Editorial and ethical rules

The Editorial Board of the Journal of Development Studies upholds the core values of Sulkhan-Saba Orbeliani University and operates in accordance with principles of research freedom, freedom of expression and publication, and the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) guidelines.

 Editor Responsibilities

The Editor, in consultation with the Editorial Board, is responsible for:

  • Determining the journal's goals, objectives, and publishing policy
  • Ensuring the scientific quality of published content and its continuous improvement
  • Verifying that all submitted manuscripts undergo plagiarism screening using anti-plagiarism software
  • Assigning manuscripts that pass initial screening to a minimum of two independent reviewers with relevant expertise in the field for double-blind peer review
  • Rejecting manuscripts immediately if plagiarism is detected and notifying authors with documented evidence
  • Communicating review outcomes (acceptance, revision, or rejection) to authors via email within a reasonable timeframe, including anonymized reviewer comments and recommendations
  • Ensuring the high quality, objectivity, and integrity of the peer review process
  • Selecting reviewers based on their qualifications, expertise, and absence of conflicts of interest
  • Addressing reasonable concerns about reviewer bias by consulting with the Editorial Board and, when appropriate, assigning alternative reviewers or seeking third-party review
  • Publishing corrections, clarifications, or retractions when editorial misconduct or errors are identified
  • Maintaining the confidentiality of all materials under review

Conflicts of Interest

The journal recognizes the following as potential conflicts of interest: personal relationships, professional rivalries, academic competition, financial interests, and strongly held intellectual positions.

Editorial Board members must:

  • Evaluate all submissions objectively and impartially, without favoritism
  • Recuse themselves from handling manuscripts where conflicts of interest exist

Reviewers must:

  • Disclose any conflicts of interest to the Editor immediately upon assignment
  • Decline to review manuscripts when conflicts cannot be managed appropriately

 Raising Concerns

Any individual who identifies errors, ethical violations, or deviations from stated editorial policy should contact the journal's editorial office at ids@sabauni.edu.ge.

The Editorial Board commits to:

  • Investigating all concerns promptly and thoroughly
  • Taking appropriate corrective action in accordance with COPE guidelines
  • Maintaining transparency throughout the investigation process

 Post-Publication Corrections and Retractions

Corrections:
Authors may not significantly alter an article's content or findings after publication. Minor technical corrections (e.g., typographical errors, formatting issues) may be published as corrigenda in a subsequent issue, clearly linked to the original article.

Retractions:
The editor may retract published articles in cases of:

  • Research misconduct (fabrication, falsification, plagiarism)
  • Duplicate publication
  • Ethical violations in research conduct
  • Unreliable findings that cannot be verified
  • Failure to disclose major conflicts of interest

Retraction notices will remain permanently linked to the retracted article and will clearly state the reason for retraction.

 Peer Review Process

The journal employs a rigorous double-blind peer review process to ensure fairness and objectivity:

  • Both author and reviewer identities are concealed throughout the review process
  • Each manuscript is evaluated by a minimum of two independent reviewers with expertise in the relevant field
  • If one review is positive and one is negative, the manuscript is sent to a third reviewer
  • Final editorial decisions are based on reviewer recommendations and the Editor's assessment
  • The average review duration is two months
  • Authors are notified of decisions via email with anonymized reviewer comments

Review outcomes:

  • Accept with minor revisions;
  • Accept with major revisions (requires re-review);
  • Reject;

 Artificial Intelligence Policy

To ensure transparency and maintain academic integrity, the journal has established the following AI policies:

AI as Author

The journal does not accept manuscripts listing artificial intelligence tools or systems as authors or co-authors. Authorship requires accountability, and AI systems cannot take responsibility for the accuracy, integrity, or originality of scholarly work.

 AI as Bibliographic Source

The journal does not accept manuscripts citing AI programs (e.g., Chat GPT, Claude) as bibliographic sources. Such content may lack reliability, verifiability, or appropriate attribution.

AI as a Writing and Research Assistance Tool

The journal accepts the use of AI tools for supportive purposes, including:

  • Grammar and language editing
  • Translation assistance
  • Feedback on structure and style
  • Data analysis and visualization
  • Programming support

Disclosure requirement:
Authors who use AI tools must include a disclosure statement after the References section under the heading:

"Declaration on the Use of Artificial Intelligence Technologies"

Example statement:
"During the preparation of this manuscript, the author(s) used [AI tool name] for [specific purpose]. The author(s) reviewed and revised all AI-generated content and take full responsibility for the content of this publication."

AI Use in Peer Review

The journal strictly prohibits the use of AI tools in the peer review process. Peer review is a scholarly activity requiring personal expertise, critical judgment, and ethical responsibility. Reviewers must rely solely on their professional knowledge and experience when evaluating manuscripts.