(Based on Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and the World Association of Medical Editors (WAME)'s Best Practice Guidelines for Journal Editors)

Editorial Principles and Ethical Standards

The publication of articles in peer-reviewed journals issued by Assimilation: Indonesian Journal of Biology Education (AIJBE) represents an ongoing effort to advance and disseminate scholarly knowledge. Such publications reflect the quality and integrity of the work produced by authors and the institutions supporting them. Peer-reviewed articles uphold the principles of the scientific method; therefore, clear standards of ethical conduct must be observed by all parties involved in the publication process, including authors, editors, reviewers, publishers, and the scholarly community.

The publication of scholarly work is a collaborative process grounded in trust, transparency, and accountability. Peer review plays a vital role in assessing research quality and ensuring that published articles make meaningful contributions to the advancement of science education research. AIJBE is committed to upholding a fair, transparent, and independent editorial process that is free from discrimination, bias, or inappropriate influence.

AIJBE is committed to ensuring that advertising, reprint services, or other commercial sources of revenue do not influence editorial decisions. The Editorial Board will also facilitate communication with other journals and publishers when necessary to support ethical and transparent editorial practices.

Editorial Authority and Independent Judgment

Editorial decisions in AIJBE are based solely on the scholarly merit of submitted manuscripts, including originality, methodological rigor, clarity of presentation, relevance to the journal’s scope, and contribution to the field. Editors exercise independent judgment in the decision-making process and evaluate manuscripts fairly and impartially, without discrimination based on authors’ institutional affiliation, nationality, gender, religious belief, political views, or other personal characteristics. In reaching publication decisions, editors may consult reviewers, associate editors, or other editorial advisers while remaining responsible for the final decision. All decisions must also comply with applicable legal and ethical standards, including those related to plagiarism, copyright, and defamation. Submitted manuscripts are treated as confidential documents, and information about them will not be disclosed to anyone other than the corresponding author, reviewers, editorial advisers, and the publisher as appropriate.

Editorial Conflicts of Interest and Transparency

To maintain transparency and avoid conflicts of interest, AIJBE applies strict procedures in handling manuscripts submitted by members of the editorial team. Editors must disclose any personal, professional, or financial interests that could influence editorial judgment and must recuse themselves from handling manuscripts where such conflicts exist. Submissions authored or co-authored by editors, including Editors-in-Chief, Associate Editors, or Editorial Board members, are managed independently by other editors and undergo the same rigorous and confidential peer review process as all other submissions. Editors involved as authors have no access to reviewer identities, reports, or editorial decisions related to their manuscripts. Unpublished materials and privileged information obtained through the editorial or peer review process must remain confidential and must not be used for personal research or advantage without the author’s explicit consent. Editors also take appropriate actions when ethical concerns arise regarding submitted or published works, including investigating complaints in cooperation with the publisher and, when necessary, issuing corrections, retractions, or expressions of concern in accordance with established publication ethics standards.

Peer Review Standards and Reviewer Ethics

The peer review process in AIJBE plays a central role in supporting editorial decision-making and improving the quality of submitted manuscripts. Reviewers are expected to provide objective, constructive, and well-reasoned evaluations that help editors assess the scholarly merit of a manuscript and assist authors in strengthening their work. Reviewers who feel unqualified to evaluate a manuscript or unable to complete the review within the required timeframe should promptly inform the editor and withdraw from the review process. All manuscripts received for review must be treated as confidential documents and must not be shared or discussed with others without editorial authorization. Reviews should be conducted objectively, avoiding personal criticism, and should clearly present arguments support by evidence. Reviewers are also encouraged to identify relevant literature not cited by the authors and to inform the editor of any substantial similarity between the manuscript under review and other published work. Unpublished materials or privileged information obtained through peer review must not be used for personal research or advantage, and reviewers must decline to review manuscripts in which they have conflicts of interest arising from competitive, collaborative, or other relationships with the authors or their affiliated institutions.

Author Responsibilities and Research Integrity

Authors submitting manuscripts to AIJBE are expected to uphold the highest standards of research integrity and ethical conduct. Authors must present an accurate and objective account of their research, ensuring that data are reported honestly and with sufficient detail to allow replication. All submissions must be original works, and any use of others’ ideas, data, or words must be properly cited to avoid plagiarism. Manuscripts describing substantially the same research should not be submitted or published in more than one journal simultaneously. Authors are responsible for acknowledging relevant sources and ensuring that authorship is limited to individuals who have made significant contributions to the conception, design, execution, or interpretation of the study, with all co-authors approving the final manuscript prior to submission. Where applicable, research involving human participants or animals must comply with relevant ethical standards and institutional guidelines, including appropriate approvals and informed consent. Authors must also disclose any financial or personal conflicts of interest and all sources of research funding. Upon request, authors should be prepared to provide underlying data for editorial review and retain such data for a reasonable period after publication. If significant errors or inaccuracies are discovered in a published work, authors are obligated to promptly notify the journal and cooperate with editors to issue corrections or retractions when necessary.

Authorship, Contributions, and Acknowledgment

Authorship in AIJBE should be limited to individuals who have made substantial scholarly contributions to the conception, design, execution, or interpretation of the study. All authors must approve the final version of the manuscript and agree to its submission, while the corresponding author ensures that all listed authors meet authorship criteria and that no qualified contributor has been omitted. Any changes to authorship after submission require editorial approval and written consent from all authors. Contributors who do not meet authorship criteria should be acknowledged appropriately. To submit a manuscript, authors must also provide a signed publication ethics statement confirming compliance with the journal’s ethical standards and publication policies. The ethic statement can be downloaded in here.

Disclosure of Conflicts of Interest and Funding

Authors submitting manuscripts to AIJBE are required to disclose any financial, professional, or personal relationships that could reasonably be perceived as influencing the research process or the interpretation of results. All sources of funding and financial support must be clearly identified in the manuscript. Authors should also transparently describe the role of funding bodies in the design of the study, data collection, analysis, interpretation of findings, and decisions regarding publication. Full disclosure helps ensure transparency and allows readers to assess potential sources of bias. Failure to report relevant conflicts of interest or funding information may be considered a breach of publication ethics and may lead to editorial actions such as manuscript rejection, publication of a correction, or retraction of the article if the issue is identified after publication.

Data, Image Integrity, and Citation Ethics

AIJBE promotes transparency and responsible scholarly communication. Authors must ensure that the data supporting their findings are clearly described and accessible for verification, and a data availability statement should be included in the manuscript.

All figures and images must accurately represent the original data and be submitted in high resolution, with a minimum quality of 300 dpi. Any image adjustments must be applied uniformly and must not alter or misrepresent the scientific content.

Authors must also follow proper citation practices by acknowledging relevant prior work. All sources of ideas, data, or methods must be appropriately cited, and plagiarism or improper attribution will be treated as a serious violation of publication ethics.

Ethical Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)

AIJBE recognizes that artificial intelligence (AI) tools may assist researchers in limited aspects of manuscript preparation; however, their use must adhere to principles of transparency, accountability, and research integrity. AI systems cannot be listed as authors because authorship requires responsibility for the content, approval of the final manuscript, and the ability to respond to questions regarding the work. If AI tools are used during the writing process, authors must clearly disclose how the tools were applied. Authors remain fully responsible for the accuracy, originality, and integrity of all content, including any material generated with AI assistance. AI may be used only for supportive purposes, such as improving language or readability, and must not replace the authors’ intellectual contribution. The use of AI for data analysis or interpretation of research results is not permitted. In addition, generative AI should not be used to create images or visual materials for publication unless it forms an explicit and transparent part of the research methodology. Any use of AI during the peer review process must also be handled responsibly to protect the confidentiality and integrity of the evaluation process. Also, editors and reviewers are prohibited from using AI tools in ways that compromise manuscript confidentiality or intellectual property, including uploading unpublished manuscripts to AI systems that store or reuse content.

Copyright, Licensing, and Access

Authors publishing in AIJBE retains copyright of their work. All articles are published under the Creative Commons Attribution–ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-SA 4.0) license, which permits sharing and adaptation with appropriate attribution and under the same licensing terms.

Allegations of Misconduct and Corrective Actions

All allegations of publication misconduct in AIJBE, including plagiarism, data fabrication or falsification, inappropriate use of artificial intelligence, authorship disputes, and misconduct involving editors or reviewers, are treated with the utmost seriousness and handled in a confidential and fair manner. The journal follows established ethical procedures and the investigation frameworks recommended by the Committee on Publication Ethics when addressing such cases.

When concerns are raised, the editorial team conducts a careful assessment that may involve communication with the authors, reviewers, or relevant institutions. Depending on the outcome of the investigation, appropriate editorial actions may be taken, including manuscript rejection, publication of corrections, expressions of concern, or article retractions. In cases of confirmed misconduct, the journal may also notify the authors’ affiliated institutions or funding bodies. These measures are intended to protect the integrity of the scholarly record and maintain trust in the academic publication process.

Policy Review and Updates

This statement on publication ethics, misconduct prevention, and AI governance policy is periodically reviewed and updated to remain consistent with evolving international standards, advances in artificial intelligence, and recognized best practices in scholarly publishing. By submitting a manuscript to AIJBE or participating in its editorial and peer review processes, authors, editors, and reviewers acknowledge and agree to adhere to the principles and policies outlined in this statement.