The Journal of Folklore Research (JFR) follows best practices regarding ethical matters, including errors and retractions. Preventing publication malpractice is paramount among the editorial board’s responsibilities. Any unethical behavior on the part of editors, authors, or reviewers is unacceptable. JFR does not tolerate plagiarism in any form.
The following responsibilities for editors and copy editors, authors, and reviewers are based on the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) conduct guidelines.
Responsibilities for Editors
Publication Decisions: Editors accept, reject, or request changes to submissions, taking into account the conclusions of the peer review process.
Manuscript Review: Editors evaluate each submission to ensure that it merits consideration based on originality of content, scholarly excellence, and contribution to the field.
Fair Review: Editors ensure each submission is reviewed on the basis of its intellectual content without regard for the sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, ability, race, ethnicity, nationality, citizenship status, religious affiliation, or political affiliation of the author(s).
Confidentiality: Editors ensure that all information submitted by authors regarding submissions remains confidential.
Disclosure and Conflicts of Interest: Editors refrain from using unpublished materials disclosed in a submission for their own research without obtaining the written consent of the author(s).
Standards: Editors are responsible for guaranteeing that published materials meet stringent scholarly standards of accuracy, clarity, and originality.
Provision of Guidelines: Editors provide authors with submission guidelines via JFR’s website and upon request.
Responsibilities for Authors
Authorship: The designation of authorship should be limited to those who have made a significant contribution to the submission. All persons who have made such contributions must be listed as co-authors. Authors must ensure that all listed authors have both seen and agreed to the submission and to the inclusion of their names as co-authors.
Originality: Authors ensure that the work they submit for publication is entirely original.
Acknowledgment of sources: Authors acknowledge and fully cite all sources used and all publications that influenced their research.
Fundamental Errors: If at any time authors discover serious errors or inaccuracies in their submissions, then the errors or inaccuracies must be reported to the editors immediately upon discovery.
Review Process: Authors address and respond to the comments and suggestions of editors and reviewers.
Content: Authors eschew racist, sexist, homophobic, transphobic, classist, ableist, ageist, or otherwise prejudiced or otherwise abusive writing. Such writing will not be accepted.
Concurrent, Multiple, or Redundant Publications: Authors inform editors if the submission has been submitted to, is under review by, or has been previously published in another publication, in English or in any other language.
Consent to Publish: Authors consent to the publication of the final version of their submission by signing an Indiana University Press Consent to Publish Agreement and, if necessary, a Permissions Agreement regarding Illustration and Artwork.
Responsibilities for Reviewers
Objectivity: Reviewers evaluate submissions in an objective manner and express their views clearly with supporting arguments.
Conflicts of Interest: Reviewers disclose to the editor immediately any potential conflicts of interest or competing interests that arise in their review.
Confidentiality: Reviewers keep confidential all information regarding authors’ submissions. Reviewers themselves remain anonymous throughout the review process.
Promptness: Reviewers evaluate submissions in a timely manner, by the deadline agreed to with the editors. If a reviewer feels it is not possible for them to complete their review within the specified time frame, then they must communicate this information to the editor as soon as possible.
Source Acknowledgment: Reviewers ensure that authors acknowledge all sources used in their submissions. If a reviewer finds any similarity or overlap between submissions under review, or with any other published paper of which reviewer has personal knowledge, they must notify the editors immediately.