2.1 Editorial Decision-making

The editors of Dragoman Journal are responsible for evaluating manuscripts based on their academic merit, originality, and relevance to the field. They ensure that the double-blind peer review process is fair, unbiased, and conducted in a timely manner.

2.2 Confidentiality

Editors must protect the confidentiality of all submitted manuscripts and not disclose any information about them, except to the corresponding author, reviewers, and other editorial advisors involved in the review process.

2.3 Conflict of Interest

Editors must declare any potential conflicts of interest that may influence their judgment regarding a submitted manuscript. In such cases, they should recuse themselves from handling the manuscript and assign it to another editor.

3.1 Originality and Plagiarism

Authors must ensure that their work is original and has not been previously published or under consideration for publication elsewhere. Proper acknowledgment of the work of others must be given, and any form of plagiarism or self-plagiarism is strictly prohibited.

3.2 Data and Results Accuracy

Authors should provide accurate and reliable data, methods, and results in their manuscripts. Any potential errors or inaccuracies should be promptly reported to the journal's editors, and appropriate corrections should be made.

3.3 Authorship and Acknowledgments

All individuals who have made significant contributions to the research presented in the manuscript should be listed as co-authors. The corresponding author should ensure that all co-authors have reviewed and approved the final version of the manuscript. Proper acknowledgment of the contributions of others should also be provided.

3.4 Multiple Submissions and Redundant Publications

Authors should not submit the same manuscript to multiple journals simultaneously. Similarly, authors should not submit manuscripts that contain substantial overlap with their previously published work, unless explicitly stated and justified.

3.5 Disclosure of Funding Sources and Conflicts of Interest

Authors should disclose all sources of financial support and any potential conflicts of interest that may have influenced the research or its outcomes.

3.6 Data Sharing and Reproducibility

Authors are encouraged to make their research data, materials, and methods openly available in recognized repositories or as supplementary files to facilitate reproducibility and verification. Manuscripts should include a Data Availability Statement indicating where and how data can be accessed.

3.7 Ethical Oversight

Authors conducting research involving human participants or animals must provide evidence of approval by an appropriate institutional ethics committee or review board. All studies must comply with relevant ethical standards, and the journal reserves the right to request supporting documentation.

4.1 Peer Review Process

Reviewers should conduct their reviews objectively, providing constructive feedback and recommendations to the authors based on the form sent to them by the Journal's Board. They should alert the editors about any ethical concerns, potential conflicts of interest, or suspected misconduct related to the manuscript.

4.2 Confidentiality

Reviewers should respect the confidentiality of the review process and not disclose any information about the manuscript or its review to any unauthorized individuals.

4.3 Conflict of Interest

Reviewers should declare any conflicts of interest that may affect their ability to provide an unbiased review of the manuscript. In such cases, they should decline the review request or notify the editors about the potential conflict.

5.1 Plagiarism and Misconduct

Dragoman Journal has a zero-tolerance policy for plagiarism, data fabrication, falsification, and other forms of research misconduct. If such practices are identified, the manuscript will be immediately rejected, and appropriate actions will be taken, including notifying the authors' institutions or funding agencies.

5.2 Corrections and Retractions

If errors or inaccuracies are discovered after publication, the journal will collaborate with the authors to issue corrections, retractions, or other necessary measures to rectify the situation and maintain the integrity of the scholarly record.

5.3 Complaints and Appeals

Dragoman Journal provides a fair and transparent mechanism for handling complaints and appeals regarding ethical concerns or the publication process. Authors, reviewers, or readers with legitimate concerns or complaints are encouraged to contact the journal's editor by email. The journal will promptly investigate and take appropriate actions to address the issues raised. A formal appeal must be submitted in writing to the Editor-in-Chief within 30 days of the decision. Appeals will be reviewed independently by the Editorial Board or an appointed ethics committee, and a final response will be provided within 60 days.

5.4 Editorial Responsibilities

The editors of Dragoman Journal have the responsibility to oversee and ensure the implementation of this Publication Ethics and Publication Malpractice Statement. They will work diligently to maintain the highest ethical standards and provide guidance to authors, reviewers, and other stakeholders involved in the publication process.

5.5 Intellectual Property

The journal respects and protects intellectual property rights. Authors must ensure that all material included in their submissions (figures, tables, images, or text) is either original, properly cited, or used with explicit permission. Published works are subject to the journal's copyright and licensing policies, as outlined in the Author Guidelines.

5.6 Post-Publication Discussions and Corrections

The journal welcomes scholarly debate and post-publication discussion. Readers may submit comments by email for consideration. Where necessary, corrections, updates, or retractions will be clearly linked to the original article to ensure transparency and accuracy of the scholarly record.

6.1 Guiding Principles

1. Human accountability is paramount: Responsibility for the accuracy, originality, and integrity of all submitted content rests entirely with the authors. AI systems cannot be recognized as authors or co-authors under any circumstances.
2. Transparency ensures trust: Any use of AI technologies beyond routine spelling or grammar correction must be openly declared.
3. Integrity must be safeguarded: The Journal's existing ethics policy -- including rules against plagiarism, fabrication, falsification, and inappropriate authorship -- applies equally to AI-assisted work.

6.2 Defining AI Use

• No disclosure required: for non-generative tools such as traditional spellcheckers, grammar checkers, or reference managers.
• Disclosure required: whenever generative technologies are used for drafting, paraphrasing, translation, summarization, reference suggestions, figure generation, or code assistance.
• Prohibited uses: include presenting AI-generated data, images, or text as original empirical findings, or using AI to manipulate or falsify evidence.

6.3 Acceptable and Unacceptable Applications

• Text editing and polishing: Permissible if declared. Authors must specify the tool and confirm they reviewed and corrected the output.
• Translation of manuscripts: Allowed with disclosure, provided that human post-editing is performed and responsibility for accuracy remains with the authors.
• References: Every citation must be independently verified; fabricated or unverifiable references constitute serious misconduct.
• Figures and illustrations: Non-data images may be created or enhanced with AI if disclosed and clearly labeled as "AI-assisted illustration." Research images, graphs, or visual data must not be generated by AI.
• Code assistance: Formatting or refactoring by AI is acceptable if declared. If AI contributes to research methods, full details must be reported in the methodology.
• Research design and methods: AI may be employed as part of the research process, provided that its role is fully and transparently documented, including the tools used, their versions, parameters, and scope of application. Acceptance of such use remains at the sole discretion of the journal.

6.4 Author Disclosure

All submissions must comply with the Declaration of Originality (https://www.dragoman-journal.org/submission-form), which includes specific provisions on the use of Artificial Intelligence (see Point 8). The journal reserves the right to request additional information, clarification, supporting documentation, or signed statements, as deemed necessary, in relation to any matters concerning AI use.

6.5 Reviewers and Editors

• Reviewers may not in any way compromise the confidentiality of manuscripts or their content. Confidential material must not leave secure environments.
• Reviewers may use AI tools to polish the language of their own reports, but not to assess scientific content. Any such use should be disclosed privately to the editor.
• Editors may use institutionally approved AI tools for tasks such as similarity checking, metadata preparation, or workflow management, but all editorial decisions remain human responsibilities.

6.6 Data Rights and Legal Obligations

• Authors are responsible for ensuring they have the legal right to process any data, text, or images through AI systems.
• When AI tools are used within permissible parameters, authors retain full responsibility for ensuring compliance with data protection and privacy standards. We advise all parties involved never to upload any sensitive or personal data to public AI platforms unless it has been fully anonymized and ethically cleared.
• AI tools must not be cited as authors; however, if a specific output is essential to the research, the tool may be acknowledged with sufficient detail for reproducibility.

6.7 Compliance and Enforcement