Publication Ethics

Ethics Statement

Publication Ethics and Malpractice Statement

Maintaining integrity in academic publishing is crucial for safeguarding the credibility and reliability of scholarly research. Vocat demonstrates its commitment to ethical publishing by adhering to internationally recognized standards, particularly the guidelines established by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE). These principles govern all participants in the publication process, including authors, reviewers, editors, and publishers. Through its independent editorial policies, Vocat ensures equitable and transparent dissemination of research, mitigates academic misconduct, and encourages responsible authorship and peer review practices. By adhering to these ethical standards, the journal seeks to cultivate trust, accountability, and excellence in Catholic Education research.

Vocat is a peer-reviewed journal and published twice a year. This journal is available in online.  Vocat is dedicated to following best practices on ethical matters, errors and retractions. The prevention of publication malpractice is one of the important responsibilities of the editorial board. Any kind of unethical behavior is not acceptable, and this journal doesn't tolerate plagiarism in any form. Authors submitting articles to Vocat affirms that manuscript contents are original. The following duties outlined for editors, authors, and reviewers are based on the COPE Code of Conduct for Journal Editors. Editors, authors, and reviewers will also adhere to the Vocat submission guideline policies.

Authors' Responsibilities

Authors submitting their work to Vocat are required to ensure that their manuscripts are original, unpublished, and not simultaneously under review by another publication. They must present their research findings accurately, avoiding fabrication, falsification, or manipulation of data. Proper attribution and citation of sources are essential to prevent plagiarism, and authors are obligated to disclose all funding sources and any potential conflicts of interest. While AI-generated tools may assist in certain aspects of the research process, these tools must not substitute human intellectual contributions, and their usage should be transparently disclosed when relevant.

Reviewers' Responsibilities

Reviewers play a vital role in upholding the integrity of the journal by providing objective, constructive, and timely feedback on submitted manuscripts. They are required to maintain confidentiality and ensure that the content of the manuscripts is not shared, used, or distributed. Reviewers should identify any ethical concerns, such as plagiarism, data fabrication, or conflicts of interest. In cases where a reviewer has a conflict of interest with the authors or the research being evaluated, they must withdraw themselves from the review process.

Editors' Responsibilities

Editors are tasked with making impartial editorial decisions based solely on the scholarly merit of submissions. They must uphold confidentiality regarding all submitted manuscripts and reject those that violate ethical standards related to plagiarism, research ethics, or improper use of AI-generated content. Editors are responsible for ensuring a fair peer review process by selecting qualified reviewers and addressing potential conflicts of interest. Allegations of ethical misconduct must be addressed transparently and in accordance with the guidelines set forth by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).

Prohibition of Plagiarism

Plagiarism, in any form, is strictly forbidden by Vocat. The journal defines plagiarism as the unauthorized use of another individual’s work without proper acknowledgment. This includes direct plagiarism (verbatim reproduction of text without citation), paraphrased plagiarism (rephrasing content without attribution), self-plagiarism (repurposing previously published material without disclosure), and AI-assisted plagiarism (using AI tools to generate or rephrase content without appropriate citation).

Research Integrity and Data Transparency

Authors are expected to uphold the integrity and transparency of their research by reporting findings accurately and refraining from falsification, fabrication, or omission of data. It is essential that negative results are disclosed to avoid selective reporting. Additionally, authors must retain their raw data for a minimum of five years following publication to facilitate verification if required.

Ethical Use of Generative AI in Research and Publishing

AI tools may be employed in research and publishing for specific permissible tasks, including grammar and language refinement (e.g., Grammarly, Hemingway Editor), data analysis and statistical modeling (AI tools for coding and analytics), and reference management (e.g., Zotero, Mendeley, EndNote). However, AI cannot be credited as an author, nor can it independently generate original research findings or interpretations. The use of AI for fabricating data, sources, or references is strictly prohibited. Furthermore, AI-assisted plagiarism—where existing content is rephrased without proper citation—is considered unethical

Ethical Violations and Retraction Policy

Any person, including authors, reviewers, or readers, can report ethical concerns to Vocat at jurnalkat@gmail.com. Breaches of ethical standards can have significant repercussions. If ethical misconduct is detected, the manuscript may be rejected for reasons such as plagiarism, misuse of AI, or conflicts of interest. Should misconduct be uncovered after publication, the article may be subject to retraction. Serious or repeated violations of ethical guidelines may lead to restrictions on authors from submitting future work to the journal.