Ethical Standards for Publication

The Physical Activity and Human Development Journal is fully committed to ethics in research and academic publishing. We adhere to the Guidelines for Best Practices for Journal Editors, as well as to the ethical provisions of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and the provisions established in Statutory Law 1266 of 2008 regarding the management of personal information in databases. The journal recognizes that the publication of peer-reviewed articles is essential for scientific advancement and for building a coherent and respectful network around knowledge.

In the Physical Activity and Human Development Journal, each submitted article is evaluated and published according to its merits and scientific contributions, ensuring the implementation of the most appropriate practices at every stage of the publication process. A thorough review of manuscripts is conducted to detect possible cases of plagiarism using the Turnitin tool. In addition, each article submitted for publication review must meet the following requirements:

  • Consent: All authors grant their consent for the submission and publication of the article under evaluation.
  • Originality of the work: The submitted article is original, has not been previously published, and has not been simultaneously submitted for evaluation in another journal.
  • Previous research: All information derived from previous studies included in the submitted article must be properly referenced. If the article analyzes a previously published proposal, it must be appropriately cited.
  • Journal archives: The submitted article will be stored in the archives of the Physical Activity and Human Development Journal and will be considered a valid publication provided it meets all the above criteria.
  • Review Committee: Members of the Review Committee must not maintain any professional, academic, or personal relationship with the authors.

1. RESEARCH INTEGRITY

Research Misconduct: Research misconduct includes fabrication, falsification, or plagiarism in proposing, conducting, or reviewing research, as well as in reporting results. If the Editorial Committee detects indications of such conduct, an investigation will be initiated requesting collaboration from the supporting institution, employer, sponsor, or competent national authority.

Reporting Irregularities: Allegations of research irregularities, whether presented by identified individuals or anonymously, will be investigated only if accompanied by the corresponding evidence.

Fabrication/Falsification and Image Manipulation: Although image editing is sometimes required to highlight certain features, inappropriate manipulation may produce misleading results. Researchers must report any image editing, following these recommendations: specific features must not be altered; original and unpublished images must be presented along with any modifications intended for publication. Adjustments in brightness or contrast are acceptable only when applied uniformly across the entire image without distorting its meaning. Excessive editing to emphasize the size of the image is inappropriate. Any removal of parts of a recording or nonlinear adjustments must be indicated in the figure legend. Figures should not be constructed from different components; however, if necessary, this must be clearly indicated with dividing lines in the figure and its legend.

Plagiarism: Plagiarism, which involves copying or misusing another person’s intellectual property, is strictly prohibited. The Physical Activity and Human Development Journal conducts a thorough plagiarism review of all manuscripts.

Duplicate and Redundant Publication of Data: Researchers must avoid publishing previously disclosed data as original. The reissue or republication of data is permitted provided that proper acknowledgment is given. Abstracts and posters presented at conferences, results presented at scientific meetings, uninterpreted data in databases, and theses and dissertations archived in universities are not considered duplicate publications.

Text Recycling: The presentation of partial results from a previous publication directed to a different audience is permitted, provided that the discussion and conclusion are different.

Simultaneous Submission: Authors may not submit a manuscript to more than one journal simultaneously. If the Editorial Committee identifies such a situation, the manuscript will not be considered for publication.

Duplication of information in other languages: translations of manuscripts already published will not be considered for publication.

Sanctions: sanctions are applied consistently after careful consideration. First, a retraction will be issued. In the most serious circumstances, the institution from which the author(s) originates will be notified, and the Journal will refuse to examine future work by the author(s) involved.

2. EDITORIAL STANDARDS AND PROCESSES

Authorship:

  • The order of authors must appropriately reflect scientific or professional contributions.
  • All authors must sign an authorization indicating their level of participation.
  • Contributions not meeting authorship criteria should appear in the acknowledgments with permission.
  • Compliance with administrative requirements and submission of the Institutional Ethics Committee approval document.
  • All communication is shared with all authors of the article.

Authorship Disputes:

  • If authorship problems are suspected, the Editorial Committee will contact the corresponding author for further information.
  • Other authors may be contacted if additional information is required.

Funding:

  • All funding sources and their specific roles must be detailed in the acknowledgments section.
  • If there are no funding sources, this circumstance must be explicitly declared.

Peer Review:

  • The Journal uses a double-blind peer review system for all submitted articles.
  • The editorial section is not subject to peer review.
  • Confidentiality throughout the review process.
  • Disclosure of any conflict of interest by reviewers when responding to a review invitation.
  • In cases of conflict of interest, reviewers may not evaluate manuscripts from authors with whom they have recent institutional relationships or direct competition.

Publication Timelines:

  • The Journal is committed to ensuring timely peer review, avoiding unnecessary delays in the publication process.

Editors and Journal Staff as Authors:

  • Editors and members of the Editorial and Advisory Committees do not participate in editorial decisions involving their own articles.
  • A detailed statement will be provided explaining the process used for editorial decisions when editors or committee members are authors.

Conflict of Interest:

  • Editors, authors, and reviewers must disclose any conflict of interest that may affect their ability to present or review a manuscript objectively.
  • Conflicts of interest include, but are not limited to, financial, personal, political, or religious interests.
  • Authors must describe any relevant funding, patents, shares, or ownership interests.

Academic Debate:

  • The Journal encourages correspondence and constructive criticism related to published works.
  • When correspondence discusses a specific article, the author is invited to respond before publication.
  • Whenever possible, the correspondence and the author's response will be published together.

Appeals:

  • Authors who disagree with editorial feedback have the right to appeal decisions made by the Editorial Committee.
  • Appeals will overturn previous decisions only when new information is available.

Corrections:

  • Readers and authors are responsible for notifying the Journal of errors in a publication.
  • Corrections will be published and, if major errors are found, a retraction may be considered.

Retractions and Expressions of Concern:

  • The Journal follows the recommendations of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) for addressing errata and retractions derived from scientific misconduct.

3. HANDLING OF COMPLAINTS, CLAIMS, AND APPEALS

The Physical Activity and Human Development Journal accepts complaints, claims, and appeals through the email: actividadfisica@unipamplona.edu.co. These will be handled by the Editor-in-Chief with strict confidentiality to preserve the anonymity of the complainant.

The Journal maintains rigorous editorial ethical control and follows the protocol established by COPE to address alleged misconduct.

4. AUTHORS’ OBLIGATIONS

  • Sources of information: Authors must present procedures and calculations in detail, ensuring that all data are explicitly stated.
  • Originality and plagiarism: Proper citation of authors and sources is essential. Plagiarism in any form is unacceptable.
  • Redundant publication: Authors must avoid publishing essentially the same manuscript in more than one journal.
  • Acknowledgment of sources: Appropriate recognition must be given to the work of others.
  • Authorship: Authorship should be limited to those who made significant contributions to the research.
  • Disclosure and conflicts of interest: Authors must disclose any financial or other conflicts of interest.
  • Similarity analysis: The Journal uses Turnitin to detect plagiarism.
  • Significant errors: Authors must notify the Editor of significant errors and cooperate in corrections or retractions.

5. EDITOR’S DUTIES

  • Publication decision: The Editor decides which articles will be published based on reviewers’ reports.
  • Fair play: Manuscripts are evaluated without discrimination.
  • Confidentiality and conflicts of interest: The Editor must ensure confidentiality and avoid conflicts of interest.
  • Peer review: Ensures a fair, unbiased, and timely peer-review process.

6. REVIEWERS’ DUTIES

  • Contribution to editorial decisions: Peer review assists editors in decision-making and helps authors improve their work.
  • Promptness: Reviewers should notify the editor if they cannot complete the review on time.
  • Objectivity: Reviews must be conducted objectively and supported by arguments.
  • Acknowledgment of sources: Reviewers should identify relevant work not cited.
  • Confidentiality and conflict of interest: Reviewers must not use unpublished material for personal research and must maintain confidentiality.