Policies

OPEN ACCESS AND COPYRIGHT POLICY

As an open-access journal, the Journal of Health Research and Society (JHRS) allows users to freely access all published content. Full-text articles can be read, downloaded, distributed, printed, searched, or reused without asking prior permission from the publisher or author with the condition that the original publication is properly cited and referenced. This policy is in line with the Budapest Open Access Initiative.

 

Copyright and Licensing

JHRS is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license (CC BY 4.0). Authors grant the publisher, the Office of the Vice-Chancellor for Research and Extension (OVCRE) of Mindanao State University - General Santos, the right to be identified as the original publisher. Authors also grant any third party to use or reuse their content published in this journal if proper citation and identification of original authors are made.

 

Self-Archiving

JHRS permits authors to self-archive their articles on institutional or specialized research repositories. However, authors should use the publisher’s final PDF version published on the JHRS website.

 

EDITORIAL POLICY

The editorial policy of JHRS is guided by the principles and regulations of Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE). JHRS ensures excellent scientific publications by upholding rigorous ethical standards for publication. Refer to COPE’s guidelines for information on ethical issues.

Articles published in JHRS undergo a thorough double-blind peer review process, meaning the identities of the authors and reviewers are concealed from each other. JHRS only accepts and publishes original scholarly works. Therefore, authors should ensure that manuscripts submitted are original, unpublished, and not in consideration for publication in other journals.

Peer Review Process

The peer review process for publication in JHRS aims to ensure superior quality of published research articles in curriculum studies. The evaluation process follows these three stages:

 

  1. Desk Review Stage

The preliminary evaluation of submitted manuscripts is done by the editor. At this stage, the editor checks the following:

  • Align of the article with JHRS's aims and scope
  • Minimum technical research quality of the article
  • Writing conventions and standards satisfactory for review

Upon clearance in the desk review stage, the manuscripts are submitted for the next stage of the external peer review stage.

 

  1. Peer Review Stage

JHRS commits to maintaining integrity in peer review and upholding the highest possible standards of article review. The peer review panel consists of at least two external peer reviewers assigned based on their specializations and academic competencies. All submitted manuscripts undergo a rigorous double-blind peer review process. This means that the identities of the reviewers and the authors are concealed from each other. The review process is undertaken through the online submission system stipulated in the JHRS website.

Reviewers evaluate the scientific and presentation quality of manuscripts submitted. They give recommendations through a review report based on aspects of a.) originality, b.) relevance, c.) validity, d.) ethical rigor, and e.) reader interest. The role of reviewers is critical to safeguard the integrity and quality of JHRS publications.

 

  1. Decision Stage

The journal editors consider the comments and suggestions provided by the peer reviewers to arrive at a decision. The following are the most common decisions made:

  • Accept: the manuscript is approved in its original form or with minor corrections
  • Revise: the manuscript is approved provided that suggestions are addressed
  • Reject: the manuscript is declined even if substantial revisions are made

 

Appeals and Complaints Policy

Appeals may be raised by authors on their journal submissions. This letter should be directed to the editor-in-chief, detailing the reasons for the appeal so that appropriate review and consultations may be undertaken.

On the other hand, complaints on the policies and procedures of JHRS may be emailed to the publisher, the OVCRE of Mindanao State University - General Santos. These complaints will be acknowledged and resolved immediately.

 

PUBLICATION ETHICS POLICY

Guidelines for Editors

Editors are accountable for safeguarding the quality of the journal and the integrity of the review process. Part of this role is to back the authors and reviewers by giving timely and unbiased information about the review and publication processes. Editors are responsible for an effective peer review process and secure manuscript handling. Any information about submitted manuscripts cannot be used by editors for their research or personal purposes.

All relevant legal and ethical frameworks must be strictly adhered to by working within the guidelines required by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).

 

Guidelines for Reviewers

All articles submitted and published in JHRS undergo thorough peer review. This process is important to keep the integrity and quality of the journal. As such, peer reviewers have to be carefully guided by the COPE Ethical Guidelines for Peer Reviewers. Every peer reviewer is expected to:

  • Manage reviews in an ethical manner by ensuring that comments and recommendations are derived from valid and reliable bases
  • Uphold objectivity in the process through proper expression and support of perspectives and arguments
  • Disclose any competing or conflicting interests for a manuscript under review and do not agree to have it reviewed
  • Maintain the privacy of all manuscripts submitted for review, making sure that no detail will be used for purposes outside the review process
  • Communicate to the editor-in-chief any suspicions of ethics violation, working in cooperation with relevant bodies within the journal publisher for any investigations to be made

 

Guidelines for Authors

Authors should ensure the originality of submitted manuscripts with proper acknowledgment of sources used according to the publication manual of the American Psychological Association (7th edition). They should also ensure the originality of their work, ensuring that the manuscript submitted has not yet been published or is under review elsewhere in another journal.

Correctness in the processes of data collection, analysis, and interpretation should be observed. Data should be represented accurately and details presented sufficiently to allow replication of the research study.

Plagiarism, in any form, is strictly prohibited. Manuscripts confirmed of plagiarism will automatically be rejected upon going through the process stipulated under COPE’s guidelines. Unethical behavior constituting data fabrication or data manipulation is similarly unacceptable in any of JHRS publications.

All authors should disclose any conflicting or competing interests that may influence the results of the study. Sources of financial support are to be included in the disclosure statement.

Studies that entail the human subjects or the handling of confidential data must meet the regulations for ethical guidelines for educational research. Authors must comply with these rules to ensure observance of ethics in the research process.

Under exceptional circumstances, articles may need to be retracted, removed, or replaced to keep the integrity and quality of the journal and the literature. This will be determined by the editors, but may also be initiated by the author should erroneous data or conclusions be discovered.