MUSAMUS JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL EDUCATION AND SPORT (MJPES) is a scholarly journal published by the Faculty of Teacher Training and Education at Musamus University. It undergoes a rigorous peer-review process and is available both online and in print format. The utmost priority is given to ethical publication practices, and any form of plagiarism is strictly avoided. This statement outlines the ethical responsibilities of all parties involved in the publication process, including authors, the editor-in-chief, the editorial board, peer-reviewers, and the publisher (Faculty of Teacher Training and Education, Musamus University). The statement is based on the guidelines provided by COPE, which are widely regarded as the best practices for journal editors.

Ethical Guideline for Journal Publication

The publication of a scholarly article in a peer-reviewed journal is an essential step towards building a comprehensive and respected network of knowledge. It is a direct reflection of the quality of work produced by the authors and the institutions that support them. Peer-reviewed articles are a manifestation of the scientific methodology and, therefore, it is crucial to establish a set of ethical standards that apply to all parties involved in the publishing process, including the author, the journal editor, the peer reviewer, the publisher, and the society.

As the publisher of MJPES, the Faculty of Teacher Training and Education at Musamus University takes its role in overseeing all stages of publishing seriously, and we hold ourselves accountable to the highest ethical standards. We are committed to ensuring that any form of commercial revenue, such as advertising or reprint, does not interfere with editorial decisions. Furthermore, the Faculty of Teacher Training and Education at Musamus University is willing to facilitate communication with other publishers or journals, where relevant and necessary.

Publication decisions

The responsibility of determining which articles submitted to the Musamus Journal of Physical Education and Sport - MJPES Review should be published rests with the editor. The judgment must be based on the validation of the work in question, its significance to researchers, and its relevance to readers. The policies of the journal's editorial board may guide the editor's decision, while legal regulations relating to libel, copyright infringement, and plagiarism must be adhered to. The editor may consult with other editors or reviewers to make an informed decision.

Fair play

In any academic or professional setting, the intellectual content of a manuscript is evaluated solely on its merit. The editor takes no account of the author's race, gender, sexual orientation, religious affiliation, ethnic background, citizenship, or political beliefs. It is essential to maintain objectivity and fairness in assessing the quality of written work, and any form of discrimination is unacceptable. We strive to uphold the highest standards of professionalism and expertise in all our endeavors.

Confidentiality

The editor and any editorial staff must not disclose any 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 own research without the express written consent of the author.

Duties of Reviewers

Contribution to Editorial Decisions

The peer review process plays a vital role in editorial decision-making. By providing feedback to the editor, peer review helps ensure that only the highest quality papers are published. Additionally, the editor's communication with the author during this process can facilitate improvements to the paper itself, ultimately leading to a more polished final product.

Promptness

In the event that a selected referee deems themselves unqualified to review the research presented in a manuscript or anticipates an inability to provide a prompt review, it is imperative that they notify the editor and excuse themselves from the review process. Such a course of action is highly encouraged in order to ensure that the review process is conducted in a fair and objective manner, while also upholding the integrity of the research presented in the manuscript.

Confidentiality

Any manuscripts received for review must be treated as confidential documents. They must not be shown to or discussed with others except as authorized by the editor.

Standards of Objectivity

In order to ensure objectivity, reviews must be conducted in a professional and unbiased manner. It is inappropriate for referees to engage in personal criticism of the author. Instead, referees should clearly express their views and provide supporting arguments. It is essential that all feedback is presented in a clear and concise manner, free of errors, and that appropriate vocabulary and grammar is used. Maintaining a sense of professionalism and expertise in all communication is crucial in a business or academic setting.

Acknowledgement of Sources

Reviewers should identify relevant published work that has not been cited by the authors. Any statement that an observation, derivation, or argument had been previously reported should be accompanied by the relevant citation. A reviewer should also call to the editor's attention any substantial similarity or overlap between the manuscript under consideration and any other published paper of which they have personal knowledge.

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 consider manuscripts in which they have conflicts of interest resulting from competitive, collaborative, or other relationships or connections with any of the authors, companies, or institutions connected to the papers.

Duties of Authors

Reporting standards

Authors of reports of original research should present an accurate account of the work performed as well as an objective discussion of its significance. Underlying data should be represented accurately in the paper. A paper should contain sufficient detail and references to permit others to replicate the work. Fraudulent or knowingly inaccurate statements constitute unethical behaviour and are unacceptable.

Originality and Plagiarism

The authors should ensure that they have written entirely original works, and if the authors have used the work and/or words of others that this has been appropriately cited or quoted.

Multiple, Redundant or Concurrent Publication

An author should not in general publish manuscripts describing essentially the same research in more than one journal or primary publication. Submitting the same manuscript to more than one journal concurrently constitutes unethical publishing behaviour and is unacceptable.

Acknowledgment of Sources

Proper acknowledgment of the work of others must always be given. Authors should cite publications that have been influential in determining the nature of the reported work.

Authorship of the Paper

Authorship should be limited to those who have made a significant contribution to the conception, design, execution, or interpretation of the reported study. All those who have made significant contributions should be listed as co-authors. Where there are others who have participated in certain substantive aspects of the research project, they should be acknowledged or listed as contributors. The corresponding author should ensure that all appropriate co-authors and no inappropriate co-authors are included on the paper, and that all co-authors have seen and approved the final version of the paper and have agreed to its submission for publication.

Disclosure and Conflicts of Interest

All authors should disclose in their manuscript any financial or other substantive conflict of interest that might be construed to influence the results or interpretation of their manuscript. All sources of financial support for the project should be disclosed.

Fundamental errors in published works

When an author discovers a significant error or inaccuracy in his/her own published work, it is the author’s obligation to promptly notify the journal editor or publisher and cooperate with the editor to retract or correct the paper.