Ethics Policy

EKSIGMA is committed to promoting integrity, transparency, quality, and ethical conduct throughout the editorial and publication process. The journal follows internationally recognized principles of good editorial practice and expects authors, reviewers, editors, and all participants in the publication process to act responsibly, objectively, and respectfully.

Responsibilities of Authors

Authors must submit original and unpublished manuscripts that have not been previously published and are not under consideration by another journal. All submitted work must accurately represent the research conducted and must include appropriate citation of the sources used.

Authors are responsible for ensuring that all individuals who have made substantial intellectual contributions to the study are included as authors. Individuals who have not contributed significantly to the research or writing process should not be listed as authors.

The corresponding author is responsible for ensuring that all co-authors have reviewed and approved the final version of the manuscript before submission.

Originality and Duplicate Publication

EKSIGMA does not accept manuscripts that contain plagiarism, self-plagiarism, duplicate publication, redundant publication, fabricated data, manipulated images, or inappropriate citation practices.

Authors must clearly disclose if the submitted work is related to a previous publication, conference paper, thesis, technical report, preprint, or another manuscript under evaluation. Any use of previously published material must be properly cited and authorized when necessary.

International Publiching Ethics Standards

EKSIGMA follows the Core Practices and ethical guidelines of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) for the management of publication ethics, authorship, peer review, conflicts of interest, complaints and appeals, corrections, retractions, and suspected research or publication misconduct.

Conflicts of Interest

Authors, reviewers, and editors must disclose any financial, institutional, professional, personal, or academic relationship that could influence the evaluation, interpretation, or publication of a manuscript.

When a conflict of interest is identified, EKSIGMA will take the necessary measures to preserve the impartiality and integrity of the editorial process. This may include assigning another editor or reviewer to the manuscript.

Responsibilities of Reviewers

Reviewers must evaluate manuscripts objectively, confidentially, and within the agreed timeframe. Their assessments should focus on the scientific quality, originality, methodological rigor, clarity, relevance, and ethical compliance of the submitted work.

Reviewers must not use, disclose, or share information from manuscripts under review for personal benefit or any purpose unrelated to the evaluation process. They must decline the review invitation when a conflict of interest exists or when they do not have sufficient expertise in the subject area.

Responsibilities of Editors

The Editor-in-Chief and the editorial team are responsible for ensuring a fair, transparent, and confidential editorial process. Editorial decisions are based on the academic merit, originality, methodological quality, relevance, and ethical integrity of the manuscripts, without discrimination based on nationality, gender, religion, institutional affiliation, political views, or other personal characteristics of the authors.

Editors must avoid conflicts of interest and must not participate in the editorial decision-making process for manuscripts in which they have a personal, professional, institutional, or academic interest.

Research Involving Human Participants, Animals, or Sensitive Data

Research involving human participants, animals, personal data, sensitive information, or vulnerable populations must comply with the ethical and legal requirements applicable in the country where the study was conducted.

When applicable, authors must state in the manuscript that they obtained approval from the relevant ethics committee, informed consent from participants, and authorization for the use of personal data, images, records, or other identifiable information.

Complaints and Appeals

EKSIGMA receives and evaluates complaints or appeals related to editorial decisions, ethical concerns, conflicts of interest, authorship disputes, plagiarism, or other publication-related matters.

Requests must be submitted to the editorial email address: editorial@eksigma.com. The Editor-in-Chief will analyze each case confidentially and impartially, and may seek advice from the editorial board or external specialists when necessary.

Corrections, Retractions, and Expressions of Concern

When errors, ethical breaches, or issues that affect the reliability of a published article are identified, EKSIGMA may publish a correction, expression of concern, or retraction, depending on the nature and seriousness of the case.

Corrections will be issued when an error does not invalidate the main findings of the article. Retractions may be issued in cases of confirmed plagiarism, duplicate publication, data fabrication, serious ethical violations, or other practices that compromise the integrity of the published work.

Editorial Independence

EKSIGMA safeguards editorial independence. Editorial decisions are made on academic and ethical grounds and are not influenced by commercial, institutional, political, or personal interests.