Publication Ethics

The Journal of Logistics and International Trade (JLIT) is committed to upholding the highest standards of publication ethics and takes all possible measures against publication malpractice. The journal adheres to the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) Core Practices, the recommendations of the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE) where applicable, and internationally accepted standards of academic integrity.

Editors, reviewers, authors, and the publisher are expected to comply with the ethical responsibilities described below.

Responsibilities of Authors

Authors submitting manuscripts to JLIT are expected to:

  • Submit only original work that has not been previously published and is not under consideration by another journal.
  • Ensure that all data are accurate, honestly reported, and obtained through ethical research practices.
  • Properly acknowledge the work and ideas of others through appropriate citations.
  • Avoid plagiarism, self-plagiarism, duplicate publication, data fabrication, data falsification, image manipulation, and citation manipulation.
  • Ensure that all listed authors have made significant scholarly contributions to the research and have approved the final version of the manuscript.
  • Disclose any financial or non-financial conflicts of interest that could influence the interpretation of the research.
  • Obtain ethical approval for research involving human participants, animals, or sensitive data whenever required by applicable regulations.
  • Promptly notify the Editor if a significant error or inaccuracy is discovered after publication and cooperate in issuing corrections or retractions where necessary.

Responsibilities of Reviewers

Reviewers play a vital role in maintaining the scientific quality of JLIT. Reviewers are expected to:

  • Review manuscripts objectively, fairly, and constructively.
  • Maintain the confidentiality of all manuscripts and review materials.
  • Evaluate manuscripts solely on their scientific merit, originality, methodological rigor, clarity, and relevance.
  • Complete reviews within the agreed timeframe.
  • Identify relevant published work that has not been cited.
  • Inform the Editor of any suspected plagiarism, duplicate publication, unethical research practices, or substantial overlap with previously published work.
  • Decline review invitations when a conflict of interest exists or when they lack the necessary expertise.

Responsibilities of Editors

Editors are responsible for ensuring a fair, transparent, and efficient editorial process. Editors shall:

  • Evaluate manuscripts solely on their academic merit, originality, methodological quality, and relevance to the journal's scope.
  • Ensure that the peer review process is conducted fairly, objectively, and confidentially.
  • Select qualified and independent reviewers.
  • Make editorial decisions without discrimination based on nationality, ethnicity, gender, institutional affiliation, political beliefs, or religious views.
  • Avoid handling manuscripts in which they have conflicts of interest.
  • Safeguard the confidentiality of submitted manuscripts.
  • Take appropriate action when ethical concerns or publication misconduct are identified.

The final decision regarding publication rests with the Editor-in-Chief.

Responsibilities of the Publisher

The publisher supports the editorial team in maintaining ethical publishing practices while respecting editorial independence. The publisher shall:

  • Provide adequate resources to ensure the integrity of the editorial process.
  • Preserve the independence of editorial decisions.
  • Maintain the long-term accessibility and preservation of published content.
  • Cooperate with editors in addressing allegations of research or publication misconduct.

Peer Review Integrity

JLIT employs a double-blind peer review process in which the identities of authors and reviewers are concealed throughout the review process. Editorial decisions are based on reviewers' recommendations together with the editors' independent assessment of the manuscript's scientific quality and relevance.

Plagiarism Policy

All manuscripts are screened using Turnitin and/or iThenticate before peer review.

To be considered for review, manuscripts should have an overall similarity index not exceeding 20%, excluding references, bibliography, and properly quoted material. Similarity reports are interpreted by the editors, and editorial decisions are based not only on the similarity percentage but also on the nature and context of the matched content.

Manuscripts found to contain plagiarism, excessive text overlap, duplicate publication, fabricated or falsified data, manipulated images, or citation manipulation may be rejected immediately or retracted if misconduct is discovered after publication.

Conflict of Interest

Authors, reviewers, and editors must disclose any actual or potential conflicts of interest that could influence the editorial process or the interpretation of research findings.

Editors or reviewers with conflicts of interest shall recuse themselves from handling or reviewing the affected manuscript.

Authorship

Authorship should be limited to individuals who have made substantial intellectual contributions to the conception, design, execution, analysis, or interpretation of the study.

Individuals who contributed to the research but do not meet the criteria for authorship should be acknowledged appropriately.

Changes to authorship after submission require written approval from all authors and acceptance by the Editor-in-Chief.

Research Integrity

JLIT expects all research to be conducted responsibly and ethically.

Authors should retain original research data and provide them upon reasonable request by the editors if questions arise regarding the validity of the published work.

Corrections, Retractions, and Expressions of Concern

When errors or ethical issues are identified after publication, JLIT may publish:

  • Corrections (Errata or Corrigenda);
  • Retractions;
  • Expressions of Concern;

depending on the nature and severity of the issue.

Such actions will be undertaken in accordance with the COPE Guidelines.

Appeals and Complaints

Authors may appeal editorial decisions by submitting a written explanation and supporting evidence to the Editor-in-Chief.

Appeals will be evaluated objectively, and additional independent reviewers may be appointed when appropriate. The Editor-in-Chief's decision after the appeal process shall be final.

Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Artificial intelligence (AI) tools may be used only to assist language improvement, grammar checking, or formatting. AI tools must not be listed as authors because they cannot assume responsibility for the integrity, originality, or accountability of scholarly work.

Authors are responsible for verifying all AI-assisted content and should disclose any substantial use of AI tools in the preparation of their manuscripts when appropriate.

Ethical Oversight

JLIT reserves the right to investigate any suspected ethical misconduct before or after publication. Allegations of misconduct will be handled fairly, confidentially, and in accordance with the COPE Core Practices. Appropriate editorial actions may include manuscript rejection, publication of corrections, retractions, notification of authors' institutions, or other measures deemed necessary to protect the integrity of the scholarly record.