Publication Ethics

Econova: A Journal of Business, Commerce, and Economic Research

Introduction

Econova is committed to upholding the highest ethical standards in all aspects of the editorial and publication process. We follow the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) guidelines to ensure fairness, transparency, and integrity across all stages of manuscript submission, peer review, editing, and publishing. This policy outlines the ethical responsibilities of authors, editors, reviewers, and the publisher.

Responsibilities of Authors

Originality and Plagiarism

Authors must submit original work that has not been published or submitted elsewhere. All sources, data, or ideas from other works must be properly cited. Any form of plagiarism, including self-plagiarism, is strictly prohibited.

Data Integrity

Authors are responsible for ensuring the accuracy, validity, and reliability of the data presented in their manuscripts. Fabrication, falsification, or selective reporting of data constitutes research misconduct.

Authorship and Contributions

Only individuals who have made substantial contributions to the research, writing, or analysis should be listed as authors. The corresponding author must confirm that all listed authors have read and approved the final version before submission.

Conflicts of Interest

Authors must disclose any financial, professional, or personal relationships that could influence the research or its interpretation.

Research Ethics Compliance

For studies involving human participants, animals, or sensitive data, authors must provide proof of ethical approval and ensure informed consent where applicable.

Retractions and Corrections

If errors are discovered after publication, authors are obligated to notify the editorial team. When necessary, articles may be corrected, updated, or retracted in accordance with COPE procedures.

Responsibilities of Editors

Editorial Independence and Objectivity

Editors must make decisions based on the academic merit of submissions, free from personal or institutional bias.

Confidentiality
All submitted manuscripts are treated as confidential. Editors must not share information about a submission with anyone outside the review process.

Conflict of Interest

Editors must recuse themselves from handling manuscripts where a conflict of interest exists and must disclose such conflicts to the editorial board.

Handling Complaints and Appeals

Editors must respond promptly and fairly to ethical complaints, appeals, and allegations of misconduct, ensuring due process and resolution.

Corrections and Retractions

Editors are responsible for publishing errata, corrections, or retractions when errors or misconduct are confirmed in published content.

Responsibilities of Reviewers

Confidentiality
Reviewers must treat manuscripts as confidential documents and must not use, share, or disclose any content before publication.

Constructive and Objective Evaluation

Reviews should be fair, evidence-based, and respectful, with clear feedback to help authors improve their work. Personal criticism is unacceptable.

Timeliness
Reviewers are expected to submit evaluations within the agreed timeframe. If a delay is expected, they should inform the editor promptly.

Conflict of Interest

Reviewers must disclose any potential conflict of interest and decline review assignments if impartiality is compromised.

Ethical Oversight
Reviewers are encouraged to identify and report suspected plagiarism, data falsification, or ethical breaches to the editorial team.

Responsibilities of the Publisher

Ethical Oversight and Transparency

As the official publisher, Wenjibra University Press supports Econova’s commitment to editorial independence, transparency, and ethical rigor.

Compliance with Publishing Standards

The publisher ensures adherence to international standards on data sharing, intellectual property, research ethics, and access.

Corrections and Retractions

The publisher collaborates with the editorial board to issue retractions, corrections, or clarifications as necessary.

Promoting Research Integrity

The publisher is responsible for training and supporting editorial staff and ensuring proper handling of ethical issues, misconduct investigations, and data protection.

Handling Misconduct

Econova maintains a zero-tolerance policy toward misconduct such as plagiarism, duplicate submission, authorship fraud, and data manipulation. Confirmed violations will result in: