Conflict of Interest Policy

At Forefront in Sociology & Political Sciences, we are committed to ensuring the highest standards of academic integrity and transparency in the peer review and publication process. To maintain the trust of our readers, authors, reviewers, and editors, we have established a comprehensive Conflict of Interest (COI) Policy. This policy outlines how conflicts of interest are identified, disclosed, and managed to ensure fair and unbiased publication practices.

What is a Conflict of Interest?

A conflict of interest (COI) arises when individuals involved in the editorial or peer review process have financial, personal, professional, or academic interests that could influence, or appear to influence, their objectivity or impartiality. These conflicts can be real, potential, or perceived and may impact the decision-making process.

The goal of this policy is to prevent any biases that could undermine the quality, credibility, or integrity of the scholarly work we publish.

Disclosure of Conflicts of Interest

All stakeholders involved in the publication process, including authors, reviewers, and editors, are required to disclose any potential or actual conflicts of interest that may affect the content or outcome of the peer review and publication process.

For Authors:

Authors are required to disclose any potential conflicts of interest at the time of manuscript submission. This includes, but is not limited to:

Financial interests: Any funding, grants, or financial support from organizations or entities that may benefit from the results of the research.
Personal relationships: Any personal, academic, or professional relationships that may be relevant to the research or publication.
Competing interests: Any other professional or financial interests that could affect the objectivity of the manuscript.

Authors must also disclose if they have any relationships or affiliations with commercial organizations, institutions, or entities that may have an interest in the subject matter of the manuscript.

For Reviewers:

Reviewers are required to disclose any conflicts of interest that may affect their ability to provide an objective and unbiased review. Reviewers should inform the editorial team if they:

Have any professional, personal, or financial relationships with the authors of the manuscript.
Have any direct or indirect competition with the authors or their research.
Have been involved in previous collaborations with the authors.

If a reviewer feels that their ability to review a manuscript has been compromised by a conflict of interest, they should decline the review request.

For Editors:

Editors must disclose any potential conflicts of interest when making decisions about manuscripts. They should:

Ensure that their decisions are based on the scientific merit of the manuscript, free from bias.
Declare any personal, financial, or professional relationships that may influence their judgment in handling a manuscript.
Recuse themselves from making decisions on manuscripts where they have a conflict of interest, and delegate the decision-making process to another editor or colleague.

Managing Conflicts of Interest

Once a conflict of interest is disclosed, the Editorial Board will assess its significance and determine the appropriate course of action. Possible management strategies include:

Exclusion of the conflicted individual from the decision-making or review process.
Additional transparency: Publishing a statement about the conflict of interest alongside the article if it is deemed significant.
Independent review: Assigning the manuscript to a new reviewer or editor who does not have a conflict of interest.

In cases where a conflict is deemed to pose a substantial risk to the integrity of the publication, the Editorial Board may reject the manuscript or require changes to address the conflict.

Publication of Conflicts of Interest

For transparency, the Conflict of Interest statements from authors, reviewers, and editors will be made publicly available alongside the article. Authors are required to include a COI statement in their manuscript, outlining any conflicts as part of the submission process. This statement will appear in the final published version of the article.

Examples of Conflicts of Interest

To provide further clarity, here are some examples of potential conflicts of interest:

Financial Interests:
Authors or reviewers may have financial interests in companies that could benefit from the research results. This includes funding from organizations that have a direct stake in the findings, such as corporate sponsors, grant providers, or stakeholders in the research field.
Personal or Professional Relationships:
Close personal relationships with other researchers or institutions that could influence the review process. For example, being a co-author on a competing paper or having a past professional collaboration with the authors of the manuscript.
Academic Competition:
A reviewer or editor may have a competing manuscript, project, or research agenda that could be directly impacted by the content of the article under review.
Previous Collaborations:
Authors, reviewers, or editors who have worked together in the past on research or publications may have biases related to these collaborations.

Ensuring Transparency and Integrity

The Conflict of Interest Policy is a cornerstone of the journal’s commitment to transparency, fairness, and the highest academic standards. We strongly encourage all individuals involved in the publication process to openly disclose any potential conflicts and take necessary steps to mitigate them. By doing so, we can ensure the integrity of the peer review process and uphold the credibility of the Forefront in Sociology & Political Sciences journal.

Reporting Unresolved Conflicts of Interest

If you suspect a conflict of interest has not been properly disclosed or managed, please report it to the journal’s editorial office. We take any allegations of undisclosed conflicts seriously and will investigate the matter promptly to protect the integrity of the publication process.

Contact Email: prithivraj@scientificforefront.org