Policies & Guidelines

1. Publication Ethics

Future Horizon International Journal of Social Sciences and Educational Research (FHIJSSER) is committed to maintaining the highest standards of academic integrity, transparency, and ethical publishing. The journal follows internationally recognized publication ethics principles including the guidelines of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and the research publication policies of Higher Education Commission (HEC) Pakistan.

The journal ensures that authors, editors, reviewers, and publishers follow responsible research practices to maintain accuracy, originality, and credibility in scholarly communication.

Editors and Reviewers

  • Editors and reviewers must maintain confidentiality of all submitted manuscripts.
  • Any conflict of interest must be declared before manuscript evaluation.
  • Editorial decisions are based on academic quality, originality, relevance, and ethical compliance.
  • Reviewers must provide objective and constructive evaluations.
  • Editors must ensure a fair and unbiased publication process.

Authors

  • Authors must submit original research that has not been published or submitted elsewhere.
  • Authors must properly acknowledge all sources and previous research.
  • Authors must avoid plagiarism, data fabrication, and data manipulation.
  • All contributors who meet authorship criteria must be properly recognized.
  • Funding sources, conflicts of interest, and ethical approvals must be disclosed.

Handling Ethical Violations

If unethical practices, plagiarism, duplicate publication, or research misconduct are identified, FHIJSSER may take appropriate actions including correction notices, article retraction, restriction of future submissions, or reporting serious violations to relevant institutions.

2. Plagiarism Screening

Future Horizon International Journal of Social Sciences and Educational Research (FHIJSSER) uses Turnitin, an online similarity detection system, to evaluate the originality of submitted manuscripts. All submissions are screened before the peer-review process.

Definition of Plagiarism

Plagiarism is the act of presenting another person's words, ideas, research findings, data, or intellectual contribution as one's own without proper acknowledgment. It includes direct copying, inappropriate paraphrasing, and unauthorized reuse of previously published material.

Plagiarism Policy

  • FHIJSSER publishes only original research contributions.
  • Plagiarism in any form is considered unethical publishing behavior.
  • All submitted manuscripts are checked using Turnitin.
  • Similarity below 19% may be considered acceptable after editorial evaluation.
  • Similarity between 19% and 30% may require revision and proper citation.
  • Substantial plagiarism may result in manuscript rejection.

Generative AI Usage Policy

AI-assisted tools may be used responsibly for supportive purposes such as language improvement. However, AI must not replace original research design, analysis, interpretation, or scientific conclusions. Authors remain fully responsible for the accuracy, originality, and integrity of their manuscripts.

3. Peer-Review Policy

FHIJSSER follows a rigorous double-blind peer-review process to ensure fairness, transparency, and academic quality. The identities of authors and reviewers remain confidential throughout the review process.

Initial Editorial Assessment

  • All manuscripts undergo preliminary evaluation by the editorial team.
  • Manuscripts outside the journal scope may be rejected before external review.
  • Editors assess originality, quality, ethical compliance, and academic contribution.

External Review Process

  • Qualified reviewers evaluate manuscripts according to their expertise.
  • Reviewers assess methodology, originality, significance, analysis, and conclusions.
  • Authors receive constructive feedback for improvement.
  • The final decision is made by the Editor-in-Chief based on reviewers' recommendations.

Editorial Decisions

  • Accept Submission: Manuscript accepted without major changes.
  • Minor Revision: Limited corrections required.
  • Major Revision: Significant improvements required before reconsideration.
  • Reject Submission: Manuscript does not meet required standards.

4. Reviewer Guidelines

Peer review plays a vital role in maintaining the quality, integrity, and reliability of scholarly publications. Future Horizon International Journal of Social Sciences and Educational Research (FHIJSSER) follows ethical peer-review practices recommended by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).

Reviewers are expected to provide independent, unbiased, confidential, and constructive evaluations that support editorial decisions and help authors improve the quality of their manuscripts.

Responsibilities of Reviewers

  • Review manuscripts only within their area of expertise.
  • Complete reviews within the assigned timeline.
  • Maintain confidentiality of manuscript contents and review discussions.
  • Declare any potential conflict of interest before reviewing.
  • Provide objective, respectful, and constructive comments.
  • Report plagiarism, unethical practices, or research misconduct.

Review Evaluation Criteria

  • Originality and contribution of the research.
  • Appropriateness of methodology and research design.
  • Accuracy of analysis and interpretation.
  • Quality of literature review and references.
  • Clarity and organization of manuscript presentation.

Confidentiality After Review

Reviewers must continue to maintain confidentiality after completing their review. Manuscript information, research data, and review comments must not be shared, reproduced, or used for personal advantage.

5. Publication Malpractice Statement

Future Horizon International Journal of Social Sciences and Educational Research (FHIJSSER) is committed to maintaining ethical publishing practices and academic integrity. The journal follows the ethical principles of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and the research publication guidelines of Higher Education Commission (HEC) Pakistan.

Responsibilities of Editors

  • Ensure fair, transparent, and unbiased editorial decisions.
  • Maintain confidentiality of submitted manuscripts.
  • Handle conflicts of interest appropriately.
  • Take suitable action against plagiarism and research misconduct.

Responsibilities of Authors

  • Submit original and accurate research work.
  • Provide appropriate citations and acknowledgments.
  • Avoid plagiarism, fabrication, and falsification of research data.
  • Disclose funding sources and conflicts of interest.
  • Notify the journal about significant errors after publication.

Actions Against Misconduct

If publication misconduct is confirmed, FHIJSSER may issue corrections, expressions of concern, retract articles, restrict future submissions, or report violations to appropriate institutions according to ethical guidelines.

6. Open Access Statement

Future Horizon International Journal of Social Sciences and Educational Research (FHIJSSER) supports open access publishing and promotes free availability of scholarly research to encourage knowledge sharing, academic collaboration, and wider dissemination of research findings.

All published articles are freely accessible through the journal platform without subscription barriers, allowing researchers, students, educators, and policymakers to benefit from published research.

Accessibility of Published Research

  • Published articles are freely available online.
  • Research may be used for educational and academic purposes with proper acknowledgment.
  • The journal encourages responsible sharing of scholarly knowledge.

Author Rights and Responsibilities

  • Authors retain appropriate rights according to journal policies.
  • Authors are responsible for ethical and legal compliance.
  • Authors must obtain permissions for copyrighted materials where required.

Commitment to Open Knowledge

FHIJSSER believes that open access improves global research communication and supports the advancement of knowledge across disciplines.