The Journal of Psychology: Research & Practice (JPRP) is committed to maintaining the highest standards of integrity and ethical conduct in scholarly publishing. Our ethical guidelines are fully aligned with the principles and best practices established by the Higher Education Commission (HEC) of Pakistan and the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE; https://publicationethics.org/).
JPRP adheres strictly to COPE’s Code of Conduct and the HEC's ethical framework to prevent any form of malpractice by authors, reviewers, or editors. We expect all parties involved in the publication process to uphold these standards, ensuring transparency, academic honesty, and responsible research practices. Authors, reviewers, and editorial members are encouraged to consult and follow the established COPE Guidelines on the Ethics of Research and Publication to support the integrity and credibility of the work we publish.
Roles and Responsibilities: Author
Originality of Research: All submitted work must be original, reflecting the authors’ own findings, analyses, and contributions. The manuscript should address a clearly defined research problem and offer authentic and verifiable results
Accuracy and Reliability of Data: Authors must ensure that all data, results, and supporting evidence presented in the manuscript are accurate, genuine, and obtained through ethical research practices. Fabrication or falsification of data is strictly prohibited.
Proper Attribution and Citation: Any use of external ideas, text, data, tables, figures, or other material must be properly acknowledged. Authors are responsible for citing all sources accurately both in-text and in the references section, in accordance with academic standards.
Avoidance of Redundant Publication: Manuscripts submitted to JPRP must not be under review, accepted, or published elsewhere. Simultaneous submission to multiple journals is considered unethical and will result in immediate rejection.
Copyright Compliance: Authors must ensure that their submission does not violate any copyright laws. This includes proper usage of graphics, tables, formulas, and any other copyrighted material. Copyright infringement will not be tolerated under any circumstances.
Plagiarism and Ethical Misconduct: JPRP maintains a strict zero-tolerance policy against all forms of plagiarism and unethical research conduct. The editorial board employs robust screening mechanisms to detect and prevent such violations. Authors bear full responsibility for any detected plagiarism or ethical misconduct in their work.
Accuracy of Information: Authors must ensure that all information presented in their manuscript—such as names of individuals, organizations, places, and factual content—is correct and verifiable.
Authorship and Accountability: All individuals listed as authors should have made substantial contributions to the research and must take collective responsibility for the content. Any changes in authorship must be communicated in a timely and transparent manner.
Manuscript Withdrawal Policy: Withdrawal of a manuscript is strongly discouraged once it has entered the peer review process or has been accepted for publication. Authors are urged to consider submission carefully before initiating the publication process.
Disclaimers: The views and opinions expressed in submitted articles are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the editorial board or the journal. The editorial board bears no responsibility for the opinions or conclusions drawn by the authors.
Acknowledgement of Funding Sources: All authors shall fairly and clearly state the portion of the studies funded, supported or sponsored by any of the government, non-government or personal sources.
Conflicts of Interest/Disclosures: Authors are required to declare any financial, academic, commercial, political or personal conflicts before the publication of the manuscript.
Ethical Approvals: In cases where living organisms are used in the submitted manuscript, the methods section must clearly indicate approval from the ethics committee of the institute or organization and should state that all efforts were taken to minimize pain and discomfort to the animal while conducting these experiments.
Ethics of Investigation: Authors should make sure that the manuscript is designed according to the guidelines of the Helsinki Declaration as revised in 1975 (https://www.wma.net/what-we-do/medical-ethics/declaration-of-helsinki), otherwise the manuscript will not be accepted for publication or will be rejected later.
Permissions: In case any part (e.g. table or figure) of the submitted manuscript has been taken from previously published work, it is the responsibility of the authors to obtain permission either from the publishers or from the authors depending on the copyright ownership.
Roles and Responsibilities: Reviewers
Reviewers help ensure that published research meets high standards. Their input supports fair decisions and helps authors improve their work.
When to Accept a Review Invitation: Reviewers should accept an invitation only if the manuscript falls within their expertise and they can complete the review on time.
Confidentiality and Ethical Use: All manuscripts under review must remain confidential. Reviewers must not use the data or ideas for their own benefit, nor should they share the content with anyone.
Providing Fair Feedback: Reviews should focus on the quality of the research, methods, and findings—not on the author’s identity or background. Feedback should be constructive and respectful.
Reporting Concerns: If a reviewer finds plagiarism, duplicate submission, or unethical research practices, they should immediately inform the editors using the confidential comment section.
Roles and Responsibilities: Editors & Editorial Board Members
Editorial Role: Editors—whether the Chief Editor, managing Editor, or Editorial Board Members—are experienced professionals selected for their expertise and academic contributions. They oversee the peer-review process and are expected to follow ethical standards to maintain the quality and credibility of the journal.
Confidentiality: Editors must keep all submitted manuscripts confidential. No part of the manuscript should be shared or discussed before publication, nor should any ideas or findings be used for personal or financial gain.
Fair Review Process: Manuscripts must be judged only on their academic merit. Editors must avoid bias of any kind—whether based on the author’s gender, race, background, or affiliations.
Handling Ethical Concerns: Editors should be open to publishing corrections, clarifications, retractions, or apologies where needed. They should support efforts to resolve ethical issues, including cases of plagiarism or misconduct.
Avoiding Conflict of Interest: If an editor has any personal or professional conflict related to a manuscript, they must not be involved in its review. Instead, another editor or board member will handle it.