Aulada : Jurnal Pendidikan dan Perkembangan Anak

 

1. Introduction

Aulada: Jurnal Pendidikan dan Perkembangan Anak is committed to maintaining the highest standards of publication ethics and academic integrity. This Publication Ethics and Publication Malpractice Statement is established to ensure that all parties involved in the publication process, including authors, editors, reviewers, and the publisher, adhere to recognized ethical standards.

The publication of an article in a peer-reviewed scholarly journal is an essential component of the development and dissemination of scientific knowledge. It reflects the quality of research conducted by authors and the institutions that support their work. Peer review plays a fundamental role in maintaining the reliability, originality, and academic quality of published research.

Aulada: Jurnal Pendidikan dan Perkembangan Anak is committed to upholding the principles of fairness, transparency, accountability, confidentiality, and academic integrity throughout the editorial and publication processes. The journal's ethical policies are informed by the recommendations of Elsevier and the best-practice guidance of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).

The journal's editorial decisions are based on scholarly merit, originality, relevance to the journal's focus and scope, methodological rigor, and contribution to knowledge in education and child development. Advertising, commercial interests, institutional relationships, or other external pressures must not improperly influence editorial decisions.

The journal takes allegations of research misconduct seriously and is committed to investigating concerns fairly and taking appropriate corrective action when necessary.

2. Duties and Responsibilities of Authors

2.1. Reporting Standards

Authors of original research articles must provide an accurate and objective account of the research conducted and its findings. Research methods, data, analyses, and interpretations must be presented clearly and honestly.

Manuscripts must contain sufficient information to enable readers to understand the research procedures and, where appropriate, reproduce or verify the findings.

Fabricated, falsified, misleading, or knowingly inaccurate statements constitute research misconduct and are unacceptable.

Review articles, theoretical papers, and other scholarly contributions must also present balanced, accurate, and properly supported arguments. Opinions and interpretations should be clearly distinguished from empirical findings.

2.2. Data Access and Retention

Authors must maintain accurate research records and retain supporting data in accordance with applicable institutional policies, ethical requirements, and legal obligations.

Authors may be asked to provide relevant research data or supporting documentation to the editorial team for verification during the review process or after publication.

Where data cannot be shared because of confidentiality, privacy, ethical restrictions, or legal requirements, authors should explain the relevant restrictions.

Research data involving children or other vulnerable participants must be handled responsibly, with appropriate safeguards to protect privacy and confidentiality.

2.3. Originality and Plagiarism

Authors must ensure that submitted manuscripts constitute original scholarly work. Any material, ideas, arguments, data, or words derived from other sources must be appropriately acknowledged and cited.

Plagiarism includes presenting another person's work as one's own, copying substantial portions of another work without proper attribution, paraphrasing without acknowledgment, and claiming research findings produced by others.

The journal does not tolerate plagiarism, including self-plagiarism involving substantial reuse of previously published material without appropriate citation or disclosure.

All submitted manuscripts may be screened using plagiarism-detection software. Similarity reports are assessed in context and do not, by themselves, establish whether plagiarism has occurred.

Manuscripts found to contain plagiarism may be returned for revision or rejected, depending on the nature and severity of the problem. Confirmed misconduct involving published articles may result in further action under the journal's Correction and Retraction Policy.

2.4. Multiple, Redundant, or Concurrent Publication

Authors must not submit the same manuscript simultaneously to more than one journal.

Manuscripts describing substantially the same research should not be published in multiple journals without appropriate justification, disclosure, and compliance with accepted publication practices.

Authors must disclose any substantial overlap between a submitted manuscript and their previously published work, including related articles, conference proceedings, or other publications.

Previously published material may be considered only when the submission meets the journal's requirements for originality and the relevant publication arrangements are transparent.

2.5. Acknowledgment of Sources

Authors must acknowledge all sources that have significantly influenced their research, analysis, or scholarly arguments.

Information obtained through private conversations, correspondence, interviews, or other confidential communications must not be used or reported without appropriate permission where required.

Confidential information obtained through peer review, editorial work, grant evaluation, or other professional activities must not be used without authorization from the relevant parties.

All citations and references must accurately identify the sources consulted.

2.6. Authorship and Contributorship

Authorship must reflect substantial scholarly contributions to the research or manuscript.

All listed authors must meet the journal's Authorship Criteria, approve the final version of the manuscript, and accept responsibility for their respective contributions.

The corresponding author is responsible for ensuring that all authors have approved the submitted manuscript, agreed to the author order, and consented to its submission for publication.

Guest authorship, gift authorship, and ghost authorship are unacceptable. Individuals who have contributed to the work but do not meet the authorship criteria may be acknowledged appropriately, with their permission.

Any changes to authorship after submission must be justified and approved by all affected authors, subject to editorial approval.

2.7. Research Involving Human Participants and Children

Research involving human participants must comply with applicable ethical standards, institutional requirements, and relevant laws and regulations.

When required, authors must obtain approval from an appropriate research ethics committee before conducting the research and provide relevant ethical approval information in the manuscript.

Informed consent must be obtained from research participants where applicable. For research involving children, parental or legal guardian permission and child assent must be obtained when required by the applicable ethical framework and the nature of the research.

Authors must protect participants' privacy, confidentiality, dignity, and welfare. Identifying information, photographs, recordings, or other personal data must not be disclosed without appropriate authorization and safeguards.

Research involving sensitive topics, vulnerable participants, or potentially harmful procedures must include sufficient information about the ethical safeguards implemented.

If formal ethical approval was not required for a particular study, authors should explain the applicable institutional or regulatory basis when requested.

2.8. Disclosure of Funding

Authors must acknowledge all financial support received for the research and publication of their work.

Funding sources, grant information, and the role of sponsors in the research design, data collection, analysis, interpretation, and publication process must be disclosed where applicable.

If the research received no external funding, authors should provide an appropriate funding statement.

2.9. Fundamental Errors in Published Works

If authors discover a significant error or inaccuracy in their published article, they must promptly notify the editor and cooperate in determining the appropriate corrective action.

Depending on the nature and significance of the error, the journal may publish a correction, an expression of concern, or a retraction.

If the editorial team receives credible information from a third party about a significant error, the authors will be contacted when appropriate and given an opportunity to respond.

Corrective decisions will be based on the available evidence and the journal's publication ethics policies.

2.10. Use of Artificial Intelligence

Authors must ensure that all submitted work meets the journal's standards of originality, accuracy, and academic integrity, regardless of whether artificial intelligence (AI) tools have been used during manuscript preparation.

AI tools must not be listed as authors because they cannot assume responsibility for the accuracy, integrity, and ethical conduct of scholarly work.

Where AI tools have been used in ways that materially contribute to the generation or development of manuscript content, authors should disclose such use in accordance with the journal's applicable requirements.

Authors remain fully responsible for verifying factual claims, references, data, quotations, and interpretations in their manuscripts. AI tools must not be used to fabricate data, generate misleading evidence, or misrepresent sources.

The use of AI tools must also comply with applicable research ethics, confidentiality, and data protection requirements.

3. Duties and Responsibilities of Editors

3.1. Publication Decisions

The editor is responsible for determining which submitted manuscripts should proceed to publication.

Editorial decisions must be based on the manuscript's scholarly quality, originality, methodological rigor, relevance to the journal's focus and scope, contribution to the field, reviewer evaluations, and applicable publication ethics standards.

Editors may consult reviewers, editorial board members, and relevant experts when making decisions.

The journal's editorial policies and applicable legal requirements must guide decisions concerning copyright, plagiarism, research misconduct, and other publication-related matters.

3.2. Fair and Unbiased Evaluation

Editors must evaluate manuscripts objectively and fairly, without discrimination based on authors' race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, religious beliefs, nationality, institutional affiliation, disability, or political views.

Editorial decisions must not be influenced by personal relationships, academic status, institutional pressure, or commercial interests.

3.3. Confidentiality

Editors and editorial staff must maintain the confidentiality of submitted manuscripts and related communications.

Information about a manuscript must not be disclosed to anyone other than the corresponding author, assigned reviewers, editorial advisers, the publisher, or other authorized parties involved in the publication process.

Unpublished materials and information obtained through editorial handling or peer review must not be used for personal or professional advantage without the author's explicit permission.

3.4. Conflict of Interest

Editors must disclose potential conflicts of interest and refrain from handling manuscripts when their relationships with authors, institutions, or other interested parties could compromise their impartiality.

Such manuscripts must be assigned to an independent editor who can oversee the evaluation and decision-making process objectively.

Editors must also ensure that relevant competing interests disclosed by authors and reviewers are handled appropriately.

3.5. Handling Allegations of Misconduct

Editors must respond appropriately to allegations of plagiarism, data fabrication, data falsification, unethical research practices, inappropriate authorship, and other forms of publication misconduct.

Concerns must be assessed fairly, confidentially, and based on available evidence.

Where necessary, editors may request explanations from authors, consult independent experts, or contact the relevant institutions.

Appropriate corrective action must be taken when misconduct is established, in accordance with the journal's ethical policies.

3.6. Editorial Independence

Editorial decisions must remain independent of commercial, financial, institutional, and personal interests.

The publisher and other parties must not improperly interfere with editorial decisions. The editor is responsible for maintaining the journal's academic standards and publication integrity.

4. Duties and Responsibilities of Reviewers

4.1. Contribution to Editorial Decisions

Peer reviewers assist editors in evaluating the academic quality, originality, relevance, methodological soundness, and clarity of submitted manuscripts.

Reviews should provide constructive, evidence-based comments that help authors improve their work and support fair editorial decisions.

4.2. Timeliness

Reviewers should accept assignments only when they have sufficient expertise and availability to complete the review within the specified period.

If a reviewer cannot complete the review on time, they should notify the editor promptly.

4.3. Objectivity and Professional Conduct

Reviews must be conducted objectively and professionally. Personal criticism of authors is inappropriate.

Reviewers should clearly explain their concerns and support their assessments with relevant academic reasoning and evidence.

4.4. Confidentiality

Manuscripts received for review must be treated as confidential documents.

Reviewers must not share manuscripts or discuss their contents with unauthorized individuals without the editor's permission.

Unpublished information obtained through peer review must not be used for personal or professional advantage.

4.5. Acknowledgment of Sources

Reviewers should identify relevant published work that has not been cited by the authors when appropriate.

They should notify the editor of substantial similarities between the manuscript under review and other published or submitted works that they are aware of.

Any concerns about possible plagiarism, data manipulation, or other forms of misconduct should be communicated confidentially to the editor.

4.6. Conflict of Interest

Reviewers must disclose potential conflicts of interest before accepting or completing a review.

They should decline assignments when financial, professional, institutional, personal, or collaborative relationships could compromise their impartiality.

Reviewers must not use privileged information obtained through peer review for personal advantage.

5. Allegation of Research Misconduct

Aulada: Jurnal Pendidikan dan Perkembangan Anak takes allegations of research misconduct seriously and is committed to protecting the integrity of the scholarly record.

Research misconduct may include, but is not limited to:

1. Fabrication: Inventing data, results, or research information that did not arise from the reported research.

2. Falsification: Manipulating research materials, methods, data, or results in ways that misrepresent the research.

3. Plagiarism: Using another person's work, ideas, or words without appropriate acknowledgment.

4. Inappropriate Authorship: Misrepresenting authorship or contributions, including guest, gift, or ghost authorship.

5. Duplicate or Redundant Publication: Publishing substantially overlapping work without appropriate disclosure or justification.

6. Research Ethics Violations: Conducting research without required ethical approval or consent, or failing to protect research participants appropriately.

7. Other Publication Misconduct: Deliberately misleading readers, manipulating the peer-review process, or engaging in other serious breaches of publication ethics.

5.1. Reporting Suspected Misconduct

Authors, reviewers, readers, and other parties may report suspected research or publication misconduct to the editorial team through the journal's official communication channels.

Reports should provide sufficient information or supporting evidence to enable an appropriate assessment.

5.2. Assessment and Investigation

Upon receiving an allegation, the editor will conduct an initial assessment to determine whether further investigation is warranted.

The editor may request explanations or supporting documentation from the authors, consult independent experts, or contact the authors' affiliated institutions when necessary.

The parties involved will be treated fairly and confidentially. Authors will be given an appropriate opportunity to respond to allegations before a final decision is made, where applicable.

5.3. Actions in Cases of Confirmed Misconduct

Depending on the severity and circumstances, the journal may take one or more of the following actions:

• Request clarification or correction from the authors.

• Return a manuscript for substantial revision.

• Reject the submitted manuscript.

• Publish a correction, an expression of concern, or a retraction for a published article.

• Notify the relevant institution or other appropriate body when warranted.

All actions will be proportionate to the nature of the misconduct and based on the available evidence.

The journal will follow recognized publication ethics guidance when handling allegations and will not treat an allegation alone as proof of misconduct.

6. Conflict of Interest

Aulada: Jurnal Pendidikan dan Perkembangan Anak is committed to transparency and impartiality in all aspects of scholarly publishing.

A conflict of interest exists when financial, professional, personal, institutional, or other relationships could improperly influence, or reasonably be perceived to influence, the preparation, review, editorial evaluation, or publication of a manuscript.

6.1. Authors' Responsibilities

Authors must disclose relevant actual or potential conflicts of interest when submitting a manuscript.

Such conflicts may include, but are not limited to:

• Employment or professional relationships.

• Consultancy arrangements or paid expert services.

• Financial interests, honoraria, or research funding.

• Personal or family relationships that may affect impartiality.

• Institutional or collaborative relationships that could influence the research.

• Patent applications, commercial interests, or other relevant competing interests.

All sources of financial support must be disclosed where applicable.

If no competing interests exist, authors should include the following statement:

"The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest related to the research, authorship, or publication of this article."

6.2. Editors' Responsibilities

Editors must disclose relevant conflicts of interest and refrain from handling manuscripts when their impartiality could reasonably be questioned.

Such manuscripts must be assigned to an independent editor who can oversee the review and editorial decision-making process.

6.3. Reviewers' Responsibilities

Reviewers must disclose potential conflicts of interest before accepting a review assignment.

They should decline to review manuscripts when personal, professional, financial, or academic relationships could compromise their objectivity.

6.4. Management of Conflicts of Interest

The editorial team will assess disclosed conflicts and determine appropriate measures to preserve the integrity of the publication process.

Such measures may include reassignment of editorial responsibilities, appointment of alternative reviewers, requests for additional disclosure, or publication of a conflict-of-interest statement where appropriate.

Failure to disclose a relevant conflict may result in further editorial action, depending on the circumstances.

7. Post-Publication Discussion

Aulada: Jurnal Pendidikan dan Perkembangan Anak recognizes the importance of scholarly discussion after publication and encourages constructive, evidence-based engagement with published research.

Post-publication discussion allows researchers, educators, practitioners, and readers to raise questions, identify possible errors, offer alternative interpretations, and contribute to the ongoing development of knowledge in education and child development.

7.1. Submission of Comments and Concerns

Readers who wish to comment on a published article or raise concerns about its methods, findings, interpretation, or ethical integrity may contact the editorial team through the journal's official communication channels.

Submissions should be relevant, respectful, evidence-based, and clearly related to the published work.

7.2. Editorial Assessment

The editorial team will assess submitted comments for academic relevance, evidentiary support, and compliance with publication ethics standards.

Comments containing personal attacks, defamatory statements, unsupported allegations, or irrelevant material may be declined.

Where a concern raises substantive questions about the reliability or ethical integrity of an article, the editor may initiate further assessment under the journal's research misconduct procedures.

7.3. Authors' Right to Respond

When appropriate, the authors of the original article may be invited to respond to substantive comments or criticisms.

The editorial team will seek to ensure a fair and balanced exchange of scholarly views. Responses must meet the journal's standards of academic relevance, evidence, and professional conduct.

7.4. Corrections and Further Editorial Action

If post-publication discussion identifies credible evidence of significant errors or possible misconduct, the editor will assess the matter and determine whether further investigation is necessary.

Depending on the findings, the journal may publish a correction, an expression of concern, or a retraction in accordance with its Correction and Retraction Policy.

The journal aims to handle post-publication concerns transparently while protecting the confidentiality and legitimate interests of all parties involved.

8. Correction and Retraction Policy

Aulada: Jurnal Pendidikan dan Perkembangan Anak is committed to maintaining the accuracy, transparency, and integrity of the scholarly record.

The journal recognizes that errors may be identified after publication and that some circumstances may require formal correction, an expression of concern, or retraction.

All such decisions will be made in accordance with the seriousness of the issue, the available evidence, and recognized publication ethics guidance.

8.1. Corrections

A correction may be published when an error in a published article affects the accuracy, clarity, or completeness of the publication but does not invalidate its principal findings or conclusions.

Examples may include errors in author names, affiliations, references, tables, figures, or factual information.

Authors, readers, or other relevant parties may notify the editorial team of a potential error.

The editor will assess the issue and determine whether a formal correction is necessary. Approved corrections will be linked to the original article, where appropriate, to ensure transparency.

8.2. Retractions

A published article may be retracted when there is clear evidence that its findings or conclusions are unreliable or when serious violations of publication ethics have occurred.

Grounds for retraction may include:

• Proven fabrication or falsification of research data.

• Plagiarism or substantial unattributed use of previously published work.

• Serious errors that invalidate the principal findings or conclusions.

• Duplicate or redundant publication that significantly compromises the integrity of the scholarly record.

• Serious violations of research ethics, including inappropriate treatment of research participants.

• Other forms of misconduct that substantially undermine the reliability or integrity of the article.

Retraction decisions will be based on the available evidence and will not be made solely because an allegation has been raised.

8.3. Retraction Procedures

When concerns arise about a published article, the editor will conduct an appropriate assessment and investigation.

Where applicable, the authors will be informed of the concerns and given an opportunity to respond. The journal may consult independent experts or the authors' affiliated institutions when necessary.

If retraction is warranted, the journal will publish a retraction notice explaining the reasons for the decision as clearly as possible.

The retraction notice will be linked to the original article. The original article will generally remain accessible with a clear retraction notice or watermark, where technically feasible, to preserve the scholarly record and maintain transparency.

8.4. Expressions of Concern

An expression of concern may be published when credible questions have arisen about the reliability or integrity of a published article but the available evidence is insufficient for an immediate correction or retraction, or when an investigation remains unresolved.

The notice will inform readers of the concern while further assessment is undertaken.

8.5. Responsibilities of Authors and Editors

Authors must promptly notify the editorial team if they identify significant errors in their published work and cooperate with the investigation and corrective process.

The editor is responsible for evaluating concerns fairly, considering the available evidence, and taking appropriate action to protect the integrity of the scholarly record.

All corrective actions should be documented and communicated transparently.

9. Duties and Responsibilities of the Publisher

The publisher supports the journal's commitment to academic integrity, publication transparency, and responsible scholarly communication.

The publisher is responsible for providing appropriate administrative and technical support for the journal's publication activities and for cooperating with the editorial team when concerns about publication ethics arise.

The publisher must not improperly interfere with editorial decisions and should support reasonable measures to correct errors, investigate suspected misconduct, and maintain the integrity of the scholarly record.

When necessary, the publisher will work with the editor, authors, reviewers, and relevant institutions to address ethical concerns in accordance with the journal's policies and applicable requirements.

10. Ethical Oversight

Aulada: Jurnal Pendidikan dan Perkembangan Anak is committed to maintaining appropriate ethical oversight throughout the research and publication process.

This includes the responsible handling of research involving human participants, protection of confidential information, disclosure of competing interests, and investigation of suspected research or publication misconduct.

The journal expects authors to comply with applicable ethical standards and institutional requirements. Research involving children must receive particular attention to informed consent, parental or guardian permission where required, child assent where appropriate, privacy, and participant welfare.

The journal may request additional information or documentation when necessary to assess compliance with relevant ethical requirements.

11. Confidentiality and Data Protection

All parties involved in the editorial process must respect the confidentiality of manuscripts, peer-review reports, editorial communications, and personal information obtained during publication activities.

Such information must not be disclosed or used for purposes unrelated to the publication process without appropriate authorization.

The journal will handle personal information and confidential research materials in accordance with applicable data protection requirements and its relevant policies.

12. Implementation and Enforcement

All authors, editors, reviewers, and other parties involved in the publication process are expected to comply with this Publication Ethics and Publication Malpractice Statement.

Suspected violations will be assessed fairly and confidentially, with due consideration given to the evidence, the seriousness of the issue, and the opportunity for relevant parties to respond.

Depending on the circumstances, the journal may return or reject manuscripts, request corrections, issue expressions of concern, retract published articles, or notify relevant institutions.

The editorial team reserves the right to take appropriate action to protect academic integrity and maintain the reliability of the scholarly record.

For further information, manuscript submission, or reporting concerns related to publication ethics, please visit the official website of Aulada: Jurnal Pendidikan dan Perkembangan Anak:

https://e-journal.uac.ac.id/index.php/aulada/index