Publication Ethics and Malpractice Statement

General Principles of Ethics in Publication

The Philippine Journal of Development (PJD or “the Journal”) is published in support of the mandate of the Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) as the government’s primary socioeconomic policy think tank. In carrying out its publication function, the PJD upholds the mission of PIDS to provide independent, forward‑looking, and transformative development policy research and actionable advice through rigorous methods, effective dissemination, and strategic collaborations to guide decision‑making and inform public discourse.

Consistent with this mandate, the PJD  is committed to upholding the highest standards of professional rigor, research integrity, and publication ethics, ensuring that the research it publishes contributes credibly and responsibly to evidence‑based policymaking and informed public debate. The Journal aligns its policies with internationally recognized best practices, particularly the COPE et al. (2022) Principles of Transparency and Best Practice in Scholarly Publishing.

Editorial Responsibility

As a journal published under a government‑supported research institution, the Journal recognizes its responsibility to:

• Serve the public interest, particularly policymakers, researchers, and development stakeholders;
• Publish research that is independent, objective, and forward‑looking, and that contributes to transformative development policy analysis and advice; and
• Maintain editorial independence, free from political, institutional, or personal influence, while remaining responsive to national development priorities.

Editorial decisions are based solely on scholarly merit, methodological rigor, policy relevance, and adherence to ethical standards.

Authorship and Contributorship

• Authorship must accurately reflect substantial intellectual contributions to the research.
• Authorship is limited to individuals who have made significant contributions to the conception, design, analysis, or interpretation of the study, as well as drafting or critically revising the manuscript.
• All authors must approve the final version of the manuscript and agree to its submission.
• Contributors who do not meet authorship criteria must be properly acknowledged.
• Author contribution statements may be required to promote transparency and accountability.

Handling of Complaints and Appeals

• The Journal employs a rigorous, fair, and confidential peer review process to ensure the quality, credibility, and policy relevance of published research.
• Authors may submit complaints or appeals regarding editorial decisions or the peer review process.
• Appeals are reviewed by the Editor‑in‑Chief and, where appropriate, the Editorial Board.
• Complaints involving ethical concerns are handled in accordance with COPE guidance, ensuring due process, impartiality, and confidentiality.

Ethics Complaint Handling Flowchart

Allegations of Research Misconduct

The Journal takes allegations of research misconduct seriously, recognizing that unethical research undermines public trust and the quality of evidence used in policymaking.

Research misconduct includes, but is not limited to:

• Plagiarism
• Data fabrication or falsification
• Citation manipulation
• Redundant or duplicate publication

Allegations may be raised before or after publication and are investigated following COPE‑recommended procedures. Where appropriate, the Journal coordinates with authors’ institutions or relevant authorities. Outcomes may include rejection, correction, retraction, or expression of concern.

Conflicts of Interest

Given the Journal’s role in informing public policy, transparency regarding conflicts of interest is essential.

• Authors, reviewers, and editors must disclose any financial, institutional, or personal interests that could influence their work.
• Editors and reviewers with conflicts of interest are required to recuse themselves.
• Declared conflicts of interest are published alongside articles where relevant.

Data Sharing, Transparency, and Reproducibility

To support rigorous analysis and informed public discourse, the Journal promotes transparency in data and methods.

• Authors are encouraged to share underlying data and provide data availability statements, subject to ethical, legal, and confidentiality constraints.
• Sufficient methodological detail must be provided to allow verification or replication of findings.

Ethical Oversight of Research

The Journal requires that research involving human participants, animals, or sensitive data complies with recognized ethical standards.

• Authors must indicate approval by an appropriate ethics review body where applicable.
• Informed consent, confidentiality, and respect for participants must be demonstrated.
• The Journal may request documentation of ethical approval.

Intellectual Property and Originality

The Journal respects intellectual property rights and requires that all submissions be original.

• Manuscripts must not be under consideration elsewhere.
• Proper citation and acknowledgment of prior work are mandatory.
• Plagiarism and unauthorized use of copyrighted material are not tolerated.

Post‑Publication Discussion, Corrections, and Retractions

The Journal recognizes that scholarly debate and correction are integral to responsible research dissemination.

• Mechanisms exist for post‑publication discussion, including letters or commentaries.
• Corrections are issued for errors that do not invalidate findings.
• Retractions are issued when findings are unreliable or unethical.
• All notices are clearly linked to the original publication.

Responsibilities of the Author

Authors must:

• Submit original and unpublished work
• Avoid simultaneous submissions
• Accurately present data and findings
• Submit anonymized raw data files upon request of editors or reviewers.
• Properly acknowledge sources
• Ensure appropriate authorship attribution
• Disclose conflicts of interest

The following are considered unethical and unacceptable:

• Plagiarism (including self-plagiarism)
• Data fabrication or falsification
• Misrepresentation of authorship

Responsibilities of Reviewers

Reviewers must handle all submitted manuscripts with strict confidentiality. The content, data, and findings should not be shared, discussed, or disclosed outside the review process.

Reviewers must:

• Provide objective and constructive feedback
• Maintain confidentiality. Ensure that the manuscript remains confidential and is not used for personal research or professional gain.
• Report any suspected ethical concerns, such as plagiarism, duplicate submission, data fabrication, or AI-generated content misrepresentation, to the PJD editorial office.
• Declare conflicts of interest
• Complete reviews in a timely manner

Responsibilities of Editors

Editors shall:

• Base decisions solely on academic merit
• Ensure a fair and unbiased review process
• Maintain confidentiality
• Address ethical concerns and complaints following PIDS publications guidelines and policies

Redundant and Duplicate Publication

The PJD does not consider manuscripts that substantially overlap with previously published, accepted, or concurrently submitted works.

• Submissions must represent original scholarship and must not be under consideration elsewhere.
• Redundant or duplicate publication—including the reuse of data, analyses, tables, figures, or substantial text without proper disclosure and justification—is not permitted
• Legitimate secondary publication may be considered only with prior editorial approval and full citation of the original source.

All submissions are screened for similarity and overlap. Authors are required to disclose any related or prior publications upon submission. Confirmed cases of redundant or duplicate publication may result in manuscript rejection, retraction of published articles, notification of authors’ institutions, and other sanctions in accordance with the journal’s publication ethics guidelines.