Focus and Scope

Reflection Journal publishes original empirical research and scholarly review papers within the areas of social sciences and natural sciences. Manuscripts are considered in relation to the journal's stated aims and scope.

Section Policies and Manuscript Types

The existing OJS section is Article. The section is configured for open submissions, peer review, and indexing eligibility within the journal workflow.

The journal currently describes its scholarly content as original empirical research and review papers. Any additional contribution types should be defined explicitly in the OJS sections and author guidelines before they are advertised as accepted manuscript types.

Peer Review Process

Manuscripts that pass the editorial screening are evaluated by at least two reviewers whose expertise is relevant to the submitted work. Reflection Journal applies a double-blind peer-review process, in which authors and reviewers do not know each other's identities.

1. Initial assessment: The editor checks the manuscript for scope, originality, compliance with the journal template, and basic submission requirements.
2. Reviewer assignment: At least two independent reviewers are invited based on their areas of expertise. Reviewers are ordinarily allowed two weeks to complete an assigned review.
3. Review evaluation: The editor considers the reviewers' reports when deciding whether a manuscript should be revised, accepted, or rejected.
4. Additional review: If reports differ substantially, the editor may appoint a third reviewer to support the editorial decision.
5. Editorial decision: The responsible editor makes the final decision, considering the reviews and revisions received.

Submissions must not be published previously or under consideration elsewhere and must be prepared using the Reflection Journal template. The journal accepts manuscripts in English or Indonesian. Similarity screening is governed by the separate Anti-Plagiarism Policy.

Publication Frequency

Reflection Journal publishes two issues annually, in June and December. All published articles are organized by volume, issue, and publication year in the journal archive.

Publication Ethics

Reflection Journal is published by Lembaga Penelitian dan Pemberdayaan Masyarakat (LITPAM). Its publication ethics address the responsibilities of editors, reviewers, authors, and the publisher. The policy is informed by principles consistent with the guidance of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).

Responsibilities of editors

• Evaluate manuscripts impartially, respecting authors' intellectual independence and allowing responses to negative assessments.
• Maintain the confidentiality of submitted manuscripts and refrain from using unpublished data, arguments, or interpretations without written permission.
• Base publication decisions on scholarly and editorial considerations, not commercial interests.
• Withdraw from handling a manuscript when a conflict of interest exists; assign the decision to another editor without that conflict.

Responsibilities of reviewers

• Accept reviews only when qualified, available, and free of conflicts that would affect impartiality.
• Treat manuscripts as confidential and provide professional, constructive assessments.
• Identify important relevant work that has not been cited and report suspected research misconduct to the editor.
• Provide accurate information about their expertise; reviews that are inappropriate, disrespectful, or persistently late may be declined.

Responsibilities of authors

• Report research data and results honestly, completely, and with sufficient information to permit scholarly verification.
• Avoid plagiarism, fabrication, falsification, duplicate publication, and improper manipulation of research materials.
• Acknowledge all substantial contributions and disclose relevant competing interests.
• Take part in peer review and promptly inform the editor if a significant error is discovered.
• Disclose unusual hazards, protect research participants, and obtain appropriate informed consent in research involving human participants.

Authorship Criteria

Authorship must reflect a significant and genuine contribution to the scholarly work. All named authors must take responsibility for the originality and integrity of the reported research. Contributors who do not qualify for authorship should be acknowledged appropriately.

Author names and their order should be agreed by the contributors before submission. Unjustified attribution, exclusion of eligible contributors, and misleading statements of contribution are inconsistent with the journal's publication ethics.

Anti-Plagiarism Policy

Reflection Journal screens submitted manuscripts for textual similarity using Turnitin. The maximum permitted similarity score is 20%. Manuscripts exceeding this threshold will not proceed to publication unless the identified issues are resolved and the manuscript passes editorial reassessment. Plagiarism is not acceptable regardless of the similarity percentage.

Similarity percentages are an initial screening indicator and do not replace editorial evaluation of unattributed copying, source use, and originality. Editors may investigate problematic overlap even when the score is below the stated threshold.

Allegations of Research Misconduct

Reflection Journal does not knowingly permit research or publication misconduct, including plagiarism, data fabrication, data falsification, or redundant publication.

1. Receipt and documentation: The editor records relevant allegations and preserves the manuscript, publication, and supporting correspondence.
2. Preliminary review: The editor considers the available information and may consult co-editors, independent reviewers, or other subject experts.
3. Opportunity to respond: The author or other party concerned is contacted and given an opportunity to provide an explanation.
4. Assessment: The journal considers relevant COPE guidance and distinguishes honest error from deliberate misconduct.
5. Action: Depending on the outcome, the journal may take no further action, request corrections, publish an expression of concern, or retract a published article.

Conflict of Interest Policy

Editors and reviewers must withdraw from manuscript handling or decision-making whenever personal, professional, institutional, or financial relationships could compromise impartiality. Authors are required to disclose competing interests relevant to their work.

Examples include: a direct reporting relationship; recent significant collaboration; participation in the submitted project; a financial interest related to the submission; or any personal or financial circumstance that prevents an objective evaluation.

When an editor has a competing interest, responsibility for the manuscript is transferred to another qualified editor without the conflict.

Post-Publication Discussion

Scholarly responses, concerns, and substantive comments about published articles may be submitted to the journal through its official editorial contact. Relevant correspondence should identify the article and explain the point being raised.

The editor may consult the original authors and, where appropriate, independent experts to assess the scientific relevance of the issue. Outcomes may include an author response, an editorial clarification, or a formal correction under the journal's publication ethics procedures.

Corrections, Expressions of Concern, and Retractions

Where a significant error or credible concern is identified after publication, the editor examines the available evidence and may consult the authors, reviewers, or other experts.

• Correction: Considered when a published error can be remedied without invalidating the central findings.
• Expression of concern: May be considered when serious unresolved concerns warrant informing readers while an assessment continues.
• Retraction: May be considered when substantial unreliability or serious publication misconduct undermines confidence in the article.

The journal's existing ethics statement provides for correction, expressions of concern, and retraction. The Editorial Team should document the decision and publish an appropriate notice that clearly identifies the affected article.

Open Access Policy

Reflection Journal provides immediate open access to its published content. The journal supports free public access to scholarly research to encourage wider knowledge exchange.

For rights retained by authors and the terms of reuse, readers should consult the journal's Copyright and Licensing statement.

Editorial Board Submission Policy

Editors, peer reviewers, and proofreaders may submit manuscripts to Reflection Journal, but they must not exercise influence over editorial decisions concerning their own submissions.

1. The submitting editor or reviewer is excluded from handling, assessing, or deciding on the manuscript.
2. Another qualified editor and independent reviewers are assigned to carry out the evaluation.
3. No preferential treatment is given, and the same editorial and peer-review standards apply.
4. The individual does not interfere with the editorial handling of the issue containing the submission.

Journal Scientific Statement

Reflection Journal aims to uphold three principles in scholarly publication: neutrality in editorial management, fairness in recognizing authorship and contributions, and honesty in reporting, evaluating, and publishing research.

Editorial decisions are supported by peer review and revision procedures intended to maintain scientific integrity and reliable publication standards.

Reference Management Software

Manuscripts should use a reference management tool, such as Mendeley, EndNote, or Zotero, and follow the journal's prescribed APA Style, 7th edition, for citations and references.

Detailed reference formatting requirements should remain consistent with the Author Guidelines.