The LPF Global Journal of Social Sciences and Management (LPFGJSSM) is committed to maintaining the highest standards of publication ethics and research integrity. The journal follows established ethical principles and the guidelines and core practices of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE). All authors, editors, reviewers, and other participants involved in the publication process are expected to uphold these standards.

The journal is committed to preventing and addressing all forms of research and publication misconduct, including plagiarism, duplicate publication, data fabrication or falsification, inappropriate authorship, conflicts of interest, and breaches of confidentiality.

1. Ethical Guidelines for Authors

Authors submitting manuscripts to LPFGJSSM must adhere to the following principles:

1.1 Originality and Exclusive Submission

• Manuscripts submitted to LPFGJSSM must be original works and must not have been previously published in whole or in substantial part elsewhere.
• Authors must not submit the same manuscript simultaneously to more than one journal.
• Duplicate or redundant publication, including substantial duplication of datasets, analyses, or findings, is not permitted.
• If a manuscript is found to have been simultaneously submitted to another journal, the journal reserves the right to reject the manuscript.

1.2 Plagiarism and Research Misconduct

• LPFGJSSM has zero tolerance for plagiarism.
• All submitted manuscripts may be screened using appropriate plagiarism/similarity-detection software.
• Plagiarism, fabrication or falsification of data, manipulation of figures or images, fraudulent reporting, and other forms of research misconduct may result in immediate rejection or retraction of the published article.
• Authors must appropriately acknowledge and cite all sources, ideas, data, quotations, and other materials obtained from other works.

1.3 Authorship

• Authorship should be limited to individuals who have made a substantial contribution to the conception, design, execution, analysis, or interpretation of the research.
• All listed authors must have approved the final version of the manuscript and agreed to its submission.
• Inaccurate, fabricated, or inappropriate authorship attribution is considered unethical.

1.4 Conflict of Interest

• Authors must disclose all financial and non-financial conflicts of interest that could reasonably be perceived as influencing the research or its interpretation.
• Conflicts may include funding arrangements, institutional affiliations, professional relationships, or personal interests.
• Conflicts of interest should be disclosed during manuscript submission, preferably in the “Comments for the Editor” field.
• If no conflict exists, authors should state:

“The authors declare no conflicts of interest.”

1.5 Errors in Published Work

If an author discovers a significant error or inaccuracy in a published article, the author must promptly notify the Editor-in-Chief and cooperate in correcting or retracting the article where necessary.

1.6 Copyright and Publication Agreement

Authors must ensure that they have the necessary rights and permissions for all material included in their manuscript. Where applicable, authors must agree to the journal’s copyright and publication terms before publication.

2. Ethical Guidelines for Editors

Editors of LPFGJSSM are expected to maintain editorial independence, fairness, confidentiality, and integrity throughout the publication process.

Editors shall:

1. Ensure that manuscripts are evaluated fairly, objectively, and in accordance with the journal’s scope and editorial standards.
2. Base publication decisions on the manuscript’s originality, significance, clarity, methodological quality, and relevance, and not on the author’s identity, institutional affiliation, nationality, gender, or other personal characteristics.
3. Ensure that the journal’s double-blind peer-review process is conducted fairly and appropriately.
4. Make reasonable efforts to prevent conflicts of interest among authors, editors, and reviewers.
5. Maintain strict confidentiality concerning submitted manuscripts and peer-review information.
6. Not disclose manuscript information to anyone outside the appropriate editorial and peer-review process.
7. Require reviewers to disclose any actual or potential conflicts of interest before accepting a review assignment.
8. Ensure that editorial decisions remain independent of external influence, including influence from the journal owner, publisher, authors, institutions, or other third parties.
9. Investigate suspected cases of plagiarism, fabrication, falsification, duplicate publication, and other forms of misconduct in accordance with appropriate ethical procedures.
10. Take appropriate corrective action, including correction, retraction, or other measures, where misconduct is established.

3. Ethical Guidelines for Peer Reviewers

LPFGJSSM follows a double-blind peer-review process. Reviewers play an important role in maintaining the academic quality and integrity of the journal.

Reviewers are expected to:

1. Accept review assignments only when they have sufficient expertise in the subject area.
2. Complete reviews within the agreed timeframe or promptly inform the editor if additional time is required.
3. Maintain strict confidentiality regarding the manuscript and all information obtained during the review process.
4. Not share, copy, distribute, or use unpublished manuscript content for personal or professional advantage.
5. Declare any actual or potential conflict of interest that may affect the impartiality of their review.
6. Decline the assignment if they are not suitably qualified or if a conflict of interest could compromise the review.
7. Provide reviews that are objective, constructive, professional, and unbiased.
8. Avoid comments that are hostile, discriminatory, defamatory, or based on the author’s personal characteristics, institutional affiliation, nationality, gender, or other irrelevant factors.
9. Promptly notify the editor if they identify possible plagiarism, copyright infringement, fabrication, falsification, or other ethical concerns.
10. Provide accurate professional information and must not impersonate another individual during the peer-review process.

4. Plagiarism and Similarity Screening

LPFGJSSM is committed to maintaining the originality and integrity of published research. Manuscripts may be screened using appropriate plagiarism and similarity-detection software during the editorial and peer-review process.

Where substantial plagiarism or unacceptable similarity is identified, the manuscript may be rejected. The journal may also take appropriate action in cases where plagiarism or other forms of misconduct are identified after publication.

Similarity scores will be assessed contextually, as legitimate quotations, references, standard terminology, and commonly used academic expressions may contribute to similarity results. The final decision regarding ethical acceptability rests with the editorial team.

5. Allegations of Research and Publication Misconduct

LPFGJSSM takes allegations of research and publication misconduct seriously. Allegations may concern, among other matters:

• Plagiarism or unattributed use of another person’s work;
• Duplicate or redundant publication;
• Simultaneous submission to multiple journals;
• Fabrication or falsification of research data;
• Manipulation of figures, images, or research results;
• Inappropriate or fraudulent authorship;
• Undisclosed conflicts of interest;
• Copyright infringement;
• Breaches of peer-review confidentiality; and
• Other forms of research or publication misconduct.

Concerns or allegations should be reported to the Editor-in-Chief at: libraryprofessionalsfoundation@gmail.com

All allegations will be treated seriously and investigated confidentially and fairly. Where appropriate, the journal will follow relevant COPE procedures and recommendations when investigating suspected misconduct and determining appropriate corrective action.

6. Corrections and Retractions

If a significant error, ethical violation, or research misconduct is identified in a published article, LPFGJSSM may publish a correction, clarification, expression of concern, or retraction, as appropriate.

The journal will consider the nature and seriousness of the issue and take reasonable steps to maintain the accuracy and integrity of the scholarly record.

7. Commitment to Publication Integrity

LPF Global Journal of Social Sciences and Management is committed to promoting responsible research and transparent scholarly communication. All authors, editors, reviewers, and members of the editorial team share responsibility for maintaining the integrity, credibility, and quality of the research published by the journal.

LPFGJSSM encourages all participants in the publication process to familiarize themselves with the ethical principles promoted by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and to seek guidance whenever an ethical issue or uncertainty arises.