Code of Ethics

The Davao Research Journal (DRJ) is committed to upholding the highest ethical standards at all stages of the publication process, guided by the principles of fairness, integrity, transparency, and respect for intellectual property. DRJ subscribes to the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) Guidelines on Good Publication Practice.

Figure 1. The Davao Research Journal subscribes to the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) Guidelines on Good Publication Practice.

Code of Ethics for Authors

1. Originality: Submitted manuscripts must contain only original and previously unpublished work. Manuscripts should not be under consideration by other journals simultaneously.

2. Compliance with Guidelines: Authors must strictly adhere to the DRJ Guide for Authors in formatting and submitting their work.

3. Plagiarism and Falsification: All submissions must be free from plagiarism, data fabrication, or falsification. Proper citation and full acknowledgment of other works are required.

4. Language and Clarity: Manuscripts must be well-written in American or British English, properly proofread and edited.

5. Authorship and Contributions: All listed authors must have made substantial contributions to conception, design, research, analysis, or manuscript writing. Specific author contributions should be clearly outlined. Others may be recognized in the acknowledgments section.

6. Conflict of Interest: All potential conflicts of interest must be disclosed upon submission.

7. Multiple Submissions: Submitting the same manuscript to more than one journal at the same time is unethical and unacceptable.

8. Responsibilities of Corresponding Author: The corresponding author must communicate with all co-authors about manuscript status and revisions, and must respond to editorial deadlines.

9. Research Ethics: Authors are responsible for ensuring that the study complies with ethical standards regarding research on human, animal, or environmental subjects, including obtaining proper approvals involving the participation of human subjects (e.g., prior informed consent, participant anonymity, permission letters from the study site, etc.).

10. Post-publication Responsibilities: If serious errors or ethical violations are discovered, the corresponding author must notify the journal editor promptly for correction, retraction, or clarification.

Code of Ethics for Reviewers

1. Subject Expertise and Competence: Reviewers should accept only those manuscripts for which they have sufficient expertise.

2. Conflicts of Interest: Any actual or potential conflicts of interest—financial, personal, intellectual, professional, political, or religious—must be declared and may warrant recusal.

3. Timeliness: Reviewers must complete reviews within the agreed timeframe or inform the editor if unable to do so promptly.

4. Confidentiality: Manuscripts and review details must be treated with strict confidentiality and not used for personal advantage.

5. Objectivity and Constructiveness: Reviews must be objective, fair, and constructive, aimed at improving the scientific quality of the manuscript without personal criticism.

6. Ethical Oversight: Reviewers should inform the editor of any suspected ethical concerns (plagiarism, data fabrication, unethical research) encountered during the review process.

Code of Ethics for Editors

1. Editorial Independence and Fair Decision-Making: Editors make publication decisions based solely on academic merit, originality, clarity, and relevance to the journal's scope, irrespective of author identity (sex, race, nationality, affiliation, or beliefs).

2. Transparency and Communication: Editors must provide clear guidance to authors and reviewers regarding the editorial process.

3. Confidentiality: Editors must protect the identities of authors and reviewers, and handle all submitted materials confidentially.

4. Timely Processing: Editors are responsible for ensuring prompt review and decision processes.

5. Ethical Oversight: Editors must vigilantly guard the integrity of the journal. Allegations of research or publication misconduct will be addressed with appropriate investigations and actions.

6. Conflict of Interest: Editors must recuse themselves from handling manuscripts where they have conflicts of interest.

Code of Ethics for the Publisher

1. Editorial Independence and Fairness: The Publisher shall uphold the independence of the editorial process and ensure that all decisions are made solely on academic merit, originality, and relevance, without discrimination or external influence.

2. Transparency and Accountability: The Publisher shall provide clear and accessible information on editorial policies, peer review processes, publication requirements, and any applicable fees, ensuring openness in all publishing practices.

3. Confidentiality: The Publisher shall protect the confidentiality of submitted manuscripts and ensure that all materials and communications are handled securely and disclosed only to authorized individuals.

4. Ethical Oversight and Integrity: The Publisher shall support the editor in maintaining the integrity of the scholarly record by addressing allegations of misconduct (e.g., plagiarism, data falsification) through fair investigation and appropriate corrective actions.

5. Conflict of Interest and Responsible Practices: The Publisher shall manage conflicts of interest and ensure that editorial decisions remain independent from commercial or financial considerations.

6. Integrity of the Scholarly Record: The Publisher shall ensure the accuracy, completeness, and permanence of the scholarly record by supporting corrections, retractions, and updates when required; preventing inappropriate manipulation of citations or metrics; ensuring proper archiving and digital preservation of published content.

7. Responsible Business Practices: The Publisher shall separate editorial decisions from commercial interests. Advertising, sponsorship, or revenue considerations must not influence editorial content or decisions.

Code of Ethics for AI Usage

1. Independence and autonomy: AI tools should not be considered as a co-author and should not be used as such in the submitted manuscript to DRJ;

2. Limited use: AI usage is permitted for language editing, searching for references, coding assistance, data organization, and the preparation of scientific illustrations, conceptual diagrams, and graphical abstracts. AI-generated images are permitted when their use is clearly disclosed, scientifically accurate, and not misrepresented as authentic research observations.

3. Responsibility of authors: The journal prohibits AI-generated or fabricated research data, experimental observations, survey responses, and research results. AI-assisted analysis of authentic research data is permitted, provided that the methods and outputs are independently verified by the authors.

4. Transparency required: All authors must disclose any AI use in their manuscript.

5. Evaluation of papers: AI tools should not be used for writing a peer review of papers submitted to DRJ.

The Davao Research Journal is committed to maintaining these standards to uphold the trust of the academic community and ensure the quality of published research. Any breaches of this Code of Ethics will result in appropriate corrective action.