Open access policy

The journal is an open access journal which means that all content is freely available without charge to the user or his/her institution. Users are allowed to read, download, copy, distribute, print, search, or link to the full texts of the articles in the journal without asking prior permission from the publisher or the author. This is in accordance with the BOAI definition of open access.

Archiving policy

Website archiving

All of our electronic content (website, manuscripts, etc.) is stored on three different sources. The content on one server is online and accessible to readers. The copy of the same content is kept as a backup on two other sources. In the event of failure of one server, any one of the other sources can be made online, and the website is expected to be accessible within less than 24-36 hours.

Abstracting/Indexing services

Our journal's Abstracting/Indexing services store essential information about the articles. Additionally, two of our journal's Abstracting/Indexing services archive not only the metadata about the articles, but the electronic versions of the articles as well. Therefore, copies of the articles are available to the scientific community through their systems as an alternative to the journal's own.

Self-archiving

Authors may archive the final published version of their articles in personal or institutional repositories immediately after publication.

If the journal stops publishing

We intend and expect to continue to publish our journal for a very long time. However, if due to some rare, unfortunate circumstances, we are forced to stop publishing the journal, the manuscripts published in the journal will be kept online and accessible to readers for at least 10 more years. When required under specific conditions, such as discontinuation of the collection or catastrophic failure of the website, the content will be accessible through LOCKSS and CLOCKSS.

LOCKSS (Lots of Copies Keep Stuff Safe)

This system ensures a secure and permanent archive for journal content by creating a distributed network of independent libraries that mirror the journal's content.

CLOCKSS (Controlled Lots of Copies Keep Stuff Safe)

This system is similar to LOCKSS, but it is designed to be more resilient to failures in the library network.

Copyright and licensing policy

Articles published in the journal are freely available under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC-BY 4.0). This allows authors to retain copyright while granting others the right to download, reuse, reprint, modify, distribute, and/or copy the content as long as the original authors and source are cited.

Authors publishing in the journal agree to the following terms:

• Authors agree to publish their article in the journal in English at no cost. The Editorial Board reserves the right to shorten texts and modify titles.
• Open Access: As part of the free publication, authors agree to make the full electronic version of their article available online.
• Indexing: Authors agree to allow their article to be indexed in domestic and international databases, including abstracts, keywords, and author affiliations in English and other languages. They also agree to provide the necessary information to database owners.
• Originality: Authors declare that their publication is original, does not infringe the rights of third parties, and is not subject to copyright restrictions. They will be responsible for any costs or compensations arising from false declarations.
• Scientific Reliability: Authors declare full responsibility for the scientific reliability of the submitted article. The detailed contributions of all co-authors are specified.
• Creative Commons License: Authors agree to publish their article under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC-BY 4.0).
• Authorship Contributions: For multiple authors, please indicate the specific contributions of each author (listed by initials, e.g., JKH) in the following areas: Conception and design of study; Acquisition of data; Analysis and/or interpretation of data; Drafting the manuscript; Critical revision; other contributions.
• Funding: Authors declare the source of funding for the research and article: University/Institute/Employer funds; Research/Project grant; Own funds of author/authors; Other.

Peer review policy

The journal employs a double-blind peer-review system to assess the quality of submitted articles. Independent researchers in the relevant field evaluate articles for originality, validity, and significance to help editors determine suitability for publication.

Submitted articles are generally reviewed by two to three experts who assess the article's scientific soundness, coherence, originality, clarity, and significance. Editors make decisions based on these reports and may consult with the Editorial Board.

Publication charges

The journal covers publication costs, eliminating the need for article-processing charges. There are no submission fees, publication fees, or page charges.

Artificial intelligence (AI) policy

Advancements in Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools, including large language models (LLMs) and multimodal systems, are revolutionizing applications across industries and for individual users.

Pedapub recognizes the opportunities these tools offer, particularly in inspiring creativity, supporting authors writing in non-native languages, and streamlining the research and publishing process.

To ensure responsible adoption, Pedapub provides guidance for authors, editors, and reviewers on the appropriate use of these tools. These guidelines will evolve alongside developments in AI technologies.

Generative AI tools can create various types of content, including text, images, audio, and synthetic datasets. Popular examples include ChatGPT, Copilot, Gemini, Claude, NovelAI, Jasper AI, DALL-E, Midjourney, and Runway. Despite their potential, these tools also pose certain risks.

Key concerns with current Generative AI tools include:

1. Accuracy and Bias Issues: These tools rely on statistical models, which can lead to errors, inaccuracies ("hallucinations"), or biases that may be challenging to identify and address.
2. Lack of Attribution: Generative AI often does not adhere to standard practices of attribution for ideas, quotations, or references, which is crucial in scholarly work.
3. Risks to Confidentiality and Intellectual Property: Many tools operate on third-party platforms, raising concerns about data security, confidentiality, and copyright protection.
4. Potential for Misuse: Providers of Generative AI may repurpose user inputs and outputs, potentially infringing on intellectual property rights or privacy.

Responsibilities of Authors

Authors are ultimately accountable for the originality, accuracy, and integrity of their submissions. When employing Generative AI tools, authors must ensure their use aligns with Pedapub's editorial policies on authorship and publishing ethics. This includes carefully verifying AI-generated outputs for accuracy.

Pedapub encourages responsible use of Generative AI tools in: Brainstorming and idea exploration, refining language and grammar, conducting advanced searches with AI-enhanced tools, classifying literature, providing coding support.

Authors must guarantee that their submissions meet the required standards of academic rigor and originality. Some journals may impose additional restrictions on the use of AI tools; authors should consult the journal's editor before submitting their work.

Generative AI tools cannot be credited as authors, as they lack the ability to assume responsibility for the content, agree to publication terms, or uphold copyright and licensing obligations. Authorship entails accountability for the work's integrity, which is a uniquely human role.

All uses of Generative AI must be transparently disclosed. Authors should include a statement specifying the tool's name (and version), its purpose, and how it was utilized. For articles, this disclosure should appear in the Methods or Acknowledgments section; for books, it should be provided at the proposal stage or during manuscript preparation and included in the preface or introduction. Transparency allows editors to evaluate whether AI was used appropriately.

Authors must ensure that their chosen tools are suitable and that their terms offer adequate protection for intellectual property, confidentiality, and security. Manuscripts where AI replaces fundamental research or writing responsibilities—such as generating text or code without rigorous review or creating synthetic data without appropriate methodology—may be subject to editorial scrutiny.

Pedapub prohibits the use of Generative AI for creating or altering images, figures, or original research data. This includes modifications such as adding or removing elements within visuals or figures. Authors can refer to Pedapub's image policy for further details.

The use of Generative AI should always involve human oversight and clear disclosure. As ethical standards for AI usage evolve, Pedapub will update its policies accordingly.

Guidelines for Editors and Reviewers

Editors and reviewers are critical to maintaining the integrity and confidentiality of the publication process. To safeguard authors' rights and ensure ethical practices, unpublished manuscripts or associated materials must not be shared with Generative AI tools.

Editors

Editors play a pivotal role in upholding the quality of published work. They must ensure the confidentiality of submitted manuscripts and refrain from processing them through Generative AI systems.

Editors should seek approval from their Pedapub contact before using any Generative AI tools unless the tool and its application have been pre-authorized.

Peer Reviewers

Peer reviewers, as domain experts, are expected to conduct independent evaluations without relying on Generative AI tools. These tools must not be used to analyze or summarize unpublished manuscripts.

Reviewers may use AI tools solely to enhance the clarity of their written feedback. However, they remain fully responsible for the accuracy and reliability of their reviews.

Ethics & disclosures

Pedapub journals are committed to maintaining the highest level of integrity in their published content. They have a competing interest policy in place and require authors to comply with international, national, and/or institutional standards of research reporting, especially for studies involving human and/or animal participants, their data and biological material, and informed consent.

As members of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), Pedapub journals subscribe to COPE's principles for addressing misconduct, investigating any allegations to maintain research integrity. Plagiarism detection software may be used to screen submissions, and if plagiarism is identified, the COPE guidelines on plagiarism will be followed. Content published in these journals is peer reviewed (double-anonymous)

Ethics Committee Approval for Authors

Research requiring ethics committee approval must obtain such approval, mention it in the article, and provide documentation. Information regarding the ethics committee approval (name, date, number) should be included in the methods section and on one of the first or last pages of the article. For case reports, include a statement indicating that informed consent was obtained. Upload required documents as a file during manuscript submission.

Plagiarism

The journal strictly prohibits plagiarism in any form. All submitted articles are checked for plagiarism using iThenticate software. Plagiarized articles are rejected outright and not considered for publication. If plagiarism is detected after publication, the Editor-in-Chief will conduct an investigation and may involve a committee. If plagiarism is confirmed, the journal will contact the author's institution, college, university, and funding agency. The journal will publish a statement online linking the original paper to the plagiarized material, marking the plagiarism on each page of the PDF, and potentially retracting the paper.

Repository policy

The journal allows authors to submit all versions of their articles to any repository they choose. The open-access options available under the journal's policy are listed based on the article version.