must not be under consideration by another journal or publisher simultaneously.

Authors must disclose substantial overlap between a submitted manuscript and their previously published work or other manuscripts under consideration. Duplicate or redundant publication that misrepresents the novelty of the research is unacceptable.

Any legitimate reuse of previously published material must be appropriately acknowledged and must comply with applicable copyright requirements.

2.3. Accuracy and Research Integrity

Authors must report research methods, data, analysis, and findings honestly and accurately. Fabrication, falsification, misleading manipulation of data, inappropriate image manipulation, and deliberate misrepresentation of results are prohibited.

Authors should maintain appropriate research records and provide relevant supporting information when reasonably requested by the editorial team. Any identified errors that materially affect a submitted or published work must be communicated to the journal promptly.

2.4. Authorship and Contributions

Authorship must accurately reflect the intellectual contributions of the individuals involved in the research and manuscript preparation.

All listed authors must satisfy BENJOLE's Authorship and Contribution Policy, approve the final manuscript, and accept accountability for their contributions. Individuals who do not meet the authorship criteria should be acknowledged appropriately rather than granted honorary authorship.

All authorship changes must follow the journal's established procedures and receive the required agreement and editorial approval.

2.5. Research Ethics and Participant Protection

Research involving human participants, personal data, animals, or other ethically sensitive materials must comply with applicable ethical standards, institutional requirements, and relevant laws.

Where applicable, authors must obtain approval from an appropriate research ethics committee, informed consent from participants, and permission to use relevant data or materials. Authors must protect confidentiality, privacy, and the rights of research participants.

Manuscripts should include relevant statements concerning ethical approval, informed consent, and participant protection where required by the research design. Any claimed exemption from ethical review must be justified when applicable.

2.6. Funding and Conflicts of Interest

Authors must disclose funding sources and any financial, professional, personal, or institutional interests that could reasonably be perceived to influence their research, interpretation, or reporting.

Authors must also disclose relevant relationships with organizations, sponsors, or other parties that may have influenced the research process or manuscript.

Where no relevant conflict exists, authors should provide an appropriate declaration when required by the journal.

2.7. Data Availability and Reproducibility

Authors are expected to describe their research methods and analytical procedures with sufficient detail to allow readers to understand and critically assess the findings.

Where appropriate, authors should provide access to the data, research materials, instruments, code, or other supporting resources necessary to evaluate or reproduce the work.

Data sharing must respect participant confidentiality, privacy, intellectual property rights, informed consent, contractual obligations, and applicable legal or ethical restrictions. When data cannot be shared, authors should explain the relevant restrictions or provide an appropriate data availability statement where required.

Authors must not fabricate, falsify, selectively conceal, or misleadingly present data.

2.8. Use of Artificial Intelligence

Authors must comply with BENJOLE's Artificial Intelligence Policy when using generative AI or other AI-assisted tools in research or manuscript preparation.

AI systems cannot be listed as authors because they cannot assume the accountability and responsibilities required of human authors. Authors remain responsible for verifying the accuracy, originality, integrity, appropriate attribution, and ethical acceptability of all submitted content.

Authors must disclose AI use in accordance with the journal's applicable requirements. AI tools must not be used to fabricate data, create false references, misrepresent research findings, or compromise confidential information.

3. Ethical Responsibilities of Editors

Editors are responsible for managing manuscripts fairly, independently, and consistently with BENJOLE's editorial policies and publication ethics standards.

3.1. Editorial Independence

Editorial decisions must be based on scholarly merit, originality, methodological rigor, relevance to the journal's Focus and Scope, ethical compliance, and appropriate peer-review advice.

Editors must not allow institutional interests, financial considerations, personal relationships, author status, or other inappropriate influences to determine publication decisions.

3.2. Fair and Impartial Assessment

Editors must evaluate manuscripts objectively and without discrimination based on nationality, ethnicity, gender, religion, institutional affiliation, seniority, or other personal characteristics unrelated to scholarly merit.

All manuscripts must be assessed according to consistent editorial standards and the journal's published policies.

3.3. Confidentiality

Editors must protect the confidentiality of submitted manuscripts, reviewer reports, editorial correspondence, and unpublished research information.

Manuscript materials must not be disclosed to unauthorized individuals or used for personal, professional, or financial advantage.

3.4. Conflicts of Interest

Editors must disclose relevant conflicts of interest and refrain from handling manuscripts when personal, professional, financial, or institutional relationships could compromise impartiality.

Where necessary, the manuscript must be assigned to an appropriately independent editor. Conflicts must be managed in accordance with BENJOLE's Conflict of Interest Policy.

3.5. Ethical Concerns and Editorial Decisions

Editors must take credible allegations of research or publication misconduct seriously, whether they arise before or after publication.

Where necessary, editors may request explanations or supporting documentation, consult independent experts, or contact the relevant institution or research organization.

Editors are responsible for ensuring that decisions concerning rejection, revision, acceptance, correction, expressions of concern, or retraction are based on appropriate evidence and follow the journal's applicable policies.

4. Ethical Responsibilities of Reviewers

Reviewers contribute to the quality, credibility, and integrity of BENJOLE publications through independent scholarly assessment.

4.1. Objectivity and Constructive Evaluation

Reviewers must evaluate manuscripts objectively and provide clear, evidence-based, and constructive comments. Personal criticism, discriminatory language, and unsupported allegations are unacceptable.

4.2. Confidentiality

Manuscripts received for review are confidential documents. Reviewers must not share, reproduce, distribute, or use unpublished manuscript content without appropriate authorization.

4.3. Conflicts of Interest

Reviewers must disclose financial, professional, personal, or academic conflicts that could affect their impartiality. They should decline an assignment when such conflicts prevent an objective assessment.

4.4. Recognition of Sources and Research Integrity

Reviewers should identify relevant scholarly work that has not been adequately cited and notify the editor of substantial similarities to other publications or potential ethical concerns.

Concerns must be communicated confidentially to the editorial team and supported by relevant evidence where possible.

4.5. Timeliness and Expertise

Reviewers should accept assignments only when they have appropriate expertise and can complete the review within the agreed timeframe. If they cannot complete a review promptly, they should inform the editor as soon as possible.

5. Peer Review and Editorial Integrity

BENJOLE uses a double-blind peer-review process, subject to the journal's published review procedures. The identities of authors and reviewers are concealed from one another to the extent practicable.

Submitted manuscripts undergo an initial editorial assessment to determine their suitability for the journal's Focus and Scope and compliance with submission requirements. Manuscripts that meet these requirements may proceed to independent peer review.

Reviewers provide scholarly recommendations, while authorized editors retain responsibility for editorial decisions. Acceptance, revision, or rejection must be based on scholarly quality, originality, methodological rigor, relevance, ethical compliance, and the available evidence.

Detailed procedures are set out in BENJOLE's Peer Review Process Policy.

6. Research Misconduct and Allegations

BENJOLE does not tolerate research or publication misconduct. Potential misconduct includes plagiarism, fabrication, falsification, inappropriate image manipulation, duplicate publication, authorship misconduct, citation manipulation, peer-review manipulation, and undisclosed conflicts of interest.

The journal will assess credible allegations impartially and with appropriate confidentiality and procedural fairness. Depending on the circumstances, the editorial team may request clarification, examine supporting evidence, consult independent experts, or contact the relevant institution or research organization.

Individuals concerned will be given an appropriate opportunity to respond, subject to applicable ethical and legal requirements. The journal will not treat an allegation as proven solely because it has been reported.

Depending on the findings, possible actions include requesting further information, rejecting a manuscript, suspending editorial processing, requesting corrections, publishing an expression of concern, retracting an article, or taking other proportionate measures.

Detailed procedures are provided in BENJOLE's Allegations of Research Misconduct policy.

7. Complaints and Appeals

BENJOLE provides a mechanism for authors, reviewers, readers, and other concerned parties to submit complaints about the journal, its editorial processes, its staff, or its published content.

Complaints and appeals should be submitted in writing to the editorial office and should include a clear explanation of the concern and relevant supporting evidence.

The journal will assess complaints and appeals fairly, impartially, and in accordance with the relevant policies. Where practicable, an appeal should be considered by an editor or qualified person who was not directly involved in the original decision.

The journal may request additional information from the parties concerned before reaching a decision. The submission of a complaint or appeal does not guarantee that the original decision will be changed.

Complaints concerning research or publication misconduct will be handled under the relevant misconduct procedures.

8. Conflicts of Interest and Competing Interests

A conflict of interest exists when financial, professional, personal, institutional, or other relationships could reasonably be perceived to influence the conduct, evaluation, interpretation, or publication of research.

Authors, reviewers, editors, and the publisher must disclose relevant conflicts and cooperate in managing them appropriately.

The journal may reassign editorial responsibilities, appoint an independent reviewer or editor, request additional disclosures, or take other appropriate measures to protect the integrity of the editorial process.

Conflicts identified before or after publication will be assessed according to their nature and significance. Where necessary, the journal may publish a disclosure or take other editorial action.

Detailed procedures are set out in BENJOLE's Conflict of Interest Policy.

9. Ethical Oversight

BENJOLE expects research to comply with applicable ethical standards and legal requirements, particularly when studies involve human participants, personal data, vulnerable populations, animals, or other ethically sensitive materials.

Authors must provide information about relevant ethical approval, informed consent, participant protection, and permission to use data or materials where applicable.

The journal may request supporting documentation when necessary to assess compliance. If ethical concerns arise, the editorial team may seek clarification, consult independent experts, or contact the relevant institution.

The journal recognizes that requirements vary according to the nature of the research, the relevant discipline, and applicable institutional or legal frameworks. Authors must explain relevant exemptions where formal ethical approval or consent is not required.

10. Intellectual Property, Copyright, and Licensing

Authors are responsible for ensuring that their manuscripts respect applicable intellectual property rights. Third-party text, figures, tables, images, datasets, and other protected materials must be properly attributed, and permission must be obtained where required.

Copyright ownership, publication rights, licensing terms, and permitted reuse of published content are governed by BENJOLE's published Copyright and Licensing Policy.

The journal expects authors to ensure that the materials they submit can lawfully be considered for publication. Any concerns about unauthorized use or infringement will be assessed under the journal's applicable policies.

11. Data Sharing and Reproducibility

BENJOLE encourages transparent reporting of research methods, analytical procedures, and relevant supporting materials to the extent appropriate for the discipline and study design.

Where appropriate and ethically permissible, authors should make supporting data, instruments, code, or other research materials available through suitable repositories or upon reasonable request.

Data sharing must not violate privacy, confidentiality, informed consent, intellectual property rights, contractual restrictions, or applicable laws. Authors should explain restrictions on access and provide a data availability statement where required by the journal.

The journal may request additional information when necessary to assess the credibility or reproducibility of reported findings.

12. Artificial Intelligence and Emerging Technologies

BENJOLE recognizes that artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies may be used in research, analysis, language processing, and manuscript preparation.

Authors must disclose AI use in accordance with the journal's Artificial Intelligence Policy. They remain responsible for checking generated content, verifying citations and factual claims, protecting confidential information, and ensuring that the research is accurately represented.

Editors and reviewers must protect manuscript confidentiality when using any permitted digital or AI-assisted tools. Unpublished manuscripts and confidential review materials must not be entered into tools or services in ways that breach confidentiality or applicable data protection requirements.

AI tools must not replace the independent scholarly judgment required for editorial decisions or peer review.

13. Corrections, Retractions, and Post-Publication Discussion

BENJOLE is committed to preserving the accuracy and integrity of the scholarly record.

When errors, ethical concerns, or questions about a published article arise, the journal will assess the available evidence and determine the appropriate response. Depending on the circumstances, this may include a correction, an expression of concern, a retraction, or another proportionate editorial action.

The journal may also consider substantive post-publication comments or scholarly discussions that contribute constructively to the evaluation of published research.

Editorial notices and post-publication actions will be handled in accordance with the journal's applicable policies and linked to the relevant article where appropriate.

Detailed procedures are provided in BENJOLE's Correction and Retraction Policy and Post-Publication Discussion Policy.

14. Publication Fees and Editorial Independence

Any manuscript submission fees, article processing charges, publication fees, or other applicable charges must be clearly stated on the journal's official website.

Payment does not guarantee acceptance or influence peer review, editorial assessment, or publication decisions. Editorial decisions must remain independent of an author's ability or willingness to pay.

Any applicable waiver or financial assistance arrangements must be administered transparently and must not compromise editorial independence.

Further information is provided in BENJOLE's Author Fees and Article Processing Charges policy.

15. Confidentiality and Fair Treatment

BENJOLE seeks to protect confidential information obtained during manuscript submission, peer review, investigations, and editorial correspondence.

Information will be shared only with individuals or organizations that need it for legitimate editorial, ethical, or legal purposes, subject to applicable requirements.

The journal aims to treat all parties fairly, protect legitimate interests, and avoid premature conclusions when allegations or disputes arise. Appropriate safeguards will be used to manage conflicts of interest and maintain the integrity of editorial procedures.

16. Policy Implementation and Review

All authors, editors, reviewers, and other participants in the publication process are expected to comply with the ethical requirements applicable to their roles.

The editorial team is responsible for applying this policy consistently and for reviewing it when necessary to reflect developments in scholarly publishing ethics, relevant guidance, and the journal's actual practices.

Where a policy requires a procedure that has not yet been implemented, the journal must establish the necessary process before presenting it as an established practice.

17. Related Policies

This policy should be read together with the following BENJOLE policies:

• Authorship and Contribution Policy.
• Allegations of Research Misconduct.
• Plagiarism Policy.
• Peer Review Process Policy.
• Conflict of Interest Policy.
• Artificial Intelligence Policy.
• Correction and Retraction Policy.
• Post-Publication Discussion Policy.
• Copyright and Licensing Policy.
• Author Fees and Article Processing Charges.

18. Contact Information

Questions, complaints, or concerns regarding publication ethics may be directed to the BENJOLE editorial office.

Email: jurnal.benjole@uinsi.ac.id

BENJOLE is committed to responsible, transparent, and ethical scholarly publishing and to protecting the credibility, reliability, and integrity of the academic record.