1. Statement & Scope

The publication of peer-reviewed articles in Socultra advances rigorous, ethical, and culturally sensitive scholarship across sociology, anthropology, cultural/media studies, globalization, gender, ethnography, and social ecology. All parties—authors, editors, reviewers, publisher, and the scholarly community—must uphold the highest standards of integrity.

2. Editors’ Responsibilities

• Publication decisions. The Editor-in-Chief decides which submissions are accepted, based on editorial board advice and peer-review reports, while observing laws on defamation, copyright, and plagiarism.
• Fair play / Non-discrimination. Manuscripts are evaluated for scholarly merit irrespective of authors’ race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, ethnicity, nationality, disability, or political views.
• Confidentiality. Editors and staff must keep submissions confidential, sharing information only with corresponding authors, reviewers, potential reviewers, advisers, and the publisher as appropriate.
• Disclosure & conflicts of interest. Unpublished materials in submissions must not be used in editors’ own research.

3. Reviewers’ Responsibilities

• Contribution to decisions. Reviewers assist editors with impartial evaluations and constructive recommendations.
• Timeliness. Reviewers who cannot meet deadlines should notify the editor promptly so the manuscript can be reassigned.
• Confidentiality. All manuscripts are confidential and must not be shared or discussed; Socultra uses a double-blind process.
• Objectivity. Reviews should be evidence-based, respectful, and supported by clear arguments and relevant literature.
• Source recognition. Reviewers identify missing citations and alert editors to plagiarism or overlap with prior publications.
• Disclosure & conflicts of interest. Reviewers must decline assignments when conflicts exist with any author, institution, community, or funding source related to the work.

4. Authors’ Responsibilities

• Report original findings accurately with sufficient methodological detail and references to permit verification or replication.
• Fabrication, falsification, or knowingly misleading statements constitute misconduct.

• Authors may be asked for underlying data and should enable appropriate access and retention, while protecting participant privacy and community data sovereignty.
• For sensitive qualitative materials (e.g., field notes, recordings), provide secure storage, controlled access, and de-identification as required.

• Ensure originality and proper quotation/citation of others’ work; avoid duplicate or concurrent submission to other journals.

• Cite influential scholarship and acknowledge non-author contributors (e.g., translators, enumerators, community partners) appropriately.

• List as authors only those with substantial contributions. The corresponding author keeps co-authors informed and confirms approval of the final manuscript.

• Obtain prior ethics approval where required and secure informed consent/assent, with additional safeguards for minors and vulnerable populations.
• Respect cultural protocols, Indigenous knowledge rights, and community confidentiality; use culturally appropriate consent for visual media (photos/video).
• Minimize harm and avoid re-identification risks when reporting small or stigmatized groups; anonymize names, locations, and identifiable details as needed.

• Disclose financial and non-financial interests (e.g., organizational ties, community leadership roles) that might influence interpretation.

• Upon discovering a significant error, promptly notify the editor and cooperate in issuing a correction, expression of concern, or retraction.

5. Publisher’s Responsibilities

• Editorial independence. Advertising, sponsorships, or commercial revenue do not influence editorial decisions.
• Ethical oversight. The publisher supports COPE-aligned practices and coordinates with institutions, funders, or other journals when addressing ethical concerns.

6. Publication Misconduct & Actions

• Allegations. Suspected plagiarism, data fabrication/falsification, image or transcript manipulation, citation manipulation, duplicate submission, authorship disputes, or undisclosed conflicts will be investigated by the editors.
• Fieldwork-specific concerns. Breaches of confidentiality, coercive consent, misrepresentation of community approvals, or failure to protect vulnerable groups are treated as serious misconduct.
• Editorial actions. Depending on findings, actions may include rejection, request for revision, correction/erratum, expression of concern, or retraction in line with COPE guidance.
• Transparency. Authors will be notified of decisions; institutions, communities, or funders may be contacted where appropriate.