The Ethics & Policies

AIER's publication ethics are guided by the principles of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE). Full details of our ethics policies — including authorship, plagiarism, peer review, and editorial responsibilities — are set out in our Submit a Paper page under Section 7: Publication Ethics.

Introduction

Advances in Inclusive Education Research (AIER) is committed to upholding the highest standards of publication ethics across all aspects of the editorial process. We expect all editors, authors, and reviewers to conduct themselves with integrity, transparency, and professionalism. These policies apply to every submission received and every article published in AIER.

1. COPE Commitment

AIER follows the guidelines and core practices established by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE). In cases of suspected misconduct, the Editor-in-Chief will follow COPE's recommended procedures for investigation and resolution. For further information on these guidelines, visit cope.niso.org.

2. Authorship Policy

Authorship should be limited to individuals who have made a substantial intellectual contribution to the conception, design, execution, or interpretation of the research. All listed authors must have participated in drafting or critically revising the manuscript, approved the final version for submission, and agreed to be accountable for all aspects of the work. Any changes to authorship after submission must be approved by the Editor-in-Chief.

3. Plagiarism & Originality

3.1 Definition of Plagiarism

Plagiarism is the presentation of another person's work, words, data, images, or ideas as one's own, without appropriate acknowledgement or citation. This applies to material in any format — published or unpublished, print or digital — including journal articles, books, theses, conference papers, websites, and grey literature.

3.2 Self-Plagiarism and Text Recycling
Authors must not reproduce substantial portions of their own previously published work without proper citation. Presenting the same data or findings in multiple publications as if they were new constitutes self-plagiarism and is considered a serious breach of publication ethics. Where authors draw on their own prior work, this must be clearly acknowledged and cited.

3.3 Author Responsibility
Authors are solely responsible for ensuring that their manuscript is original and free from plagiarism before submission. AIER does not screen submissions on behalf of authors. By submitting to AIER, authors confirm that the work is their own, that all sources have been properly cited, and that appropriate checks have been carried out prior to submission.

3.4 AI-Generated Content
Authors must disclose any use of artificial intelligence (AI) or AI-assisted tools in the preparation of their manuscript. AI tools may not be listed as authors. The use of AI to generate substantial portions of text without disclosure is considered a form of misrepresentation and will be treated accordingly.

3.5 Consequences of Plagiarism
Any manuscript found to contain plagiarised content — at any stage of the editorial or publication process — will be rejected or retracted. The Editor-in-Chief will investigate all allegations of plagiarism in accordance with COPE guidelines and reserves the right to notify the authors' institutional affiliations.

4. Duplicate Submission

Manuscripts submitted to AIER must not be under consideration at any other journal simultaneously. Submitting the same work to multiple journals at the same time, or submitting work that has already been published elsewhere, constitutes duplicate submission and is grounds for immediate rejection. Authors must confirm at the point of submission that their manuscript is not under review elsewhere.

5. Data Integrity

Authors must ensure that all data presented in their manuscript is accurate, honestly reported, and has not been fabricated, falsified, or manipulated in any way. Where applicable, authors are encouraged to make their research data openly available and to provide details of data availability within the manuscript.

6. Conflicts of Interest

All authors must disclose any financial, personal, or professional relationships that could be perceived as influencing their research or its interpretation. Declared conflicts of interest will be considered by the Editor-in-Chief and do not necessarily preclude publication. Reviewers and editors must also declare any conflicts of interest that may affect their objectivity and must recuse themselves where necessary.

7. Research Ethics

Research involving human participants, personal data, or sensitive communities carries particular ethical responsibilities, and AIER takes these seriously. All submitted manuscripts that involve human participants, identifiable data, or vulnerable groups must have received appropriate ethical approval from a recognised institutional review board, ethics committee, or equivalent body prior to the conduct of the research. Authors must confirm this within their manuscript and provide the full name of the approving body, along with the approval reference number where available.

Where a study has been granted an exemption from formal ethical review, authors must state this explicitly and explain the basis on which the exemption was granted. AIER will not consider manuscripts where ethical approval was required but not obtained.

Research involving participants must have been conducted in accordance with recognised international standards, including the Declaration of Helsinki for research involving human subjects. Authors are also expected to confirm that informed consent was obtained from all participants, or to explain why consent was not required or obtainable under the relevant ethical framework.

Research conducted with children, young people, or other vulnerable groups is subject to particular scrutiny. Authors must clearly describe the safeguarding measures in place and confirm that appropriate consent or assent was obtained from participants and, where applicable, from parents or legal guardians.

Where a study raises concerns about research ethics — whether identified during initial assessment or peer review — the Editor-in-Chief reserves the right to request additional documentation or to decline the manuscript without further review. In cases of suspected ethical misconduct, AIER will follow the investigation procedures recommended by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).

8. Reviewer Responsibilities

Reviewers play a vital role in maintaining the quality and integrity of AIER. All reviewers must maintain strict confidentiality regarding the manuscripts they review, declare any conflicts of interest that may affect their objectivity, provide honest and constructive feedback, and refrain from using unpublished material from reviewed manuscripts for their own purposes.

9. Editorial Responsibilities

The Editor-in-Chief is responsible for ensuring a fair, unbiased, and transparent review process. Editorial decisions are based solely on academic merit, relevance, and originality, without regard to the authors' nationality, institutional affiliation, gender, or background.

10. Corrections & Retractions

If a significant error is identified in a published article, AIER will publish a formal correction notice as promptly as possible. In cases of serious misconduct — including fabricated data, plagiarism, or ethical violations — the article may be retracted. All retraction notices will clearly state the reason for retraction and will remain permanently attached to the original article record.