Publication Ethics and Malpractice Statement

The International Journal of Habilitation and Rehabilitation (IJHAR) is dedicated to upholding the highest standards of publication ethics, research integrity, and professional responsibility in scholarly publishing. The journal follows internationally accepted ethical practices to ensure the originality, authenticity, transparency, and academic quality of all published work. IJHAR encourages authors, reviewers, and editors to adhere to ethical principles and responsible research practices throughout the publication process.

Originality and Plagiarism

Authors are required to submit only original and unpublished manuscripts. Submission of the same manuscript to more than one journal simultaneously is strictly prohibited. Any form of plagiarism, including self-plagiarism, duplication of content, or unattributed use of another author’s work, is considered unethical. All manuscripts may undergo plagiarism screening prior to peer review, and submissions containing unethical similarities may be rejected or withdrawn.

Authorship and Contribution

Authorship should be limited to individuals who have made substantial academic or research contributions to the conception, design, data collection, analysis, interpretation, or writing of the manuscript. All listed authors must approve the final version of the manuscript before submission and agree to take responsibility for the integrity and accuracy of the work.

Data Integrity and Research Accuracy

Authors must ensure that all data, findings, and interpretations presented in the manuscript are accurate, reliable, and verifiable. Fabrication, falsification, manipulation, or selective presentation of data is strictly unacceptable. Researchers are encouraged to maintain proper records of their research data and provide clarification or supporting information whenever required.

Conflict of Interest

Authors, reviewers, and editors should disclose any financial, institutional, professional, or personal relationships that may influence the research process, interpretation of findings, or editorial decisions. Declaring conflicts of interest promotes transparency and maintains the credibility of scholarly communication.

Ethical Approval and Human Research

Research involving human participants, children, persons with disabilities, or vulnerable groups must comply with ethical and institutional guidelines. Authors should obtain prior approval from the appropriate ethics committee or institutional review board wherever applicable. Informed consent from participants must also be obtained before conducting the study. Research should respect the dignity, rights, privacy, and well-being of all participants.

Responsibilities of Authors

Authors submitting manuscripts to IJHAR are expected to:

  • Ensure that the submitted work is original, authentic, and free from plagiarism.
  • Properly acknowledge all references, sources, tables, figures, and previously published materials.
  • Avoid fabrication, falsification, or manipulation of research data.
  • Disclose funding sources, sponsorships, and conflicts of interest.
  • Obtain ethical permissions and informed consent where necessary.
  • Inform the editorial team promptly if significant errors or inaccuracies are discovered after publication.

Responsibilities of Reviewers

Reviewers play a crucial role in maintaining the scholarly quality of the journal. Reviewers are expected to:

  • Evaluate manuscripts objectively, fairly, and confidentially.
  • Provide constructive and unbiased academic feedback.
  • Maintain confidentiality of manuscripts and not use unpublished information for personal benefit.
  • Report possible plagiarism, duplication, or ethical concerns to the editor.
  • Disclose any conflict of interest that may affect the review process.
  • Complete reviews within the assigned timeframe.

Responsibilities of Editors

The editorial team of IJHAR is responsible for ensuring an ethical, transparent, and unbiased publication process. Editors are expected to:

  • Make publication decisions based on originality, academic merit, relevance, and research quality.
  • Ensure a fair double-blind peer-review process.
  • Maintain confidentiality of manuscripts and reviewer identities.
  • Prevent discrimination based on gender, disability, nationality, religion, institutional affiliation, or personal background.
  • Address ethical complaints, disputes, and cases of academic misconduct professionally and promptly.

Take appropriate action in cases involving plagiarism, duplicate publication, copyright infringement, or unethical research practices.