ETHICAL PRINCIPLES
Our journal adheres to the guidelines of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) with regard to publishing ethics and academic integrity. Within this framework, all academic studies published in our journal are expected to comply with the highest ethical standards.
Actions Contrary to Scientific Research and Publication Ethics
Plagiarism: Presenting others’ original ideas, methods, data, or works, in whole or in part, as one’s own without proper citation in accordance with scientific rules.
Fabrication: Using data that do not exist or have been falsified in scientific research.
Falsification: Manipulating research records or data obtained; presenting devices or materials that were not used as if they were; distorting or shaping research results in line with the interests of individuals or institutions providing support.
Duplicate publication: Submitting repetitive publications as separate works in academic appointment and promotion processes.
Salami slicing: Dividing the results of a single study into inappropriate parts that disrupt the integrity of the research and publishing them separately for use in academic appointment and promotion processes.
Unjust authorship: Including individuals who have not made an active contribution as authors, excluding those who have contributed, unjustifiably altering the order of authorship, removing contributors’ names in later editions, or including one’s name as an author by abusing influence despite a lack of contribution.
Other Types of Ethical Violations
a) Failing to acknowledge individuals, institutions, or organizations that provided support and their contributions in publications resulting from funded research.
b) Using unpublished or unapproved theses or studies as sources without the permission of their owners.
c) Sharing information contained in a work assigned for review with others before publication without the explicit consent of the author.
ç) Using resources, spaces, facilities, or equipment allocated for scientific research for purposes other than intended.
d) Making unfounded, inappropriate, or deliberate accusations of ethical violations.
e) Publishing data obtained from surveys or attitude research conducted without obtaining the explicit consent of participants, or without institutional permission where required.
f) Failing to inform and warn relevant parties about potential harmful practices related to scientific research.
g) Using data and information obtained from other individuals or institutions beyond the permitted scope or manner, failing to respect confidentiality, and neglecting data protection.
h) Making false or misleading statements regarding scientific research and publications in academic appointment and promotion processes.
Ethics Committee Approval
For research in all scientific disciplines that requires ethics committee approval, such approval must be obtained and clearly stated in the manuscript. Our journal does not evaluate studies lacking ethics committee approval. For studies requiring approval, details of the permission (committee name, date, and reference number) must be included in the manuscript. In accordance with decisions of ULAKBİM TR Dizin, Ethics Committee Approval has been mandatory for studies published since 2020.
Research Requiring Ethics Committee Approval
The following types of studies submitted to our journal require ethics committee approval:
All qualitative or quantitative studies involving data collection from participants through surveys, interviews, focus groups, observations, or similar methods.
Retrospective studies conducted within the scope of the Law on the Protection of Personal Data.
Such studies must have obtained the relevant ethics committee approval, which must be explicitly stated in the manuscript.
Plagiarism Screening
Manuscripts submitted to our journal are screened using iThenticate and Turnitin software to prevent plagiarism. The maximum acceptable similarity rate is 20%. Manuscripts exceeding this rate are returned to authors during the preliminary evaluation stage.
If plagiarism is detected in a submitted or published article, the journal acts in accordance with COPE principles.
Relations Between the Journal Owner and Publisher
The relationship between the editor and the publisher is based on the principle of editorial independence. In accordance with the written agreement between the editor and the publisher, all editorial decisions are made independently of the publisher and the journal owner.
Corrections, Retractions, and Expressions of Concern
Editors may publish a correction if minor errors that do not affect the findings, interpretations, or conclusions are identified in a published article. Editors should consider retracting an article in cases of major errors or violations that invalidate the findings and conclusions. COPE principles are taken into account in decisions regarding corrections, retractions, or expressions of concern.
Protection of Intellectual Property Rights
Our journal is responsible for protecting the intellectual property rights of all published articles and for defending the rights of the journal and authors in cases of potential infringement.
Protection of Participants’ Personal Data
All personal data submitted to our journal are protected in accordance with legal regulations and ethical principles.
Use of Artificial Intelligence
The use of artificial intelligence in processes that do not affect the originality of the manuscript, such as literature searches or language editing, is acceptable. However, AI must be used in compliance with ethical rules and must never be used for unethical purposes such as data fabrication or manipulation.
Authors are required to inform the journal during the submission process if artificial intelligence has been used. All responsibility related to the use of AI rests with the authors.
RESPONSIBILITIES OF STAKEHOLDERS
1. EDITOR RESPONSIBILITIES
Fair Evaluation and Impartiality
Editors evaluate manuscripts submitted to the journal solely on the basis of academic merit, significance, originality, and relevance to the journal’s scope, without regard to the authors’ race, gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, nationality, religious beliefs, political views, or institutional affiliations. Editorial decisions are not influenced by the policies of external institutions or governments. Full authority over publication content rests with the Editorial Board. Manuscripts deemed appropriate by the editor and/or Editorial Board are sent for peer review. Manuscripts that do not meet academic standards or journal scope are rejected with a reasoned decision. No manuscript that has not undergone peer review or that has received negative peer-review outcomes may be published.
Confidentiality
Editors, assistant editors, and all other editorial staff shall not disclose any information about a submitted manuscript to anyone other than the authors, reviewers, potential reviewers, editorial advisors, and the publisher.
Disclosure and Conflicts of Interest
Editors and Editorial Board members shall not use unpublished information, ideas, or hypotheses disclosed in submitted manuscripts for their own research without the authors’ explicit written permission. Editors must keep all information obtained during the review process confidential and must not use it for personal gain. Editors with potential conflicts of interest arising from competitive, collaborative, or other relationships with authors, institutions, or companies shall recuse themselves from the evaluation process.
If conflicts of interest are identified after publication, corrections will be issued and the article will be removed from the journal’s digital platform and index.
Publication Decisions
Editors are responsible for ensuring that all submitted manuscripts are evaluated for publication and reviewed by at least two experts in the field. In cooperation with the Editorial Board, editors assess originality, validity, and significance, taking into account reviewer comments and legal requirements regarding defamation, copyright infringement, and plagiarism. Editors may consult with reviewers or board members and may provide guidance to authors regarding language, methodology, and scientific or logical issues.
Participation in Investigations
Editors, in cooperation with publishers and institutions, take appropriate measures when ethical concerns arise regarding submitted or published articles. All allegations of unethical publishing behavior are investigated, regardless of when they are reported. If ethical violations are confirmed, corrections or retractions are issued, and affected articles are removed from the journal’s digital platform and index.
2. REVIEWER RESPONSIBILITIES
Contribution to Editorial Decisions
Peer review assists editors in making editorial decisions and helps authors improve their manuscripts through editorial communication. Peer review is a fundamental component of scholarly communication.
Promptness
Reviewers who feel unqualified to review a manuscript or unable to complete the review promptly should notify the editor immediately and decline the invitation.
Confidentiality
All manuscripts received for review are confidential documents and must not be shared or discussed with others without explicit authorization from the editor.
Standards of Objectivity
Reviews should be conducted objectively, with clear arguments supporting reviewers’ opinions to help authors improve their work. Personal criticism of authors is inappropriate. Reviewers must complete the Reviewer Report Form and upload it via the journal system.
Acknowledgment of Sources
Reviewers should identify relevant published work not cited by the authors and notify the editor of any substantial similarity or overlap between the manuscript under review and other known works.
Disclosure and Conflicts of Interest
Reviewers with conflicts of interest must disclose them and decline the review invitation. Authors published in a given issue may not serve as reviewers in the same issue, and reviewers may not publish articles in the issue they review.
3. AUTHOR RESPONSIBILITIES
Writing Standards
Authors must ensure that manuscripts submitted to the Turkish Journal of Archaeology and Ethnography comply with the journal’s aims, scope, publication principles, and formatting guidelines. Manuscripts must present accurate accounts of the research and an objective discussion of its significance, with sufficient detail and references. Fabricated or knowingly false statements are unethical and unacceptable.
Authors must respond systematically and promptly to reviewer and editor comments during revision and proofreading stages. Failure to do so results in rejection.
Data Access and Retention
Authors may be asked to provide raw data, ethical approvals, and copyright permissions and must cooperate promptly. Data should be retained and made accessible for at least 10 years after publication, subject to confidentiality and legal constraints.
Withdrawing a manuscript during the peer-review process is considered unethical. Authors who do so will not have submissions accepted by the journal for five years.
Originality and Plagiarism
Authors must submit only original work and properly cite all sources. The maximum allowed similarity rate is 20% excluding references. Articles derived from theses are acceptable, provided they are not identical and clearly indicate their origin.
Multiple, Redundant, or Concurrent Publication
Manuscripts must not be submitted to more than one journal simultaneously or previously published elsewhere. Violations result in a five-year submission ban. Published works are protected under the CC-BY-NC-ND license.
Authorship
Only individuals who have made significant contributions to the conception, design, execution, analysis, or interpretation of the study; drafting or revising the manuscript; and approving the final version should be listed as authors.
Disclosure and Conflicts of Interest
Authors must disclose all financial and non-financial conflicts of interest and funding sources during submission.
Hazards and Human or Animal Subjects
Studies involving hazardous materials or human/animal subjects must comply with legal and ethical regulations and include statements of approval and informed consent where applicable.
Errors in Published Works
Authors must promptly inform editors of any significant errors discovered and cooperate in corrections or retractions.
4. PUBLISHER RESPONSIBILITIES
Measures Against Ethical Misconduct
The publisher, in cooperation with editors, investigates allegations of scientific misconduct, plagiarism, or fraudulent publication and takes appropriate action, including rejection, correction, or retraction.
Participation in Investigations
The journal cooperates with authorities in legal and administrative investigations when requested.
Reporting Ethical Violations
Readers may report significant errors or ethical concerns by emailing taed@ktb.gov.tr.