Ethics and good editorial practices Policy

The publication of a scientific journal involves the participation of various stakeholders, including authors, editors, editorial boards, reviewers, copy editors, designers, and the publishing institution. When each party performs its responsibilities in accordance with a code of ethics, confidence can be placed in the quality of the final product, as the principles contained in such a code are reflected in good editorial practices.

The guidelines presented below are based on the recommendations of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE). In addition, the Autonomous University of Tamaulipas (UAT) has established its own Code of Ethics, to which the editorial processes of this Journal adhere.

Good Practices of the Editorial Board

The Editorial Board is responsible for the quality of the contributions published in the Journal. To ensure that published content meets high standards of quality, the Board must observe a set of good editorial practices, both in the activities directly under its responsibility and in its interactions with the other stakeholders involved in the publication process. Likewise, it must ensure that all parties adhere to this Code of Ethics.

General Duties and Responsibilities of the Editorial Board

  • To analyze and incorporate up-to-date information regarding editorial processes, particularly with respect to the peer-review of submissions, ensuring professionalism, impartiality, diversity, accountability, and timeliness, while continuously improving editorial practices through innovative approaches.
  • To systematically receive, through the Journal’s communication channels, feedback from authors, reviewers, readers, and external evaluators regarding the manner in which editorial processes are conducted and, where appropriate, incorporate suggestions for improvement.
  • To provide appropriate technical resources and relevant training necessary for carrying out the Journal’s editorial activities.
  • To support and implement institutional initiatives designed to prevent unethical practices such as plagiarism, the misrepresentation of citations and references, and the indiscriminate or undisclosed use of artificial intelligence.
  • To promote initiatives aimed at disseminating among researchers the ethical guidelines that should be followed throughout the process of publishing scientific contributions.
  • To evaluate the Journal’s processes on a regular basis in order to identify and correct deficiencies, address areas for improvement, and strengthen the Journal’s eligibility for inclusion in national and international indexes and directories.
  • To receive, analyze, and, where appropriate, address requests for replies, corrections, and retractions, as well as resolve complaints or unforeseen situations not covered by this Code that may affect the rights of third parties.

Relationship with Readers

The ethical commitment to readers and the general public entails ensuring that the non-commercial open-access content offered by the Journal meets significant quality standards, both in terms of form—namely presentation and accessibility—and, above all, in terms of substance, particularly regarding the social value and usefulness of the contributions published. To fulfill this commitment, readers are encouraged to consider the following information and recommendations.

Information

  • All published content undergoes peer review by at least two academically qualified researchers with expertise in the relevant field of knowledge. In the case of reviewers affiliated with Mexican higher education institutions, preference is given to members of the National System of Researchers and Researchers (SNII) of the Ministry of Science, Humanities, Technology and Innovation (SECIHTI). Manuscripts authored by researchers affiliated with the Autonomous University of Tamaulipas (UAT) are reviewed exclusively by external reviewers.
  • Throughout the editorial process, the Editor-in-Chief ensures that no conflicts of interest exist among the authors, the Editorial Board, and the reviewers assigned to each manuscript.
  • The Journal does not apply discriminatory criteria in its publication decisions, except those related to thematic relevance. The Journal promotes the publication of research findings in the fields of Law and Social Sciences that provide social value by addressing problems and contributing to potential solutions.
  • The partial or full reproduction of the Journal’s content is permitted for non-commercial and non-profit purposes, provided that appropriate credit is given to DYCSVICTORIA.

Recommendations

  • Verify compliance with the Journal’s editorial policies, publication schedules, and the accessibility of published content.
  • Report any irregularities identified in the publication process or in access to the Journal’s content through the communication channels provided by the Journal. Such reports will be reviewed and, where appropriate, corrective measures will be taken.

Relationship with Authors

The Editorial Board has an ethical responsibility toward authors to provide them with the information necessary for the submission of their manuscripts and to ensure that the peer-review process is objective, impartial, transparent, and timely. Furthermore, the Journal is committed to publishing each issue in a timely manner. To fulfill these responsibilities, the following commitments and recommendations should be observed.

Commitments

  • To publish clear, visible, and detailed instructions regarding the manuscript submission process, as well as the actions authors are required to undertake during the peer-review and editorial processes.
  • To ensure the selection of appropriate reviewers for each submission, namely individuals capable of evaluating the research professionally and impartially.
  • To preserve the confidentiality of authorship throughout the editorial process and disclose author identities only upon publication.
  • To provide editorial decisions in a timely manner so that authors may, where appropriate, consider alternative publication venues for their research.
  • To provide links to guidelines that promote good practices in both the writing and publication of scholarly work, such as those issued by COPE and the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE).
  • To request that authors disclose any existing or potential conflicts of interest to the Editorial Team.
  • To follow COPE flowcharts whenever unethical practices are suspected or disputes regarding manuscript authorship arise.
  • To clearly describe, in a dedicated section, the criteria governing the use of artificial intelligence by both authors and the Journal.

Recommendations

  • Before submitting a manuscript, carefully review and comply with the Instructions for Authors, particularly those relating to the Journal’s editorial requirements.
  • Adopt practices that ensure thematic accuracy, epistemological integrity, and methodological clarity in research articles and reviews.
  • Implement an authorship or contributorship system that promotes good practices and accurately reflects each contributor’s role in the work. Such systems should discourage unethical conduct, including false authorship, guest or honorary authorship without meaningful contribution, and the undisclosed use of artificial intelligence in any stage of the manuscript preparation process.

Relationship with Reviewers

To ensure that the peer-review process adheres to ethical standards and good editorial practices, the Editorial Board shall provide reviewers with criteria and guidance to assist them in preparing their evaluations through the Journal’s platform. To this end, the following commitments shall be observed:

  • To provide reviewers with clear and detailed guidelines.
  • To request that reviewers disclose any existing or potential conflicts of interest before undertaking the review of a manuscript.
  • To request that reviewers report any ethical concerns or instances of misconduct identified in the manuscripts under evaluation, including, but not limited to, unethical research designs, plagiarism, the indiscriminate or undisclosed use of artificial intelligence, and redundant publications.
  • To provide reviewers with formal written recognition for their contribution.
  • To ensure the confidentiality of both authors and reviewers throughout the editorial process.
  • To monitor reviewer performance in order to ensure the quality of evaluations. Members of the Editorial Board shall review peer-review reports before they are sent to authors. If inconsistencies are identified, they shall be discussed with the reviewers. Should disagreements persist, the Editorial Board may request an additional review from another reviewer.
  • To develop and maintain a database of qualified reviewers, preferably including researchers recognized by the National System of Researchers and Researchers (SNII) of the Ministry of Science, Humanities, Technology and Innovation (SECIHTI), with the aim of covering the Journal’s areas of research, a diversity of approaches and methodologies, gender representation, and geographical diversity, including researchers affiliated with foreign academic institutions.
  • To follow COPE flowcharts in cases where reviewer misconduct or unethical practices are suspected.

Relationship with Members of the External Advisory Board

The support provided by the External Scientific Advisory Board is essential to the development and growth of the Journal. Therefore, communication with its members shall be conducted in a respectful, professional, and constructive manner.

The Journal will also identify Advisory Board members who may wish to participate in additional activities related to the Journal and extend appropriate invitations to them. Such collaboration will contribute to the effective management, continuous improvement, and growth of the Journal.