The publication processes implemented by IBAD Journal of Social Sciences serve as a foundation for the impartial, reliable, and reputable production and dissemination of knowledge. These processes directly reflect the quality of the work produced by authors and their affiliated institutions. Peer-reviewed publications are among the most crucial elements supporting the development and application of the scientific method. In this regard, it is essential that all stakeholders in the process—including authors, readers, researchers, publishers, reviewers, and editors—adhere to ethical principles. IBAD Journal of Social Sciences expects all stakeholders to fulfill their ethical responsibilities within the framework of publication ethics. The ethical duties and responsibilities outlined below are based on the guidelines and policies published as open-access resources by Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).

IBAD Journal of Social Sciences meticulously ensures compliance with ethical principles, particularly plagiarism, in all submitted manuscripts. During the preliminary review stage, articles undergo plagiarism screening. If plagiarism is detected, the authors are immediately notified. If necessary, a manuscript may be subjected to similarity checks at any stage of the evaluation or publication process. High similarity rates may result in rejection either before acceptance or even after it has been accepted. The acceptable similarity threshold is generally below 25%; however, in exceptional cases, the editorial board may allow up to 30%. In any case, the similarity rate from a single source should not exceed 5%. Before publication, every article is screened through similarity detection tools such as iThenticate, Turnitin, and Intihal.net. The journal maintains a strict stance against plagiarism.

IBAD Journal of Social Sciences places great emphasis on intellectual property and is committed to protecting and promoting authors’ original work. Articles that fail to adhere to ethical principles, particularly those involving plagiarism, are considered to be in violation of the journal’s standards of quality, research integrity, and innovation. Therefore, all authors submitting manuscripts to the journal are expected to uphold ethical standards and avoid all forms of plagiarism. If a manuscript raises suspicions of plagiarism, it will undergo a thorough review. Following this review, the corresponding author(s) will be contacted and required to take appropriate action. If no response is received within 30 days, the journal will escalate the matter by notifying the author’s affiliated institution and requesting an official investigation. Furthermore, any instances of data manipulation, distortion, or fabrication will result in the manuscript’s rejection, and the author’s institution will be formally informed. The journal also reserves the right to request output files related to analysis results from authors, based on evaluations conducted by editors and/or reviewers.

IBAD Journal of Social Sciences takes the following measures against published articles identified with plagiarism:
1. Immediately contacts the university to which the author(s) is affiliated and requests definitive action.
2. Removes the PDF copy of the article from the website and disables full-text access links. The phrase "Plagiarized Article" is added to the title of the article.
3. Deactivates the author's account and rejects all future article submissions for a period of 3 years.

For studies based on surveys and interviews, the following guidelines must be adhered to:
1) For research in all scientific fields that requires ethical approval, the ethics committee approval must be obtained, indicated in the article, and documented.
2) In research requiring ethics committee approval, information regarding the approval (committee name, date, and approval number) should be included in the methodology section, as well as on one of the first or last pages of the article, and information about the signed informed consent form should be provided in the article.

The journal may publish a special issue upon request by the Editorial Board once a year. The review process and rules for articles submitted for consideration in the special issue are the same as those for regular issues.

The Editorial Board may consider publishing a correction if minor errors that do not affect the findings, interpretations, or conclusions are identified in a published article. However, if there are serious errors or violations that invalidate the findings or conclusions, the article may be retracted. If there are suspicions that the authors have misused the research or publication, or if there is evidence showing the findings are unreliable, or if the institutions of the authors have failed to investigate the matter or if the investigation appears biased or inconclusive, the editors may consider publishing an expression of concern. In cases of correction, retraction, or expression of concern, actions will be taken in accordance with Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) guidelines. 

IBAD Journal of Social Sciences is a non-profit publishing entity. Since its first issue,  IBAD Journal of Social Sciences has adhered to universal publishing standards. The Editorial Board of IBAD Journal of Social Sciences is composed of experts in their fields. The members of the Editorial Board are selected based on their expertise in various disciplines within the social sciences. The Editor-in-Chief may send articles to guest editors, who are faculty members not part of the Editorial Board, for review if the subject of the article requires it.

The Editorial Board must adhere to the following ethical duties and responsibilities, based on the COPE Code of Conduct and Best Practice Guidelines for Journal Editors and the COPE Best Practice Guidelines for Journal Editors, which are openly accessible and published by Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).

• The Editorial Board is responsible for all aspects of every manuscript submitted to the journal, including all stages after publication, and the board is fully aware of this responsibility. This duty requires decision-making based solely on public interest, without consideration for personal gain, and calls for independent judgment. The relationship between the publisher and the Editorial Board is based on the principle of independence, ensuring that editorial decisions are made without influence from the publisher or any other individuals or organizations.

• The Editorial Board of the journal is committed to continuously improving the journal and enhancing its publication quality.

• The Editorial Board of the journal ensures the development and implementation of the journal's policies, including those on publication, blind peer review, evaluation processes, and ethical guidelines.

• The Editorial Board of the journal protects the copyright of authors whose articles have been published in the journal.

• The Editorial Board of the journal is responsible for taking measures against issues related to intellectual property rights, unscientific or unethical conduct, plagiarism, and citation manipulation during the publication and editorial processes.

• The Editorial Board of the journal maintains records of every manuscript and correspondence related to the journal, preserving these records electronically or in print, either via the journal’s platform or its own resources.

• The Editors of the journal strive to meet the informational needs of reviewers, authors, researchers, practitioners, and readers, providing feedback when necessary, and adhere to transparency in cases requiring clarification or corrections during the publication process.

• The Editors of the journal ensure that articles are original, contribute to the academic field, and provide value to readers, researchers, and practitioners.

• When deciding whether to publish an article, the Editors consider the article’s originality, its contribution to the field, the validity and reliability of the research method, the clarity of the expression, and the alignment with the journal's aims and scope.

• The Editors of the journal perform an initial evaluation of submitted manuscripts unless there are significant issues, consider positive reviewer recommendations, and, unless there are substantial reasons, refrain from altering decisions made by previous editors.

• The Editors of the journal implement policies related to blind peer review and the evaluation process, keeping the identities of reviewers confidential, and ensuring impartial and timely evaluations for each manuscript.

• The Editors of the journal assign manuscripts to the appropriate subject-area editors and reviewers, ensuring evaluations are impartial and independent.

• The Editors of the journal take into account potential conflicts of interest among editors, reviewers, and authors to ensure impartial evaluations of manuscripts.

• The Editors of the journal actively seek to expand and regularly update the pool of reviewers to ensure diversity and expertise.

• The Editors of the journal prevent unprofessional or scientifically unsound evaluations in adherence to academic codes of conduct.

• The Editors of the journal ensure that publication processes are carried out in accordance with the journal’s policies and guidelines, informing those involved in the process about developments in publication policies and providing training when necessary.

• The Editors of the journal maintain effective communication with all participants in the publication process and organize regular meetings.

• The Editors of the journal ensure the protection of personal data in reviewed manuscripts and maintain the confidentiality of individual data for authors, reviewers, and readers.

• The Editors of the journal ensure the protection of human and animal rights in articles, insist on documenting participants' informed consent, and reject articles that lack ethical approval or participant permissions in experimental research.

• The Editors of the journal take preventive measures against abuse of power. In case of complaints about abuse of authority, they conduct an objective investigation and share findings.

• The Editors of the journal ensure the correction of any errors, inconsistencies, or misguidance found in published articles.

• The Editors of the journal protect the intellectual property rights of published articles and defend the rights of authors and the journal in cases of infringement. They also take measures to ensure the content of published articles does not violate the intellectual property rights of other publications by conducting originality and similarity checks.

• The Editors of the journal consider consistent criticism of published articles and grant authors the right to respond to critiques.

• The Editors of the journal take into account studies with negative results.

• The Editors of the journal review complaints submitted to the journal and provide necessary clarifications.

In the article evaluation process of the journal, a double-blind peer review principle is applied, meaning that the reviewer(s) do not know the identity of the author(s), and the authors do not know the identity of the reviewer(s). Reviewers are not allowed to communicate directly with the authors. Any requests for corrections or notes on the manuscript are transmitted to the authors through the editor(s) via the journal's management system.

Reviewers for the journal should bear the following ethical responsibilities when evaluating submitted manuscripts:

• Reviewers should only accept to evaluate articles that fall within their area of expertise.

• Reviewers should conduct their evaluations with impartiality and confidentiality. In accordance with this principle, they must destroy the manuscripts after the review process and should only use them once published. Nationality, gender, religious beliefs, political views, and commercial interests should not influence the impartiality of the evaluation.

• Reviewers should inform the editors and decline to review a manuscript if they realize there is a conflict of interest.

• Reviewers must conduct the review in a constructive manner, following academic conventions, and avoid making personal comments that are insulting or hostile.

• Reviewers should complete the evaluation of a manuscript within the given time frame once they accept to review it.

Accepted manuscripts cannot be withdrawn or published in another journal. The reference list must be complete and properly formatted. The manuscript must have a complete list of references, and plagiarism or falsification of data should be avoided. Authors should not attempt to publish the same research in multiple journals and must adhere to scientific research and publication ethics. They must avoid any unethical behavior as outlined in the Council of Higher Education's (YÖK) Guidelines on Scientific Research and Publication Ethics. See: https://www.yok.gov.tr/Sayfalar/Kurumsal/mevzuat/bilimsel-arastirma-ve-etik-yonetmeligi.aspx

The ethical responsibilities of authors submitting manuscripts to the journal include:

• Authors should not submit the same article simultaneously to more than one journal or submit articles that have been previously published elsewhere.

• Authors should contribute original research or review articles, as well as scientific translations or book reviews.

• Authors should correctly cite the sources they have used during the writing process in accordance with ethical guidelines.

• Authors should not list individuals who did not contribute to the manuscript as authors, and they should not request changes to the order of authors, add or remove authors after submission.

• Authors should disclose any conflicts of interest regarding the manuscript to the editors.

• Authors should provide any requested information or raw data concerning the manuscript during the review process to the editors.

• Authors must provide documentation that confirms they have obtained permission for the use of data, research analyses, or approval from participants in their research.

• Authors must contact the editor if they identify any errors in the manuscript during the evaluation, early view, or online publication stages, in order to correct or withdraw the article.

• Authors must provide proof of ethical approval for research involving experiments, surveys, scales, interviews, observations, or focus groups that require ethical approval. This approval, along with the name of the ethics committee, decision date, and number, should be included on the first and last pages of the manuscript and in the methods section. Additionally, information about obtaining informed consent should be included.

• Authors must provide evidence in the manuscript that they have adhered to ethical principles during the data collection process, such as obtaining permission to use scales, surveys, photographs, etc. Research and publication ethics, as well as copyright regulations for intellectual and artistic works, should be followed, and if the research was conducted with human or animal subjects, the relevant guidelines and standards should be cited.

• Ethical approval is not required for review articles, but if no ethical committee approval is needed, this should be noted in the manuscript.

Artificial Intelligence Policy
The artificial intelligence (AI) usage policy has been developed based on the Ethical Guide on the Use of Generative AI in Scientific Research and Publishing Activities, published by the Council of Higher Education. This policy aims to inform authors about the ethical and responsible use of AI technologies in the writing and analysis of academic papers. Grounded in principles of data privacy, academic integrity, and ethical standards, it seeks to enhance the reliability of scientific research while ensuring respect for the rights of individuals and communities. Within this framework, researchers must explicitly disclose which AI functions were used, at what stages of their research, and to what extent. The versions and technical specifications of the AI tools employed should be detailed. Scientific research should prioritize benefiting humanity, ensuring that generated knowledge is free from bias and intentional errors, and that scientific findings serve the greater good. All stakeholders in the research process, including data-providing individuals or communities, other living beings, and the environment, must be treated fairly and respectfully. Researchers are responsible for the outcomes generated by AI technologies and must remain accountable for these results. It is their legal and ethical duty to verify the impartiality, reliability, and accuracy of AI-generated outputs. The use of AI tools should not be included in the references section but must be explicitly stated in the ethics statement of the paper. See https://www.yok.gov.tr/Documents/2024/yapay-zeka-kullanimina-dair-etik-rehber.pdf

In IBAD Journal of Social Sciences, if any unethical behavior is observed by editors, reviewers, or authors during the evaluation process or if any unethical situation is encountered in early stages or in a published article, we encourage you to report it to ibadjournaleditor@gmail.com. This will help enhance the quality of our publication. Readers who detect significant errors or inaccuracies in a published article or have any concerns regarding editorial content (such as plagiarism or duplicate publications) can report the issue by emailing ibadjournaleditor@gmail.com. We view complaints as an opportunity for growth and welcome your feedback. Our goal is to respond promptly and constructively. Ethical complaints related to published articles will be investigated, even if a significant amount of time has passed since the publication date. The author will be contacted, and information regarding the complaint or allegations will be provided. If a violation of ethical standards is identified during the investigation, a correction note will be published addressing any publication error, inconsistency, or misleading information. 

The publication policy of IBAD Journal of Social Sciences is determined by the Editorial Board. The primary criteria for evaluating submitted manuscripts are academic impartiality and scientific quality. The journal follows a double-blind peer review process. Each manuscript that successfully completes the review process is assigned a DOI number and may be published in early view on the journal’s website with volume and page numbers. All processes are conducted with full transparency.

Authors submitting to IBAD Journal of Social Sciences are expected to consider the feedback and suggestions provided by reviewers and the Editorial Board. If they disagree with certain points, they have the right to submit a reasoned objection. Peer review reports are stored digitally in the DergiPark system. By submitting a manuscript to the journal, authors are deemed to have accepted the journal’s peer review policies and procedures. (See: Review Process)

The Editorial Board reserves the right to make minor revisions that do not alter the essence of an accepted manuscript. If deemed necessary, the Board may also appoint a guest field editor. An author may submit only one manuscript at a time, including co-authored works. Additionally, an author may have no more than one paper published in a single issue. Once a manuscript is published, the author may submit a new manuscript for the following issue.

Editorial Board members are also permitted to submit manuscripts to the journal. However, in such cases, they do not participate in any stage of the editorial process for their own submissions. While the manuscript is undergoing peer review, its authors who also serve as editors have their editorial roles suspended to prevent access to the review process. This ensures the integrity of the double-blind peer review system. The journal ensures that in the last two issues, no more than 25% of published research articles have at least one author who is an editor, Editorial Board member, or reviewer.
IBAD Journal of Social Sciences is published twice a year, in August and December.