Ethical Oversight

The International Journal of Process Education (IJPE) is committed to upholding the highest standards of ethical conduct in research and scholarly publishing. This policy outlines the ethical requirements for all submissions and the responsibilities of authors, reviewers, editors, and the publisher. IJPE adheres to the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) Core Practices, available at: https://publicationethics.org/core-practices

These practices guide IJPE in ensuring integrity, transparency, and accountability across all aspects of the research and publication process.

Ethical Principles and Scope

All research submitted to IJPE must be conducted in accordance with:

  • COPE Core Practices
  • The Declaration of Helsinki (for human research)
  • Relevant institutional, national, and international guidelines
  • Applicable privacy, data protection, and educational laws (e.g., FERPA-aligned principles for learner data)

Authors must ensure that research is designed, conducted, and reported with integrity, transparency, and respect for participants.

Ethics Approval for Research Involving Human Participants

Research involving human participants—including students, educators, administrators, or any identifiable individuals—must include a clear statement identifying:

  • The name of the ethics review board or institutional review board (IRB)
  • The approval number or reference, if applicable
  • If ethics approval was not required, an explicit justification based on institutional or national policy

Required Statement Example “This study was reviewed and approved by the [Institution] Institutional Review Board (Protocol #1234).”

Informed Consent and Consent to Publication

Authors must confirm that:

  • All participants (or their legal guardians, for minors) provided informed consent
  • Participants understood the purpose of the study, the voluntary nature of participation, and how data would be used
  • Additional consent to publication was obtained when publishing identifiable information such as photographs, audio/video recordings, or quotations

If consent could not be obtained, authors must explain why and describe alternative safeguards.

Protection of Vulnerable Populations

Because educational research frequently involves students and other vulnerable groups, IJPE expects:

  • Enhanced justification for involving minors or dependent learners
  • Attention to power imbalances (e.g., teacher–student relationships)
  • Clear safeguards ensuring participation does not affect academic standing or performance
Confidentiality and Data Protection

Authors must ensure that:

  • All personal and educational data are de-identified before submission
  • Confidential or sensitive data are handled securely
  • Data sharing aligns with IJPE’s Data Sharing and Reproducibility Policy
  • Any restrictions on data availability are fully explained
Research Involving Animals

For any studies involving animals, authors must provide:

  • Ethics approval details
  • A description of welfare considerations
  • Compliance with recognized standards (e.g., IACUC guidelines)
Ethical Business, Advertising, and Sponsorship Practices

IJPE maintains full editorial independence and does not accept sponsorships or advertising that create real or perceived conflicts of interest. All competing interests must be disclosed.

Responsibilities of Authors

Authors must:

  • Report research honestly and transparently
  • Avoid fabrication, falsification, and plagiarism
  • Disclose conflicts of interest and funding sources
  • Provide documentation upon request (ethics approval, consent, anonymized data)
Responsibilities of Editors and Reviewers

Editors and reviewers must:

  • Evaluate submissions impartially and confidentially
  • Report suspected ethical violations
  • Follow COPE flowcharts in handling misconduct or ethics concerns
Handling of Ethical Concerns, Violations, and Complaints

IJPE will follow COPE-aligned procedures when investigating ethical concerns. Possible actions include:

  • Request for clarification
  • Manuscript rejection
  • Correction, Expression of Concern, or Retraction
  • Notification of authors’ institutions

IJPE investigates all concerns promptly, fairly, and confidentially.