Publication Ethics

Publication Ethics and Malpractice Statement

Enhanced Language Learning Innovation and Technology (hereafter ELLIT) is a peer-reviewed academic journal committed to upholding the highest standards of publication ethics and academic integrity. ELLIT serves as an international platform for the dissemination of original, high-quality research on innovation and technology in language learning, teaching, and assessment.

ELLIT publishes original research articles, review papers, and scholarly reports that have not been published previously and are not under consideration elsewhere. This statement outlines the ethical responsibilities of all parties involved in the publishing process, including authors, editors, reviewers, and the publisher.
This policy is developed in accordance with the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) Best Practice Guidelines.

Allegations of Research Misconduct

Research misconduct includes, but is not limited to, fabrication, falsification, plagiarism, citation manipulation, data misrepresentation, and unethical research practices in the conduct, review, or reporting of research.

When allegations of misconduct arise, the Editors and Editorial Board of ELLIT are responsible for safeguarding the accuracy and integrity of the scholarly record. All cases of suspected misconduct will be handled following COPE procedures in a fair, transparent, and confidential manner.

If misconduct is suspected:

The Editors will first assess the validity and relevance of the allegation.
The corresponding author will be notified and asked to provide a detailed explanation on behalf of all authors.
If necessary, independent experts (e.g., statistical or methodological reviewers) may be consulted.
Based on the findings, the manuscript may be rejected, corrected, or—if already published—retracted or replaced with a formal notice linked to the original article.

Institutions affiliated with the authors may be contacted and are expected to conduct their own investigations when appropriate. ELLIT reserves the right to issue corrections, expressions of concern, or retractions to maintain the integrity of the academic record.

Complaints and Appeals

ELLIT has a transparent procedure for handling complaints and appeals concerning the journal’s editorial processes, Editorial Board, reviewers, or publisher.

The scope of complaints includes, but is not limited to:

Editorial decision-making
Peer-review integrity
Alleged bias or unfair treatment
Citation manipulation
Ethical violations

All complaints will be reviewed objectively and processed in accordance with COPE guidelines. Authors have the right to appeal editorial decisions by providing a reasoned and evidence-based justification.

Ethical Oversight

Research involving human participants, animals, sensitive data, or potentially hazardous materials must comply with recognized ethical standards.

Authors must clearly state ethical approval and informed consent procedures where applicable.
Ethical clearance from an authorized institutional or legal body must be provided when required.
Research involving confidential, institutional, or commercial data must clearly explain how data privacy and security are ensured.

Failure to meet ethical requirements may result in rejection or retraction.

Duties of Authors

Reporting Standards

Authors must present an accurate, transparent, and objective account of their research. Results should be reported honestly without fabrication, falsification, or inappropriate data manipulation. Manuscripts must include sufficient detail to allow replication.

Data Access, Retention, and Reproducibility

Authors should be prepared to provide raw data for editorial review and retain research data for a reasonable period after publication. Authors are responsible for ensuring data reproducibility.

Originality and Plagiarism

All submitted manuscripts must be original. Proper citation and acknowledgment of previous work are mandatory. Any text, data, or ideas taken from other sources must be clearly cited.

Multiple or Redundant Publication

Authors must not submit the same manuscript to more than one journal simultaneously. Redundant or duplicate publication is considered unethical.

Authorship and Contributorship

Authorship should reflect significant contributions to the conception, design, execution, or interpretation of the study. All listed authors must approve the final manuscript and agree to its submission.

Disclosure and Conflicts of Interest

Authors must disclose any financial, institutional, or personal conflicts of interest that could influence the research or its interpretation.

Fundamental Errors

If a significant error is identified after submission or publication, authors must promptly notify the editor and cooperate in issuing a correction or retraction.

Duties of Editors

Editors are responsible for ensuring the quality, integrity, and fairness of the publication process.

Editorial decisions are based solely on scholarly merit, originality, relevance, and clarity.
Editors ensure a fair and unbiased peer-review process.
Confidentiality of submitted manuscripts is strictly maintained.
Editors must not handle manuscripts in which they have conflicts of interest.
Editorial independence is upheld at all stages of publication.

Duties of Reviewers

Reviewers play a crucial role in maintaining academic quality.

Reviews must be objective, constructive, and evidence-based.
Manuscripts under review are confidential documents.
Reviewers must identify relevant uncited work and report ethical concerns to the editor.
Conflicts of interest must be disclosed, and reviewers should decline reviews when necessary.
Reviews should be completed within the agreed timeframe.

Intellectual Property (Copyright Policy)

ELLIT recognizes that copyright remains with the author(s). Authors grant ELLIT the right of first publication. Licensing details will be specified in the journal’s copyright agreement.

Peer-Review Process Policy

All submissions undergo a double-blind peer-review process. Manuscripts are evaluated based on originality, methodological rigor, relevance, clarity, contribution, and reference quality. Editorial decisions are made based on reviewers’ recommendations and editorial judgment.

Plagiarism Screening Policy

ELLIT screens all submissions using plagiarism detection software. Manuscripts exceeding 25% similarity (excluding references and standard methodological descriptions) will be rejected or returned for revision, depending on severity.

Post-Publication Discussions and Corrections

ELLIT welcomes scholarly discussion and constructive critique of published articles. Readers may submit comments or corrections to the Editor-in-Chief. Accepted discussions may be published as Letters to the Editor, with authors given the opportunity to respond.

Article Withdrawal and Retraction Policy

ELLIT follows COPE standards for article withdrawal, correction, retraction, replacement, and removal. Detailed procedures are available in the journal’s Article Withdrawal Policy.