Publication Ethic

Sophist is a peer-reviewed national journal available in both print and online formats, published twice a year. This statement outlines the standards of ethical conduct for all parties involved in the journal's publication process including authors, the editor-in-chief, the editorial board, peer reviewers, and the publisher (the Faculty of Ushuluddin at the State Islamic University of Mataram). This statement has been formulated based on the COPE Best Practice Guidelines for Journal Editors.

Journal Publication Ethics Guidelines
 
The publication of peer-reviewed articles in the Sophist journal is a vital element in developing a coherent and credible body of knowledge. It directly reflects the quality of the authors' work and the institutions with which they are affiliated. Peer-reviewed articles support and embody the application of the scientific method. Therefore, it is essential to agree upon expected standards of ethical behavior for all parties involved in the publication process: authors, journal editors, peer reviewers, the publisher, and the scholarly community.
 
The Faculty of Ushuluddin at the State Islamic University (UIN) Mataram, as the publisher of Sophist, carries out its oversight duties at every stage of publication with a strong sense of responsibility, fully acknowledging its ethical and other obligations. We are committed to ensuring that revenue from advertising, reprints, or other commercial activities does not impact or influence editorial decisions.
 
Publication decisions
 
The Sophist editor is responsible for deciding which submitted articles merit publication. The validity of the work and its significance to researchers and readers must always serve as the primary basis for decision-making. Editors may be guided by the journal's editorial board policies and are bound by applicable legal requirements regarding defamation, copyright infringement, and plagiarism. In making these decisions, editors may consult with other editors or peer reviewers.
 
Fair play
 
Editors evaluate research manuscripts and conceptual ideas specifically within the fields of social sciences, political science, Islamic studies, and tafsir (Qur'anic exegesis). Submitted articles cover topics and issues regarding political Islam and Muslim societies, contemporary Islamic thought, the Qur'an and social transformation, environmental humanities and Islamic perspectives, as well as peace, justice, and sustainable development both in Indonesia and globally.
Confidentiality
 
The editor and all editorial staff must not disclose any information regarding a submitted manuscript to anyone other than the corresponding author, reviewers, potential reviewers, other editorial advisors, and the publisher, as appropriate.
 
Disclosure and conflicts of interest
 
Unpublished materials disclosed in a submitted manuscript must not be used in the editor's own research without the express written consent of the author.
 
Duties of Reviewers
 
Contribution to Editorial Decisions
 
Peer review assists the editor in making editorial decisions and, through editorial communication with the author, may also assist the author in improving the paper.
 
Promptness
Any selected reviewer who feels unqualified to review the research reported in a manuscript or knows that a timely review is impossible must notify the editor and withdraw from the review process.
 
Confidentiality
 
Any manuscript received for review must be treated as a confidential document. It must not be shown to or discussed with others except with the editor's authorization.
 
Standards of Objectivity
 
Reviews must be conducted objectively. Personal criticism of the author is inappropriate. Reviewers should express their views clearly, supported by arguments.
 
Acknowledgment of Sources
 
Reviewers should identify relevant published work that has not been cited by the author. Any statement indicating that an observation, derivation, or argument has been previously reported should be accompanied by a relevant citation. Reviewers should also notify the editor of any substantial similarity or overlap between the manuscript under review and any other published paper of which they have personal knowledge.
Disclosure and Conflicts of Interest
 
Privileged information or ideas obtained through the peer review process must be kept confidential and not used for personal gain. Reviewers must not review manuscripts in which they have conflicts of interest resulting from competitive, collaborative, or other relationships with the authors, companies, or institutions associated with the paper.
 
Duties of Authors
 
Reporting standards
 
Authors of original research reports must present an accurate account of the work performed as well as an objective discussion of its significance. Underlying data must be represented accurately in the paper. The paper should contain sufficient detail and references to permit others to replicate the research. Fraudulent or knowingly inaccurate statements constitute unethical behavior and are unacceptable.
 
Originality and Plagiarism
 
Authors must ensure that their work is entirely original, and if they use the work and/or words of others, this must be appropriately cited or quoted.
 
Multiple, Redundant, or Concurrent Publication
 
In general, authors should not publish manuscripts describing essentially the same research in more than one journal or primary publication. Submitting the same manuscript to more than one journal concurrently constitutes unethical publishing behavior and is unacceptable.
 
Acknowledgment of Sources
 
Proper acknowledgment of the work of others must always be given. Authors should cite publications that have been influential in determining the nature of the reported research.
 
Authorship of the Paper
 
Authorship should be limited to those who have made a significant contribution to the conception, design, execution, or interpretation of the reported research. All those who have made significant contributions should be listed as co-authors. If others have participated in certain substantive aspects of the research project, they should be acknowledged or listed as contributors. The corresponding author must ensure that all appropriate co-authors are included and that no inappropriate co-authors are listed in the paper; they must also ensure that all co-authors have reviewed and approved the final version of the paper and agreed to its submission for publication.
 
Disclosure and Conflicts of Interest
 
All authors must disclose in their manuscript any financial or other substantive conflicts of interest that could be perceived as influencing the results or interpretation of their work. All sources of financial support for the project must be disclosed. Fundamental errors in published works
 
When an author discovers a significant error or inaccuracy in their own published work, they are obliged to promptly notify the journal editor or publisher and cooperate with the editor to retract or correct the paper.