Ethical norms
ETHICAL STANDARDS
The successful progress and completion of the publication process depend to a large extent on the correct and ethical relations among all participants. The ethical rules of the Visual Arts electronic journal are based on the guidelines of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and comply with the Ethical Code of the academic community of Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski.”
These rules apply to all parties involved in the publishing process: editorial board, editor-in-chief, section editors, authors, and reviewers, ensuring high-quality standards and academic integrity of the published texts.
The copyrights of the articles remain with the authors, while the journal is granted the right of first publication. Since authors retain their publishing rights, they are allowed to upload their articles to institutional websites, academic social networks, etc., provided the journal is properly cited.
Duties of the Editorial Board
The Visual Arts editorial board makes decisions regarding the acceptance or rejection of submitted manuscripts. These decisions are based on reviewers’ evaluations, compliance with the journal’s publishing policy, legal requirements (such as copyright and plagiarism), and adherence to academic ethics.
Editorial board members are responsible for oversight and sharing their opinions on the journal’s development with the editor-in-chief and fellow editors.
They must not disclose information about submitted manuscripts and must follow the journal’s peer review policy. Editorial board members may not use unpublished material or ideas from the manuscripts for their own research without the explicit consent of the authors. They must recuse themselves from decisions about manuscripts where a conflict of interest exists (due to competition, collaboration, or other relations with the authors or affiliated institutions).
The editorial board is also obliged to take appropriate action in the event of complaints, disputes, or concerns related to submitted manuscripts or publications. Such action includes contacting the authors and responding to the complaint. When needed, consultations may be conducted with relevant institutions or research bodies. The board may accept or reject the complaint, publish a correction notice, or take other necessary steps. Any identified unethical behavior must be treated with due attention and seriousness, even if discovered long after publication.
All manuscripts must be treated as confidential and protected by copyright.
Editorial board members may submit manuscripts as authors and act as reviewers only if the editor-in-chief excludes them from discussions and decisions regarding the respective issue of the journal. The editor-in-chief, however, does not have these rights and must ensure the anonymity of both authors and reviewers is preserved.
Duties of the Editor-in-Chief
The editor-in-chief is responsible for the overall image and development of the journal, coordinating between the editorial board, authors, reviewers, and external parties. They ensure adherence to ethical standards and inform all stakeholders of their responsibilities. They must also prevent conflicts of interest during the editorial process.
The editor-in-chief verifies whether a submitted manuscript aligns with the journal’s profile and policy. The next step involves checking for originality using plagiarism detection software. If plagiarism is detected, the manuscript is rejected, and the editorial board is informed. If no overlap with previously published research is found, the manuscript is sent for double-blind peer review by two reviewers with relevant expertise. If a reviewer declines, another qualified reviewer is appointed.
After receiving the reviewers' reports, the editor-in-chief proceeds according to the recommendations. A second round of review may be conducted if necessary. Authors are informed of any required revisions. Once accepted, the manuscript undergoes stylistic and copy editing. The final version is checked again before publication.
The editor-in-chief is responsible for the review process, manuscript acceptance or rejection, and the issue’s content and formatting, as well as its distribution. They are obliged to keep all submissions and reviews confidential and comply with copyright laws.
The editor-in-chief may only publish in non-peer-reviewed sections of the journal. They are not allowed to act as reviewers for scientific articles.
Duties of the Authors
Authors are fully responsible for the accuracy of their scientific publications and must follow proper citation guidelines.
Manuscripts must be original works. Authors confirm this by submitting a declaration of authorship. Using others’ work without accurate citation is unacceptable. Plagiarism in all its forms is considered unethical.
Data supporting the publication must be presented accurately. Authors may be asked to provide the primary data and allow access for other researchers after publication, respecting copyright and ownership. Articles must include enough detail and citations to allow for replication and verification.
It is unethical to submit the same manuscript to more than one journal at the same time. Republishing an already published work requires the consent of both the author and the original publisher.
Authors must give proper credit to all data sources and previous publications that influenced their research. Information obtained through personal communication (e.g., interviews, correspondence) must only be used with permission.
Authors are expected to engage in the anonymous peer review process and respond promptly to editorial requests for data, clarifications, or copyright issues. They must revise and resubmit their manuscript based on the reviewers’ recommendations. If authors identify significant errors in their submitted work, they must notify the editors immediately and collaborate on corrections. If errors are pointed out by third parties, authors must either withdraw the manuscript or submit corrections to ensure the integrity of the text.
Duties of the Reviewers
Peer review supports the editorial board in publication decisions and assists authors in improving their manuscripts. It is an essential component of academic communication and ensures the scholarly integrity of published work.
Each manuscript is reviewed by two experts whose research is closely related to the manuscript topic. Editorial board members may act as reviewers only if they are not involved in editing the issue. Reviewers receive an anonymous version of the manuscript and assess it according to a review form. If one reviewer recommends acceptance and the other rejection, a third (arbiter) reviewer is appointed, whose opinion is final.
A reviewer who feels unqualified or cannot meet the deadline must promptly notify the editorial board and decline the review. Reviewers must also decline if a conflict of interest exists with any of the authors or institutions involved.
Reviews should be objective and well-argued, with clear and constructive feedback for the authors. Personal criticism is not acceptable. Reviewers must check the accuracy of citations and notify the editors of any omissions or suspected plagiarism.
Manuscripts under review are confidential and protected by copyright. Reviewers may not use unpublished materials or ideas for their own research. They must respect the confidentiality of any information or insights gained during review, including in cases where they decline the invitation to review.
