Introduction

Aridon: The International Journal of Urhobo Studies is committed to upholding the highest standards of publication ethics. We expect all authors, reviewers, and editors to adhere to these ethical guidelines to ensure the integrity of the scholarly record. Below are the ethical principles that guide our publication process.

Ethical Responsibilities of Authors

• Originality and Plagiarism: Authors must ensure that their work is original and free from plagiarism. Proper citations must be used for any content derived from other sources.
• Data Integrity: Authors must ensure that all data presented in their work is accurate and reliable. Fabrication, falsification, or manipulation of data is strictly prohibited.
• Authorship: Only individuals who have made significant contributions to the research should be listed as authors. All co-authors must approve the final version of the manuscript and agree to its submission.
• Disclosure of Conflicts of Interest: Authors must disclose any potential conflicts of interest that could influence the research or publication process.
• Multiple Submissions: Manuscripts submitted to JUS must not be submitted to another journal while under review.

Ethical Responsibilities of Reviewers

• Confidentiality: Reviewers must treat all manuscripts as confidential documents and must not share them with others outside of the review process.
• Objectivity: Reviewers should provide objective and constructive feedback, avoiding personal criticism of the authors.
• Conflict of Interest: If a reviewer has a conflict of interest with the content of the manuscript, they should notify the editor and decline the review.
• Timeliness: Reviewers are expected to complete their reviews within the agreed time frame. If they are unable to do so, they should inform the editor promptly.

Ethical Responsibilities of Editors

• Fairness: Editors must ensure that all submissions are evaluated solely on their academic merit, without regard to the authors' race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, or political beliefs.
• Confidentiality: Editors must not disclose any information about a submitted manuscript to anyone other than the corresponding author, reviewers, and other editorial staff.
• Conflict of Interest: Editors should recuse themselves from handling manuscripts in which they have a conflict of interest.
• Publication Decisions: Editors are responsible for deciding which manuscripts will be published, guided by the policies of the journal and the recommendations of the reviewers.

Ethical Responsibilities of the Publisher

The publisher of JUS is committed to ensuring that the editorial process is carried out ethically and transparently. The publisher will support the journal's efforts to investigate and resolve any ethical issues that arise.