OPTIMUM: Indonesian Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities adheres to the highest standards of publication ethics and integrity. The journal is committed to ensuring that all articles published are of the highest quality, free from misconduct, and contribute meaningfully to the academic community. To maintain transparency and trust, we follow ethical guidelines based on international best practices in scholarly publishing.

The following principles outline the ethical responsibilities of authors, reviewers, and editors involved in the publication process:

1. Ethical Responsibilities of Authors

• Originality and Plagiarism: Authors must ensure that their submissions are original, and properly cite all sources of information and data. Any form of plagiarism, including self-plagiarism, will not be tolerated. Submissions should not have been previously published or be under consideration for publication elsewhere.
• Authorship: All individuals who have contributed significantly to the research and writing of the article should be listed as co-authors. Corresponding authors must ensure that all co-authors have reviewed and approved the final version of the manuscript.
• Data Integrity: Authors are expected to present data accurately and honestly. Fabricating, falsifying, or manipulating data in any form is prohibited.
• Conflicts of Interest: Authors must disclose any potential conflicts of interest that could influence the research or its interpretation. This includes financial, personal, or professional relationships.
• Ethical Approval: If the research involves human participants or animals, authors must obtain and mention appropriate ethical approval from relevant institutions or boards.

2. Ethical Responsibilities of Reviewers

• Confidentiality: Reviewers must keep the content of the manuscript confidential and should not share, discuss, or use any part of the manuscript for personal advantage.
• Objective Evaluation: Reviews should be conducted objectively, providing constructive feedback based on scholarly rigor. Personal biases or conflicts of interest should not influence the review process.
• Acknowledgment of Sources: Reviewers should identify relevant published work that has not been cited by the authors. Any similarity to or overlap with previous work should be noted to prevent duplication.
• Timeliness: Reviewers are expected to complete their reviews within the time frame provided. If they are unable to do so, they should inform the editor promptly.

3. Ethical Responsibilities of Editors

• Editorial Independence: Editors must make decisions based solely on the academic merit and quality of the submission, without regard to the authors’ race, gender, nationality, religious belief, or institutional affiliation.
• Confidentiality: Editors must ensure the confidentiality of submitted manuscripts. They should not disclose any details about the manuscript to third parties, except for those involved in the peer-review process.
• Fair and Transparent Process: Editors are responsible for maintaining a fair and unbiased review process, selecting reviewers who have the expertise to evaluate the manuscript accurately.
• Conflict of Interest: Editors must disclose any conflicts of interest related to the manuscripts under review and recuse themselves from handling papers where such conflicts arise.
• Correcting Errors: In cases where errors, inaccuracies, or ethical violations are identified post-publication, editors are responsible for initiating corrections, retractions, or clarifications as necessary to maintain the integrity of the scholarly record.

4. Plagiarism and Misconduct

OPTIMUM takes any form of academic misconduct seriously, including plagiarism, data fabrication, falsification of results, and unethical research practices. All submitted manuscripts are screened for plagiarism, and any cases of suspected misconduct will be thoroughly investigated in line with the journal’s policy. If necessary, the manuscript will be rejected, and appropriate action will be taken in accordance with the nature of the violation.

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These publication ethics ensure that OPTIMUM maintains its commitment to integrity, transparency, and excellence in scholarly publishing. All parties involved in the publication process are expected to uphold these ethical standards to promote trust and credibility in academic research.