Publication Ethics and Code of Conduct

Scientific Journal of Sport and Performance (SJSP)

 

Preamble

The Scientific Journal of Sport and Performance (SJSP) is committed to maintaining the highest standards of integrity, transparency, and ethical conduct in scholarly publishing. This policy aligns with the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) Core Practices (2017) and Declaration of Helsinki – Ethical Principles for Medical Research Involving Human Subjects and applies to all parties involved in the publication process.

 

1. Code of Conduct for Authors
   • Reporting Standards: Present accurate, objective research with sufficient detail for replication.
   • Originality and Plagiarism: Submit only original work; properly cite all sources.
   • Multiple or Redundant Publication: Do not submit or publish the same research in more than one journal.
   • Acknowledgement of Sources: Cite all influential works.
   • Authorship: Include only those who made significant contributions; all co-authors must approve the final manuscript.
   • Hazards: Clearly identify any unusual hazards in the manuscript.
   • Disclosure and Conflicts of Interest: Declare all financial or personal conflicts and funding sources.
   • Corrections: Notify the editor promptly if errors are discovered post-publication.

 

2. Code of Conduct for Reviewers
   • Contribution to Editorial Decisions: Provide constructive feedback to assist editors and authors.
   • Timeliness: Respond promptly and complete reviews within deadlines.
   • Confidentiality: Treat manuscripts as confidential documents.
   • Objectivity: Offer impartial, respectful, and well-supported evaluations.
   • Acknowledgement of Sources: Identify uncited relevant work and alert editors to overlaps.
   • Conflicts of Interest: Decline reviews where conflicts exist; maintain confidentiality.
   • Ethical Conduct: Misconduct such as misuse of information or intentional delays will be addressed seriously.

 

3. Code of Conduct for Editors and Editorial Team
   • Publication Decisions: Base decisions on academic merit and reviewer recommendations.
   • Fair Play: Evaluate manuscripts without discrimination.
   • Confidentiality: Maintain confidentiality throughout the review process.
   • Conflicts of Interest: Recuse themselves from handling manuscripts where conflicts exist; ensure disclosure of competing interests.
   • Investigations: Respond promptly to allegations of misconduct and refer cases to institutions when necessary.

 

4. Journal Responsibilities

SJSP takes all reasonable measures to prevent research misconduct, including plagiarism, citation manipulation, and data falsification. Under no circumstances will SJSP or its editors encourage or knowingly permit such practices. Allegations of misconduct will be handled in accordance with COPE Core Practices (2017).

 

5. Policy on Retractions and Corrections
   • Purpose: To maintain the integrity of the scholarly record, SJSP follows COPE guidelines for corrections and retractions.
   • Types of Amendments:
   • Erratum: Minor errors not affecting conclusions.
   • Corrigendum: Significant author-identified errors impacting interpretation.
   • Retraction: Issued for plagiarism, data fabrication, unethical practices, duplicate publication, or errors invalidating findings.
   • Expression of Concern: Published when investigations are ongoing.
   • Process:
   • Initiation by authors, editors, or third parties.
   • Investigation by SJSP and, if necessary, institutions.
   • Retraction notice will state reasons, remain linked to the original article, and mark it as retracted without removal.
   • Author Responsibility: Notify editors of errors and cooperate fully.
   • Journal Responsibility: Act promptly, transparently, and in compliance with COPE standards.

 

6. Research Ethics Policy for Human Subjects
   • IRB Approval: All studies involving human participants must obtain prior approval from an Institutional Review Board (IRB) or equivalent ethics committee.
   • Informed Consent: Written informed consent is mandatory, explaining purpose, procedures, risks, and rights. For vulnerable populations, guardian consent and participant assent are required.
   • Privacy and Anonymity: Personal data must be anonymized and stored securely in compliance with data protection laws.
   • Risk Minimization: Research must minimize physical, psychological, and social risks, justified by potential benefits.
   • Compliance with Declaration of Helsinki: Studies must adhere to principles of beneficence, autonomy, and justice. Clinical trials must be registered in a public database.
   • Post-Study Responsibilities: Inform participants of results when appropriate and report adverse events promptly.

Reference: World Medical Association. Declaration of Helsinki – Ethical Principles for Medical Research Involving Human Subjects. Adopted in 1964, last amended in 2013.

 

7. Artificial Intelligence (AI) Use Policy

This policy applies to all manuscripts submitted to Scientific Journal of Sport and Performance, published by Asociación Española de Análisis del Rendimiento Deportivo.

This policy is aligned with the principles and guidance of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and with internationally accepted standards for responsible and transparent scholarly publishing.

• General principles

Scientific Journal of Sport and Performance is committed to the highest standards of research integrity, transparency, and author accountability.

Artificial intelligence (AI) and AI‑assisted technologies may be used in the manuscript preparation process only as supportive tools and must not replace human intellectual contribution, critical thinking, or scientific responsibility.

Authors remain fully and exclusively responsible for the content of their manuscripts, including any content generated or assisted by AI tools.

AI tools cannot fulfill the requirements of authorship and therefore must not be listed as authors or co‑authors.

• Permitted uses of AI

The limited and responsible use of AI‑assisted technologies may be acceptable for purposes such as: (i) improving language quality, clarity, and readability; (ii) correcting grammar, spelling, and minor stylistic issues; and (iii) assisting with the editing or restructuring of text originally written by the authors. In all cases, AI tools must be used under meaningful human oversight, and the final manuscript must reflect the authors’ own scientific reasoning, interpretation, and conclusions.

• Non‑permitted uses of AI

The use of AI tools is not permitted for: (i) generating original research findings, hypotheses, or scientific interpretations; (ii) creating, fabricating, falsifying, or inappropriately manipulating data, analyses, tables, figures, references, or citations; (iii) producing discussion sections or conclusions without substantial and demonstrable human intellectual input; or (iv) replacing author accountability or responsibility for the work. AI‑generated content must not be presented as original scientific research.

• Mandatory disclosure of AI use

Authors must explicitly disclose any use of generative AI or AI‑assisted technologies during manuscript preparation. The disclosure must specify the name of the AI tool used and the purpose for which it was used. This statement may be included in the manuscript (e.g., in the Methods section, Acknowledgements, or a dedicated disclosure section) or in the cover letter submitted at the time of submission. The use of basic tools solely for grammar, spelling, or reference formatting does not require disclosure.

• Editorial screening and verification

As part of the editorial process, manuscripts submitted to Scientific Journal of Sport and Performance may be screened using professional plagiarism‑detection and AI‑detection software to support editorial assessment.

Automated screening results do not replace editorial judgment or peer review.

All editorial decisions are based on informed human assessment, in accordance with ethical publishing standards.

• Editorial actions

If concerns arise regarding undisclosed, inappropriate, or unethical use of AI tools, the editorial team may request clarification or additional information from the authors, require revisions to ensure compliance with ethical standards, or reject the manuscript in cases of serious or unresolved breaches of publication ethics. All actions will be conducted following fair, transparent, and documented editorial procedures.

• Policy review

Given the rapid development of AI technologies, this policy may be reviewed and updated periodically to reflect evolving ethical guidance and best editorial practices.