Publication Ethics

Duties of editors

The editorial board of the Sahasat: Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities is responsible for overseeing academic articles with fairness, transparency, and strict adherence to academic ethics. The duties and best practices include the following:

1.  Transparency in Editorial Operations

Establish clear and publicly accessible policies and procedures regarding article submission, peer review, publication, and any associated fees (if applicable), to ensure transparency and accountability.

2.  Fairness in Manuscript Evaluation

Conduct an initial screening of submitted manuscripts based on academic quality, relevance to the aims and scope of the journal, and plagiarism detection, without bias or conflict of interest.

3.  Double-blind Peer Review Process

Select reviewers with expertise relevant to the article’s content who are not affiliated with the authors, and maintain anonymity between authors and reviewers to uphold neutrality and integrity in the review process.

4.  Confidentiality and Protection of Personal Data

Maintain confidentiality of authors' and reviewers’ personal information, as well as the content of manuscripts under review.

5.  Ethical Misconduct Handling

If a manuscript is found to involve plagiarism, duplicate or redundant publication, data fabrication or falsification, or any other form of academic misconduct, the editorial board reserves the right to suspend the review process, request clarification from the author(s), or reject the manuscript. In cases where such issues are discovered after publication, the journal reserves the right to retract the article and issue a formal public notice.

6.  Decision-making on Manuscripts

Make publication decisions based solely on scholarly evidence and the merit of the article, without influence from personal opinions or unrelated interests.

7.  Conflict of Interest Management

Editors must recuse themselves from handling manuscripts for which they are authors or have personal affiliations, and delegate the editorial duties to another member of the editorial board.

8.  Appeals and Corrections

Provide a formal mechanism for appeals or complaints related to editorial decisions and published content. In cases of error or ethical issues, editors are responsible for investigating, correcting, or retracting articles as appropriate.

Duties of reviewers

Reviewers play a crucial role in evaluating the quality of academic articles with fairness and transparency to ensure that the publication process adheres to ethical academic standards. The following are the journal’s guidelines for reviewers:

1.  Confidentiality

Reviewers must not disclose any part or all of the manuscript assigned for review to other individuals. They must not use any information contained in the manuscript for personal benefit or the benefit of others prior to official publication.

2.  Avoidance of Conflicts of Interest

If reviewers are aware of any connection with the author(s)—such as prior research collaboration, personal acquaintance, or any other circumstance that may affect impartiality—they must immediately notify the editor and decline the review.

3.  Impartial and Evidence-Based Evaluation

Reviewers must assess manuscripts based on scholarly criteria. Personal opinions without academic support must not influence the review decision.

4.  Timeliness

Reviewers must complete and return their evaluations within the timeframe specified by the journal, to ensure timely feedback for authors and continuity of the publication process.

5.  Constructive Academic Feedback

Reviewers are encouraged to provide clear, constructive, and academically grounded comments, supported by evidence or accepted practices, to help authors improve their manuscripts.

6.  Reporting of Ethical Misconduct

If reviewers suspect plagiarism, data falsification, or any form of academic misconduct, they must promptly inform the editorial board so that appropriate action may be taken in accordance with the journal’s ethical policies.

Duties of authors

Authors are fully responsible for the content of the academic articles they submit for publication and must strictly adhere to ethical standards in academic conduct and publishing. The following are the journal’s author guidelines:

1.  Originality Certification

Submitted manuscripts must be original, have not been previously published elsewhere, and must not be under consideration for publication in another journal or publication simultaneously.

2.  Honest Data Presentation

Authors must report research findings and analyses truthfully and transparently, without data fabrication, distortion, or manipulation to achieve expected outcomes.

3.  Proper Citation and Avoidance of Plagiarism

All sources must be accurately and properly cited in accordance with academic standards. Authors must avoid plagiarism, including both the use of others’ work without credit and reuse of their own previously published work without proper citation (self-plagiarism).

4.  Authorship Responsibility

All individuals listed as authors must have made a significant contribution to the research, approved the final version of the manuscript, and agreed to its submission for publication. The inclusion or exclusion of any individual who has played a substantial role in the research is strictly prohibited.

Any addition or alteration to the list of authors after the submission of the manuscript is not permitted, except in cases of genuine necessity. In such instances, the corresponding author must submit a formal written explanation to the editor. Changes to authorship can only be made with the explicit approval of the editor.

5.  Manuscript Preparation

Manuscripts must be prepared in full compliance with the journal’s author guidelines and formatting requirements.

6.  Disclosure of Funding Support

Any funding sources or supporting institutions for the research must be clearly acknowledged, if applicable.

7. Research Ethics Involving Humans and Animals

For studies involving human participants, authors must comply with internationally recognized ethical standards and all applicable laws and regulations of Thailand. Ethical approval must be obtained from an Institutional Review Board (IRB), with full details of the approval clearly stated in the manuscript. Authors must also obtain voluntary informed consent from all participants and ensure the protection of their rights, safety, and privacy throughout the study.

For studies involving animals, authors must adhere to internationally accepted principles of animal welfare and standards for animal research. Approval must be obtained from an Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) or an equivalent authoritative body, and the details of such approval must be explicitly stated in the manuscript.

8.  Declaration of Conflicts of Interest

Authors must disclose any potential conflicts of interest that may influence the manuscript, including affiliations with institutions, organizations, or individuals involved in the research or publication process.

9. Responsibility for Data and Supporting Documents

All authors are responsible for ensuring the accuracy, completeness, and currency of all data and supporting documents submitted for the consideration of the manuscript. They are also accountable for providing any additional documentation requested by the editorial board to facilitate the verification of the accuracy of the content and the research process.