Editorial Ethics

The journal adheres to the principles established by COPE, internationally recognized for promoting ethical publishing practices, academic integrity, transparency, and responsibility in scholarly communication.

Authorship and Contribution

Authors and reviewers must access the journal's submission and review system. If discrepancies are identified between the information provided and the declared identity, a verification process will be conducted. If the identity cannot be adequately confirmed, the editorial process will be suspended. Should such inconsistencies be discovered after publication, the article may be corrected or retracted.

Authorship criteria are detailed in the author guidelines. Authorship is limited to individuals who have made substantial intellectual contributions to the work. Each author must have significantly participated in the conception or design of the study, data collection, analysis or interpretation, software or tool development when applicable, or in drafting and critically revising the manuscript. In addition, all authors must approve the submitted version and accept public responsibility for their individual contributions and for the integrity of the work as a whole.

Authors must declare their individual contributions within the submission system. Contributions should be clearly described using the initials or full name of each author. The contribution statement may specify who designed the study, collected and analyzed the data, drafted the manuscript, and conducted critical revisions. All listed authors must have contributed to the final version of the manuscript.

Before submission, the following conditions must be met:

Properly acknowledge previous scholarly work through appropriate citations.
Ensure that the manuscript is original and has not been previously published in any format incompatible with the open-access license.
Confirm that the manuscript is not under consideration by another journal or publisher.
Ensure that all authors have approved the submission and authorized the inclusion of their personal and professional information.
Hold the legal right to submit the work and grant the journal permission to publish it under an open-access license.
Obtain the necessary permissions for any third-party material and provide supporting documentation when requested.
Ensure that all submitted information is accurate, complete, and consistent with ethical and scientific standards.
Confirm that all data and materials have been obtained legally and in accordance with applicable regulations.
Accept that authors' names, affiliations, and contact information may appear on the journal website and related platforms.

The journal continuously monitors matters related to authorship. Any modification to authorship, including changes in author order or the addition or removal of authors, requires the written consent of all authors involved. In the event of an authorship dispute, the editorial process will remain suspended until the matter is formally resolved.

Research Ethics Statement

All research submitted to the journal must comply with recognized ethical standards applicable to the relevant discipline. Manuscripts involving human or animal participants must clearly indicate, within the Methods section, the approval obtained from an ethics committee or other appropriate review body. When formal ethical review is not available, authors must explain how ethical principles and relevant regulations were followed. Informed consent from human participants must be obtained unless a justified exception applies.

Conflicts of Interest / Competing Interests

Authors must disclose any financial, professional, or personal interests that may influence the research or the interpretation of its findings. Conflict of interest declarations must be submitted with the manuscript. If undisclosed conflicts are identified during review, the evaluation process will be suspended until the matter is clarified. Conflicts discovered after publication may result in corrections or, in serious cases, retraction.

Disclosure of Financial Support and Funding Sources

Authors must transparently disclose all funding sources related to the research. This information should be included in a dedicated funding statement within the manuscript.

The funding statement should include the full names of funding bodies or sponsors, relevant grant or project numbers, and a description of the funders’ involvement in the research, if any. Authors must clearly indicate whether funders influenced the study design, data collection, analysis, interpretation of results, manuscript preparation, or publication decisions. If funders had no involvement in these activities, this should be explicitly stated. Failure to provide accurate funding information may be considered a breach of publication ethics.

Acknowledgment of Contributions from Non-Authors

Individuals who contributed to the work but do not meet the criteria for authorship should be recognized in the Acknowledgments section. This may include technical assistance, methodological support, manuscript comments, or general advice. Such contributions do not imply responsibility for the content of the article.

Before including any individual in the acknowledgments, authors must obtain their consent. This section should be concise and used only when appropriate. If no third-party contributions exist, the section may be omitted.

Data and Reproducibility

The journal promotes transparency, openness, and reproducibility in research. Manuscripts will be considered for publication only when the data, methods, materials, and analytical procedures are clearly documented and available to permit verification or replication.

Authors using publicly available datasets must provide sufficient documentation, including code and scripts used to reproduce the analyses. Authors generating original data are expected to deposit their data and related materials in a trusted digital repository unless ethical or legal restrictions apply. In such cases, authors must explain the restrictions and describe the process through which access may be requested.

Data sharing may be delayed until publication, and temporary embargoes may be granted in exceptional circumstances. Articles will not be published until data availability requirements have been satisfied. Failure to comply after publication may result in editorial action.

Ethical Oversight

All submitted research must comply with the ethical, legal, and regulatory frameworks applicable in the country where the study was conducted. Particular attention is required when research involves vulnerable populations. Authors must ensure the protection of participants’ rights, dignity, and confidentiality, as well as the anonymization of data to prevent identification.

Concerns regarding ethical compliance will be investigated through a structured process. Authors will be given the opportunity to respond. Depending on the outcome, actions may include manuscript rejection, corrections, or notification of relevant institutions.

Preprints

Authors may share preliminary versions of their manuscripts on personal websites, institutional repositories, or non-commercial preprint servers. When doing so, authors should retain copyright and update the record with a link to the final published version once it becomes available.

Profile and Responsibilities

Reviewer Profile

Reviewers are researchers and professionals with demonstrated expertise in the subject areas covered by the journal. They must possess advanced academic qualifications and a strong scientific background supported by peer-reviewed publications and active participation in the scholarly community.

Reviewers act independently, objectively, and confidentially and must not have any conflicts of interest with the authors, institutions, or outcomes of the manuscript under evaluation.

Reviewer Responsibilities

Reviewers are responsible for:

Evaluating manuscripts critically, objectively, and constructively based solely on academic merit, methodological rigor, originality, and relevance.
Maintaining strict confidentiality regarding the manuscript content and refraining from disclosing or using reviewed information for personal or third-party benefit.
Promptly declaring any actual or potential conflict of interest that may compromise impartiality.
Providing clear, respectful, and well-reasoned reports within established deadlines.
Identifying possible ethical concerns, including plagiarism, data manipulation, duplicate publication, or questionable research practices.
Refraining from using generative artificial intelligence tools to draft peer review reports or substantive manuscript evaluations.
Contributing to manuscript improvement through technical, methodological, and conceptual recommendations without assuming editorial or authorship roles.

Authors

Authors are responsible for:

Ensuring that the manuscript is original, has not been previously published, and is not under review elsewhere.
Ensuring that all authors meet authorship criteria and have approved the final version of the manuscript.
Accurately and transparently reporting authorship contributions using the CRediT taxonomy.
Guaranteeing the accuracy, integrity, and traceability of the data, methods, and results presented.
Complying with all applicable research ethics requirements, including ethical approvals and informed consent when required.
Transparently disclosing conflicts of interest and funding sources.
Obtaining all necessary permissions for the use of third-party materials.
Responding promptly and appropriately to comments from editors and reviewers.
Accepting full responsibility for the article content, including cases where automated or artificial intelligence tools have been used as technical support.
Cooperating with the journal when corrections, clarifications, or post-publication actions are required.

Editors and Editorial Board

Editors and Editorial Board members are distinguished scholars with scientific and editorial expertise in the journal’s areas of specialization. They perform their duties with academic independence, professional integrity, and a commitment to research quality.

The Editorial Board advises on editorial policies, thematic scope, and the journal’s academic strategy, contributing to the strengthening of scientific and ethical standards.

Responsibilities of Editors and the Editorial Board

Editors and Editorial Board members are responsible for:

Ensuring a fair, rigorous, and transparent peer-review process.
Making editorial decisions based exclusively on scientific quality, originality, and relevance.
Selecting qualified reviewers, preventing conflicts of interest, and ensuring independent evaluations.
Protecting the confidentiality of authors and reviewers throughout the editorial process.
Monitoring compliance with ethical policies, scientific integrity standards, and the responsible use of artificial intelligence.
Addressing suspected misconduct through clear and proportionate procedures.
Managing corrections, expressions of concern, and retractions when necessary.
Maintaining editorial independence from commercial, institutional, or personal interests.
Promoting the continuous improvement of the journal and the academic community it serves.

Allegations of Misconduct

All allegations of scientific or editorial misconduct are handled with confidentiality, diligence, and impartiality, in accordance with internationally accepted ethical standards and the principles established by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).

Each allegation is assessed individually, taking into account its nature, severity, and context. Authors, reviewers, and other involved parties are provided with a reasonable opportunity to respond and submit supporting explanations or documentation.

When misconduct is confirmed, appropriate editorial measures will be taken, including manuscript rejection, publication of a correction or expression of concern, article retraction, and, where justified, notification of relevant institutions or authorities.

Any allegation, suspicion, or inquiry concerning possible misconduct should be formally submitted to the editorial office through editorial@jogbeditorial.ec.

Complaints

Complaints regarding editorial decisions, peer-review procedures, or the conduct of editors, reviewers, or journal staff are taken seriously and reviewed in a transparent and impartial manner.

Complaints are evaluated independently and in accordance with established ethical guidelines. When a complaint is found to be justified, appropriate corrective measures will be implemented to strengthen editorial processes and safeguard the integrity of the journal.

Formal complaints should be directed to editorial@jogbeditorial.ec.

Permanence, Retractions, Post-Publication Discussions, and Corrections

Articles published by the journal constitute the official version of record and will not be altered after publication except in exceptional and duly justified circumstances.

When necessary to preserve the accuracy and reliability of the scholarly record, the journal may issue corrections, expressions of concern, or retractions in accordance with established ethical procedures. Retracted articles remain accessible and are clearly identified through an explanatory notice indicating the reasons for retraction.

The journal encourages post-publication academic discussion. Comments or responses may be considered for publication following editorial evaluation and, when appropriate, peer review. Substantiated concerns raised after publication may lead to editorial actions intended to preserve the integrity, transparency, and reliability of the scientific record.