Ethic Statement

Exploration In Early Childhood Research is a peer-reviewed journal published twice a year. This journal is available online, respects publication ethics, and avoids plagiarism. This statement explains the ethical behavior of all parties involved in publishing an article in this journal, including the author, the Editor-in-Chief, the editorial board, and the peer reviewers. This statement is based on COPE Best Practice Guidelines for Journal Editors.

Ethical Guidelines for Journal Publication

The publication of an article in a peer-reviewed journal, Exploration In Early Childhood Research, is essential in developing a coherent and respected knowledge network. It is a direct reflection of the quality of the authors' work and the institutions that support them. Peer-reviewed articles support and embody the scientific method. It is therefore essential to agree upon standards of expected ethical behavior for all parties involved in publishing: the author, the journal editor, the peer reviewer, and the society.

We are committed to ensuring that advertising, reprints, or other commercial revenue have no impact or influence on editorial decisions.

Publication Decisions

The editor of Exploration In Early Childhood Research is responsible for deciding which of the submitted articles should be published. The validation of the work and its importance to researchers and readers must always drive such decisions. The editors may be guided by the policies of the journal's editorial board and constrained by legal requirements regarding libel, copyright infringement, and plagiarism. Editors may consult with other editors or reviewers when making decisions.

Fair Play

An editor evaluates manuscripts based on their intellectual content without regard to the authors' race, gender, sexual orientation, religious belief, ethnic origin, citizenship, or political philosophy.

Confidentiality

The editor and any editorial staff must not disclose information about a submitted manuscript to anyone other than the corresponding author, reviewers, potential reviewers, other editorial advisers, and the publisher, as appropriate.

Disclosure and Conflicts of Interest

Unpublished materials disclosed in a submitted manuscript must not be used in an editor's research without the author's written consent.

Duties of Reviewers

Contribution to Editorial Decisions

Peer review assists the editor in making editorial decisions, and the editorial communications with the author may also help improve the paper.

Promptness

Any selected referee who feels unqualified to review the research reported in a manuscript or knows a prompt review will be impossible should notify the editor and excuse themselves from the review process.

Confidentiality

Any manuscript received for review must be treated as confidential. It must not be shared or discussed with others except as authorized by the editor.

Standards of Objectivity

Reviews should be conducted objectively. Personal criticism of the author is inappropriate. Referees should express their views clearly with supporting arguments.

Acknowledgment of Sources

Reviewers should identify relevant published work that the authors have not cited. Any statement that an observation, derivation, or argument has been previously reported should be accompanied by a relevant citation. Reviewers should also alert the editor to any substantial similarity or overlap between the manuscript under consideration and other published papers.

Disclosure and Conflict of Interest

Privileged information or ideas obtained through peer review must be kept confidential and not used for personal advantage. Reviewers should not review manuscripts where conflicts of interest arise due to competitive, collaborative, or other relationships with any authors, companies, or institutions related to the paper.

Duties of Authors

Reporting Standards

Authors of original research should present an accurate account of the work performed and provide an objective discussion of its significance. Underlying data should be represented accurately in the paper. The paper should include sufficient detail and references to allow others to replicate the work. Fraudulent or knowingly inaccurate statements constitute unethical behavior and are unacceptable.

Originality and Plagiarism

Authors must ensure that they have written entirely original works. If they have used the work or words of others, proper citation or quotation is required.

Multiple, Redundant, or Concurrent Publication

Authors should not publish manuscripts describing the same research in more than one journal or primary publication. Submitting the same manuscript to multiple journals concurrently is unethical and unacceptable.

Acknowledgment of Sources

Proper acknowledgment of the work of others is essential, and authors should cite publications that have influenced their research.

Authorship of the Paper

Authorship should be limited to those who have made significant contributions to the conception, design, execution, or interpretation of the research. All significant contributors should be listed as co-authors, while others who contributed to specific aspects should be acknowledged or listed as contributors. The corresponding author must ensure that all appropriate co-authors and no inappropriate co-authors are listed in the paper and that all co-authors have seen, approved, and agreed to the final version for submission.

Disclosure and Conflicts of Interest

All authors must disclose any financial or substantive conflicts of interest that might influence the results or interpretation of their manuscript. All sources of financial support for the project should also be disclosed.

Fundamental Errors in Published Works

If an author discovers a significant error or inaccuracy in their published work, they must promptly notify the journal editor or publisher and cooperate with them to retract or correct the paper.