Conflicts of Interest

SATUKATA: Jurnal Sains, Teknik, dan Studi Kemasyarakatan (Journal of Science, Engineering, and Society) is dedicated to upholding the highest ethical standards in the publication process. To maintain transparency, integrity, and objectivity, the journal has a clear Conflicts of Interest Policy. This policy applies to authors, reviewers, editors, and any other individuals involved in the publishing process.

1. Definition of Conflict of Interest

A conflict of interest occurs when an individual’s personal, professional, or financial interests interfere with their ability to act impartially in their role within the journal’s editorial or peer review process. This can include, but is not limited to:

  • Financial Conflicts: Any financial interest or relationship (such as employment, grants, patents, stock ownership, or consultancy fees) that may influence an individual's judgment.

  • Personal Conflicts: Close personal relationships with the author(s) or an interest in the outcome of the publication (e.g., family ties, friendships, or rivalries).

  • Professional Conflicts: Professional rivalries, institutional affiliations, or other relationships that could affect objectivity.

  • Academic Conflicts: Any previous collaborations or long-standing academic relationships between the reviewer, editor, and author that may result in bias.

2. Author Responsibilities

  • Disclosure of Conflicts: Authors are required to disclose any potential conflicts of interest at the time of manuscript submission. This includes any financial support or relationships that could be perceived as influencing the research findings.

  • Full Transparency: Authors should also disclose any relationships that might affect their objectivity in the conduct of the research (e.g., ties to organizations funding the research or other competing interests).

  • Obligation to Report: If conflicts of interest arise after the manuscript has been submitted, authors must inform the editorial board immediately.

3. Reviewer Responsibilities

  • Impartiality: Reviewers must evaluate manuscripts based solely on their academic merit, without bias or undue influence from personal or professional interests.

  • Disclosure of Conflicts: Reviewers are required to disclose any potential conflicts of interest before accepting a manuscript for review. If reviewers are aware of any factors that might compromise their impartiality, they should recuse themselves from the review process.

  • Recusal: Reviewers should not review manuscripts for authors with whom they have a close personal or professional relationship. They should also refrain from reviewing any manuscripts where they have any stake in the outcome (e.g., competitive research).

4. Editor Responsibilities

  • Editorial Independence: Editors must ensure that their editorial decisions are based solely on the quality, relevance, and scientific merit of the submitted manuscripts. They should not allow personal or financial interests to affect their judgment.

  • Disclosure of Conflicts: Editors must disclose any potential conflicts of interest when making decisions about manuscripts. If an editor has a conflict of interest with a manuscript, they must recuse themselves from the decision-making process.

  • Transparency in Decision-Making: If an editor is found to have acted under the influence of a conflict of interest, the situation will be reviewed by the editorial board, and corrective action will be taken if necessary.

5. Management of Conflicts of Interest

  • Assessing and Addressing Conflicts: The editorial board will assess any conflicts of interest disclosed by authors, reviewers, or editors, and appropriate steps will be taken to manage these conflicts. This may include removing an individual from the review or editorial process or ensuring transparency through disclosure in the published article.

  • Maintaining Objectivity: If a conflict of interest is identified during the review or publication process, the journal will take steps to ensure that the decision-making process remains objective and transparent. The manuscript may undergo a second review by an independent reviewer if needed.

6. Public Disclosure

  • If a manuscript is accepted for publication and a conflict of interest is disclosed by the author, it will be noted in the Acknowledgments or Conflicts of Interest section of the article. This ensures that readers are informed of any potential biases or influences on the research.

7. Appeals

  • If an author, reviewer, or editor believes that a conflict of interest has not been properly addressed or disclosed, they may appeal to the journal’s editorial board. The board will investigate the matter and take appropriate action.

8. Commitment to Integrity

SATUKATA is committed to maintaining the highest standards of academic integrity and objectivity. By adhering to this Conflicts of Interest Policy, the journal ensures that the publication process remains fair, transparent, and free from bias, upholding the credibility and reliability of the research it publishes.