Publication Ethics

KUBIK: Jurnal Publikasi Ilmiah Matematika is a peer-reviewed scientific journal published by the Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Science and Technology, UIN Sunan Gunung Djati Bandung, Indonesia, in collaboration with ADMAPETA.

KUBIK is committed to maintaining the highest standards of publication ethics and academic integrity. This statement outlines the ethical responsibilities of all parties involved in the publication process, including authors, editors, reviewers, and the publisher.

The journal's publication ethics are guided by the principles and recommendations of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), particularly the COPE Core Practices.

1. Duties of Editors

1.1 Publication Decisions

Editors are responsible for determining which submitted manuscripts are suitable for publication based on their originality, scientific quality, methodological rigor, relevance to the journal's scope, and contributions to mathematical knowledge.

Editorial decisions must be based on academic merit and peer-review evaluations while complying with applicable legal and ethical requirements.

1.2 Fairness and Impartiality

Editors must evaluate manuscripts solely on their intellectual and scientific merit, without discrimination based on race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, ethnicity, nationality, institutional affiliation, or political beliefs.

1.3 Confidentiality

Editors and editorial staff must maintain the confidentiality of submitted manuscripts and related correspondence. Information concerning a manuscript may only be disclosed to individuals directly involved in the editorial and review processes.

1.4 Disclosure and Conflicts of Interest

Editors must disclose and appropriately manage any potential conflicts of interest that could influence editorial decisions.

Unpublished materials or information obtained through manuscript submissions must not be used for personal research or advantage without the authors' explicit written consent.

1.5 Editorial Independence

Editorial decisions must remain independent of commercial, financial, political, or institutional influences. Advertising, sponsorship, publication fees, or other sources of revenue must not affect the evaluation or acceptance of manuscripts.

2. Duties of Reviewers

2.1 Contribution to Editorial Decisions

Reviewers assist editors in evaluating the scientific quality, originality, mathematical rigor, and relevance of submitted manuscripts. Constructive feedback should help authors improve the clarity, accuracy, and scholarly contribution of their work.

2.2 Promptness

Reviewers who are unable to complete an evaluation within the required timeframe or lack sufficient expertise in the manuscript's subject area must promptly inform the editor.

2.3 Confidentiality

All manuscripts received for review must be treated as confidential documents. Reviewers must not disclose, distribute, or discuss manuscript contents with unauthorized individuals.

2.4 Objectivity and Professionalism

Reviews must be conducted objectively, fairly, and professionally. Reviewers should provide clear, evidence-based assessments supported by appropriate scientific reasoning.

Personal criticism, discriminatory remarks, or unsupported judgments are unacceptable.

2.5 Acknowledgment of Sources

Reviewers should identify relevant scholarly literature that has not been appropriately cited and notify editors of any substantial similarities, overlapping publications, or suspected plagiarism.

2.6 Disclosure and Conflicts of Interest

Reviewers must disclose potential conflicts of interest arising from personal, professional, financial, or institutional relationships with the authors or their research.

Reviewers must not use unpublished information obtained during peer review for personal advantage.

3. Duties of Authors

3.1 Reporting Standards

Authors must present accurate, complete, and objective accounts of their research, including methodologies, mathematical derivations, results, and conclusions.

Manuscripts should contain sufficient information to allow other researchers to evaluate, verify, or reproduce the reported findings where applicable.

Fabrication, falsification, manipulation of research findings, and knowingly inaccurate statements constitute unacceptable research misconduct.

3.2 Originality and Plagiarism

Authors must ensure that submitted manuscripts represent original scholarly work and that all sources, ideas, mathematical results, data, and statements originating from other researchers are appropriately acknowledged.

Plagiarism, including unattributed reproduction of text, mathematical arguments, figures, or research findings, is strictly prohibited.

3.3 Multiple, Redundant, or Concurrent Submissions

Authors must not submit the same manuscript simultaneously to more than one journal.

Redundant publication, duplicate publication, and inappropriate reuse of previously published material without proper acknowledgment are considered unethical publishing practices.

3.4 Data Accuracy, Access, and Retention

Authors are responsible for the accuracy, integrity, and appropriate management of the data used in their research.

Where applicable, authors may be requested to provide supporting datasets, computational procedures, mathematical codes, or other research materials necessary to verify their findings, subject to ethical, legal, and confidentiality restrictions.

Authors should retain relevant research materials for a reasonable period following publication.

3.5 Authorship and Contributorship Criteria

3.5.1 Authorship Criteria

Individuals listed as authors must meet the following criteria:

  1. Have made substantial intellectual contributions to the conception, research design, mathematical analysis, methodology, or interpretation of the study.

  2. Have participated in drafting the manuscript or critically revising its important intellectual content.

  3. Have reviewed and approved the final version of the manuscript submitted for publication.

  4. Agree to take responsibility for their contributions and cooperate in addressing questions concerning the accuracy, validity, or integrity of the research.

All individuals who meet these criteria should be appropriately recognized as authors. Those who contribute to the research but do not fulfill the authorship criteria should be acknowledged as contributors.

3.5.2 Author Contributions

All authors are expected to make meaningful contributions to the research and publication process. Contributions may include conceptualization, methodology, mathematical modeling, formal analysis, software development, validation, investigation, data curation, writing, reviewing, and editing. KUBIK encourages authors to provide an Author Contributions Statement that clearly describes the roles and responsibilities of each author in the research.

3.5.3 Corresponding Author Responsibilities

The corresponding author is responsible for:

  1. Managing communication with the journal throughout the submission, peer review, and publication processes.

  2. Ensuring that all authors have reviewed and approved the submitted manuscript.

  3. Confirming the accuracy of authorship information, institutional affiliations, and contact details.

  4. Communicating editorial decisions, reviewers' comments, and revision requests to all co-authors.

  5. Ensuring that all authors approve the final version of the manuscript before publication.

The corresponding author must also ensure that all authors are informed of significant changes affecting the manuscript during the editorial process.

3.5.4 Changes in Authorship

Any request to add, remove, or rearrange authors after manuscript submission must be accompanied by a written explanation and documented agreement from all affected authors. Authorship changes require editorial approval and must be supported by appropriate justification. Requests for authorship changes after publication will be evaluated in accordance with the journal's Publication Ethics and Retraction and Correction Policy.

The editorial team may request additional documentation or clarification when necessary to ensure the legitimacy of the proposed changes.

3.5.5 Inappropriate Authorship Practices

KUBIK strictly prohibits inappropriate authorship practices, including:

  • Gift Authorship: Including individuals who have not made sufficient intellectual contributions to qualify for authorship.

  • Guest Authorship: Listing individuals primarily to enhance the perceived credibility, reputation, or prestige of a manuscript without sufficient scholarly contribution.

  • Ghost Authorship: Omitting individuals who have made substantial contributions that qualify them for authorship.

All authors must be appropriately credited based on their actual intellectual contributions to the research.

3.5.6 Acknowledgment of Contributors

Individuals who have contributed to the research but do not meet the authorship criteria should be appropriately acknowledged, with their permission. Such contributions may include technical assistance, administrative support, language editing, research assistance, or other supporting activities. Acknowledgments should accurately describe relevant contributions and must not be used to conceal inappropriate authorship arrangements.

3.6 Acknowledgment of Sources

Authors must acknowledge all publications and research materials that have significantly influenced their work. References should be accurate, relevant, and appropriately cited according to the journal's guidelines.

3.7 Disclosure and Conflicts of Interest

3.7.1 Authors' Responsibilities

Authors must disclose all relevant conflicts of interest that may influence the design, conduct, analysis, interpretation, or reporting of their research.

Potential conflicts of interest may include:

  1. Financial Interests: Research funding, sponsorship, employment, consultancy arrangements, financial relationships, or other financial benefits.

  2. Professional and Institutional Relationships: Affiliations, collaborations, or institutional commitments that may influence the research.

  3. Personal Relationships: Personal or family relationships that could reasonably affect the objectivity of the research.

  4. Academic Interests: Intellectual, professional, or competitive interests that may influence the interpretation or presentation of research findings.

Authors must provide a Conflict of Interest Statement during manuscript submission.

If no conflicts of interest exist, authors should include the following statement:

“The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest regarding the publication of this article.”

All declared conflicts of interest will be assessed by the editorial team and disclosed in the published article where appropriate.

3.7.2 Editors' Responsibilities

Editors must maintain independence and impartiality in all editorial decisions.

Editors are required to disclose any conflicts of interest involving submitted manuscripts, including personal, professional, financial, or institutional relationships with the authors.

Editors with significant conflicts of interest must withdraw from the editorial handling and decision-making process for the affected manuscript.

The manuscript should be assigned to another qualified editor to ensure an independent and unbiased evaluation.

Editorial decisions must be based solely on scientific quality, originality, methodological rigor, relevance, and the recommendations of qualified reviewers.

3.7.3 Reviewers' Responsibilities

Reviewers must disclose any potential conflicts of interest before accepting a review assignment.

Such conflicts may arise from:

  1. Recent or ongoing research collaborations with the authors.

  2. Personal, professional, or institutional relationships that could affect impartiality.

  3. Financial interests related to the research or its findings.

  4. Direct academic competition or other circumstances that could compromise an objective assessment.

Reviewers who identify significant conflicts of interest must inform the editor and decline the review assignment unless the editor determines that the situation can be appropriately managed.

Reviewers must not use confidential information obtained through peer review for personal or professional advantage.

3.7.4 Publisher's Responsibilities

The Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Science and Technology, UIN Sunan Gunung Djati Bandung, as the publisher of KUBIK, is committed to maintaining editorial independence and transparency.

Institutional support, sponsorship, Article Processing Charges (APCs), and other financial considerations must not influence manuscript evaluation, reviewer selection, editorial decisions, or publication outcomes.

Payment of publication fees or Fast Track Review fees does not guarantee manuscript acceptance or publication.

3.7.5 Disclosure and Management of Conflicts of Interest

All potential conflicts of interest must be disclosed as early as possible during the submission, peer review, or editorial process.

The editorial team will assess disclosed conflicts and determine appropriate measures to maintain the integrity of the publication process.

Such measures may include:

  • Requesting additional information or clarification.

  • Assigning an independent editor or reviewer.

  • Excluding individuals with significant conflicts from relevant editorial decisions.

  • Requiring appropriate disclosure statements in published articles.

  • Taking corrective action if previously undisclosed conflicts are identified.

Failure to disclose significant conflicts of interest may result in editorial action in accordance with the journal's Publication Ethics and Retraction and Correction Policy.

3.7.6 Commitment to Editorial Integrity

KUBIK is committed to maintaining a fair, transparent, and independent scholarly publishing process.

All authors, editors, reviewers, and publishing partners are expected to identify, disclose, and appropriately manage potential conflicts of interest to preserve the credibility and integrity of research published in the journal.

3.8 Fundamental Errors in Published Works

If authors discover significant errors or inaccuracies in their published articles, they must promptly notify the editorial team and cooperate in implementing appropriate corrections, expressions of concern, or retractions.

4. Duties of the Publisher

The Department of Mathematics, UIN Sunan Gunung Djati Bandung, as the publisher of KUBIK, is committed to supporting ethical scholarly publishing and maintaining the integrity of the journal's publication process.

The publisher supports editorial independence, responsible journal management, transparent publication policies, and the appropriate handling of ethical concerns.

Commercial interests, sponsorship arrangements, advertising, and other financial considerations must not influence editorial decisions.

5. Handling Publication Misconduct

KUBIK takes allegations of research and publication misconduct seriously, including plagiarism, data fabrication, data falsification, duplicate publication, authorship disputes, and undisclosed conflicts of interest.

Suspected ethical violations will be assessed by the editorial team in accordance with the journal's policies and relevant COPE guidance.

Where appropriate, the journal may request clarification or supporting evidence from the parties involved and determine suitable editorial actions, including:

  • Rejection of manuscripts that violate publication ethics.

  • Requests for clarification or correction.

  • Publication of corrections or expressions of concern.

  • Retraction of published articles when justified.

  • Communication with relevant institutions or other publishers when necessary.

All allegations should be handled fairly, confidentially, and with due consideration of available evidence.

For further information regarding post-publication actions, please refer to the journal's Retraction and Correction Policy.

6. Commitment to Research Integrity

KUBIK is committed to promoting responsible research practices, transparent editorial procedures, and ethical scholarly communication.

All authors, editors, reviewers, and publishing partners are expected to uphold these principles to maintain the credibility, reliability, and scientific integrity of research published in the journal.