Publication Ethics and Malpractice

Hitik: International Journal of Catechists and Religious Educators is committed to maintaining the highest standards of ethical scholarly publishing, editorial integrity, transparency, and academic accountability. While the journal is not formally affiliated with the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), its editorial policies are guided by internationally recognized ethical publishing principles and best practices, including COPE Core Practices.

Core Commitment

The journal promotes fair double-blind peer review, editorial independence, responsible authorship, academic honesty, research integrity, and ethical research practices in all stages of publication.

Editorial Process

The editorial process is designed to ensure fairness, confidentiality, objectivity, and academic quality. Submissions undergo:

  1. Initial editorial screening and scope evaluation
  2. Double-blind peer review by at least two independent experts
  3. Associate editor evaluation and recommendation
  4. Final editorial decision by the Editor-in-Chief

The journal maintains editorial independence and welcomes submissions from authors across all regions, institutions, and disciplinary backgrounds.

Peer Review Ethics

The journal implements a rigorous double-blind peer review system where both reviewer and author identities remain anonymous throughout the evaluation process.

  • Two subject matter experts evaluate each manuscript
  • Methodology experts may also be assigned when necessary
  • Reviewers must maintain confidentiality and objectivity
  • Conflicts of interest must be disclosed immediately
  • Constructive, evidence-based, and respectful feedback is expected

In cases of conflicting reviewer recommendations, the editorial board may request additional reviews or author rebuttals before a final decision is made.

Authorship and Contributorship

Authorship must be based on substantial intellectual contribution to the conception, design, data analysis, interpretation, drafting, or critical revision of the manuscript.

All listed authors must:

  • Approve the final manuscript version
  • Accept accountability for the integrity of the work
  • Provide complete institutional affiliation and ORCID iD, where available
  • Submit authorship declarations when required

Individuals who contributed to the work but do not meet authorship criteria should be acknowledged appropriately.

Plagiarism and Research Integrity

All submissions are screened using plagiarism detection software such as Turnitin prior to peer review.

Evaluation Standard Requirement
Similarity Index 15% or lower
Grammar Quality 95% or higher

Manuscripts that fail to meet ethical and originality standards may be returned for revision, rejected outright, or retracted after publication if misconduct is discovered.

Human Participants, Indigenous Peoples, and Animal Studies

Research involving human participants, Indigenous Peoples, animals, or environmentally sensitive areas must comply with ethical research standards and applicable legal requirements.

Depending on the nature of the study, authors may be required to submit:

  • Institutional Ethics Review Board approval
  • NCIP permits for Indigenous Peoples research
  • Biosafety permits for genetically modified organisms
  • IACUC or BAI clearance for animal studies
  • DENR permits for protected area research

Manuscripts lacking proper ethical documentation may not proceed to review or publication.

Conflicts of Interest and Funding Disclosure

Authors, editors, and reviewers are required to disclose any financial, institutional, personal, or professional relationships that could influence the objectivity of the research or editorial decision-making process.

All funding sources, grants, sponsorships, and institutional support must be clearly declared within the manuscript.

Retraction, Correction, and Post-Publication Discussion

The journal may issue corrections, expressions of concern, or retractions in cases involving:

  • Plagiarism or duplicate publication
  • Fabricated or falsified data
  • Major methodological or factual errors
  • Ethical misconduct or undisclosed conflicts of interest

Authors will be informed and given the opportunity to respond before final editorial action is taken.

The journal also welcomes scholarly comments, critiques, and academic discussion related to previously published works.

Digital Preservation and Archiving

The journal implements digital preservation measures to ensure long-term accessibility and security of published scholarly content.

  • Secure cloud storage systems
  • External archival backups
  • Institutional email and repository archiving
  • Redundant preservation storage methods

Publication Frequency and Fees

Publication Frequency Semi-Annual (June and December)
Access Model Open Access
Article Processing Charge Php 1,000.00
Discount Requests Subject to editorial approval

Privacy Statement

Personal information collected by the journal, including names, institutional affiliations, and email addresses, shall be used exclusively for editorial communication, publication management, and scholarly correspondence.

The journal does not sell, distribute, or disclose personal information to third parties except when legally required or necessary for publication-related services.

Appeals and Complaints:
Concerns regarding editorial decisions, ethical matters, reviewer conduct, or publication malpractice may be formally submitted to the Editor-in-Chief through the official journal email:

hitikjournal@reapph.org