Publication Ethics Statement

Publisher and Editors

As the publisher and editors of Digital Learning, Social Science, and Life-course Studies, we uphold the highest ethical standards in all our practices. We are committed to maintaining the integrity of the research we publish and the privacy and confidentiality of our authors, reviewers, and readers. To fulfill this commitment, we pledge to adhere to the following ethical principles:

• Editorial Independence: We maintain editorial independence and will not allow any external influences to compromise the quality, objectivity, or accuracy of our published research.
• Peer Review: We ensure that all research we publish undergoes rigorous peer review by qualified experts in the relevant fields. We strive to maintain the confidentiality of our reviewers and to protect their anonymity if requested.
• Authorship: We require that all authors of research submitted to us meet the criteria for authorship, as defined by international guidelines. We also require that all authors disclose any potential conflicts of interest that could influence their research.
• Plagiarism and Fraud: We are committed to preventing plagiarism and fraud in all forms. We require that all research submitted to us be original, not previously published, or under review elsewhere. We also require that authors acknowledge all sources of funding for their research.
• Transparency: We are committed to being transparent in our practices and policies. We make our policies regarding peer review, editorial decisions, and publishing procedures readily available to our authors, reviewers, and readers.
• Diversity and Inclusion: We are committed to promoting diversity and inclusion in all publishing practices. We welcome submissions from researchers of all backgrounds and strive to ensure that our editorial and review processes are free from bias and discrimination.
• Correction and Retraction: We acknowledge that errors and mistakes can occur in research, and we are committed to correcting them promptly and transparently. If errors or mistakes are discovered after publication, we will issue corrections or retractions as appropriate.

We believe that upholding these ethical statements is essential to maintaining the trust of our authors, reviewers, and readers. We will continue to review and update our policies and practices to ensure we meet the highest ethical standards in all our publishing endeavors.

Reviewers

Reviewers play a critical role in maintaining the quality and integrity of academic research. Reviewers shall recognize the importance of upholding the highest ethical standards in their work and pledge to adhere to the following ethical statements:

• Confidentiality: Reviewers shall respect the confidentiality of the peer review process and the manuscripts they handle. Reviewers will not disclose any information related to the manuscripts or the review process unless authorized by the relevant parties or required by law.
• Objectivity and Impartiality: Reviewers shall strive to evaluate manuscripts based solely on their academic merit, without regard to factors such as authors' race, gender, nationality, or institutional affiliation. Reviewers shall disclose any potential conflicts of interest that may influence the review and refrain from handling manuscripts if necessary.
• Timeliness: Reviewers shall recognize the importance of timely review and strive to complete the reviews within the agreed timeframe. If reviewers cannot meet the deadline, they shall inform the editors promptly and provide an estimated timeline for completion.
• Constructive Feedback: Reviewers shall provide constructive feedback to the authors that helps improve the quality of the manuscript. Reviewers refrain from making personal attacks or derogatory comments.
• Originality and Plagiarism: Reviewers shall ensure that the manuscripts they handle are original, not previously published, or under review elsewhere. Reviewers shall promptly report any suspected plagiarism or fraud to the editors.
• Professionalism: Reviewers shall conduct themselves professionally in all aspects of work as reviewers. Reviewers shall treat the authors and their work with respect and provide feedback that is both constructive and objective.

Journal Policies on Authorship and Contributorship

Authorship credit should be based on any or all of the following:

1. Substantial contributions to conception and design, acquisition of data, or analysis and interpretation of data;
2. Drafting the article or revising it critically for important intellectual content;
3. Final approval of the version to be published.

All persons designated as authors should qualify for authorship, and all those who qualify should be listed. The contributions of all authors must be described. The submitting author is responsible for providing the contributions of all authors at submission. We expect that all authors will have reviewed, discussed, and agreed to their contributions ahead of this time. Contributions will be published with the final article and should accurately reflect contributions to the work. This elaboration is based on COPE's principle of authorship and contributorship.

Contributor Roles

Each author must meet the following contributor roles:

• Conceptualization: All authors should develop ideas and formulate or evolve research goals and aims.
• Data Curation: All authors manage activities to annotate, scrub, and maintain research data.
• Funding Acquisition: All authors should declare the acquisition of financial support for the project leading to this publication.
• Investigation: All authors should conduct research and investigation processes.
• Methodology: All authors should present the development or design of the methodology.
• Project Administration: All authors should manage and coordinate responsibility for the research activity.
• Supervision: Oversight and leadership responsibility for the research activity planning.
• Validation: Verification of results, whether as part of the activity or separately.
• Visualization: Preparation, creation, and presentation of the published work.
• Writing – Original Draft Preparation: Creation and presentation of the original draft.
• Writing – Review & Editing: Preparation, creation, and/or presentation of the published work during critical review, commentary, or revision.

Authors

Authors shall uphold the highest ethical standards in all aspects of their research:

• Originality and Authenticity: Authors shall ensure that their work is original and authentic, acknowledging all sources used in their research.
• Accuracy and Integrity: Authors shall present findings honestly and accurately, without manipulating data to support their hypotheses.
• Consent and Ethical Considerations: Authors shall obtain appropriate ethical approval for research involving human subjects, animals, or sensitive topics.
• Acknowledgment and Attribution: Authors shall acknowledge and attribute the contributions of all individuals and organizations involved in their research.
• Conflict of Interest: Authors shall disclose any potential conflicts of interest that may influence their research.
• Responsiveness and Cooperation: Authors shall respond promptly to requests for information related to their research.
• Social Responsibility: Authors shall consider the potential impact of their research on society and communicate their findings effectively.
• Respect and Professionalism: Authors shall engage in respectful scholarly discourse and provide constructive feedback.

How the Journal Handles Complaints and Appeals

DiSoLife follows the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) guidelines on appeals to journal editor decisions and complaints about the editorial management of the peer-review process. If you wish to appeal a journal editor's decision, please submit an appeal letter to the journal's editorial office. Please address this to the Editor and explain the basis for the appeal.

Journal Policies on Conflicts of Interest

A conflict of interest exists when professional judgment concerning a primary interest may be influenced by a secondary interest. Authors must disclose any financial, non-financial, professional, or personal conflicts that could affect their research.

Journal Policies on Data Sharing and Reproducibility

Authors are encouraged to share their data sets and codes to support transparency and reproducibility. The journal supports authors in making data publicly available where possible, following the relevant guidelines.

Ethical Oversight

The journal adheres to ethical standards in research publication, ensuring that all research submitted follows established ethical guidelines.