Ethical Oversight Policy
IJIEFER is committed to maintaining the highest standards of research integrity. Our ethical oversight policy follows the COPE (Committee on Publication Ethics) Core Practices.
1. Research Involving Human Participants
For studies involving human subjects (such as surveys, interviews, or behavioural experiments in Islamic finance and economics), authors must ensure:
- Informed Consent: Authors must confirm that voluntary informed consent was obtained from all participants.
- Anonymity & Privacy: Participants' identities must be protected. Any identifiable information should be removed unless the subject provides explicit written consent for publication.
- Ethical Approval: Authors must state the name of the Institutional Review Board (IRB) or Ethics Committee that approved the study and provide the reference/permit number within the manuscript.
2. Protection of Vulnerable Populations
Research involving vulnerable groups (e.g., children, refugees, low-income asnaf, or individuals with diminished autonomy) requires heightened ethical scrutiny. Authors must demonstrate that:
- The research could not be conducted with non-vulnerable populations.
- Special protections were implemented to prevent exploitation or coercion.
- The welfare of the participants was prioritized over the research outcomes.
3. Handling of Sensitive and Confidential Data
Given our focus on economics and finance, IJIEFER enforces strict data oversight:
- Financial Data: Authors using proprietary or non-public financial data from institutions (banks, NGOs, or government bodies) must provide evidence of permission to use and publish such data.
- Conflict of Interest in Oversight: Editors and reviewers must disclose any conflicts of interest that could compromise the ethical oversight of a submission.
4. Scientific Misconduct and Integrity
Ethical oversight includes the proactive monitoring of research integrity:
- Data Fabrication/Falsification: IJIEFER has a zero-tolerance policy for manipulated or manufactured data.
- Plagiarism: All submissions are screened using Turnitin.
- Image Integrity: Any digital manipulation of images or figures must be disclosed and must not distort the original data.
5. Corrective Actions for Post-Publication Issues
Authors must inform the Chief Editor or the publisher of any inaccuracy of data in their published work so that corrections or retraction of the article can be done.
Erratum: This constitutes a formal notice issued by the journal for a significant error arising during the article's production process, which may affect the publication’s scientific integrity, the authors' reputation, or that of the journal.
Corrigendum: This is issued by the authors for a significant error identified post-publication, which may impact the reliability of the scientific information or the standing of the authors or journal.
Retraction: This formal notice withdraws the published research findings due to significant errors or new discoveries that invalidate the conclusions. All authors must consent to the retraction and explain the compromise to the article's findings.
Addendum: This provides additional information or clarification to a previously published article, typically in response to reader requests or new details that support the original content.
6. Post-Publication Oversight and Appeals
Ethical oversight does not end at publication. IJIEFER maintains a transparent mechanism for:
- Complaints: Any party may report ethical concerns or suspected misconduct to the Editor-in-Chief.
- Retractions and Corrections: If an ethical breach or significant error is discovered post-publication, the journal will follow the COPE Flowcharts to issue a formal Correction, Expression of Concern, or Retraction.
- Appeals: Authors have the right to appeal editorial decisions by providing a formal rebuttal based on factual or procedural grounds.
