INTRODUCTION

The Journal of Digital Religion and Contemporary Society is committed to upholding the highest standards of integrity, objectivity, and scholarly credibility in the research it publishes. Transparency in the disclosure of actual or potential conflicts of interest—also referred to as competing interests—is essential to sustaining trust within the academic publishing ecosystem. This policy delineates the responsibilities of authors, peer reviewers, editors, and journal personnel in identifying and managing interests that could reasonably be perceived as compromising professional judgment or editorial impartiality. In formulating this policy, the Journal of Digital Religion and Contemporary Society adheres to the ethical principles established by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).

DEFINITION

A conflict of interest (COI), also known as a competing interest, arises when an individual’s professional judgment regarding core scholarly responsibilities—such as assessing research validity, evaluating manuscript quality, or conducting peer review—may be unduly influenced by secondary considerations. These interests include, but are not limited to, the following categories:

Financial interests: Employment, consultancy roles, stock or equity ownership, honoraria, research grants or anticipated funding, patents (held or pending), royalties, paid advisory positions, expert testimony fees, or travel support related to the submitted work.

Non-financial interests: Personal relationships (including familial ties or close friendships), academic or professional associations (such as current or recent collaborations or supervisory relationships), institutional affiliations, competing unpublished research, or strongly held personal, religious, or ideological commitments that bear directly on the subject matter or stakeholders associated with the manuscript.

The presence of a conflict of interest does not inherently constitute an ethical violation. However, failure to disclose such interests may compromise the credibility of both the research and the publication process. This policy applies to all parties involved in the Journal of Digital Religion and Contemporary Society, including authors, reviewers, editors, editorial board members, and administrative staff.

POLICY

Principle of Full Disclosure

All participants in the publication process of the Journal of Digital Religion and Contemporary Society are required to provide complete and transparent disclosure of any actual or potential conflicts of interest relevant to their role. Where no conflicts exist, an explicit statement affirming the absence of competing interests is required.

Timing of Disclosure

Authors: All potential conflicts must be disclosed at the time of initial manuscript submission. Authors are obligated to update their disclosures if new conflicts arise during the peer review or revision process.

Peer Reviewers: Any potential conflicts must be disclosed upon receipt of an invitation to review and prior to accepting the assignment. If a conflict becomes apparent during the review process, it must be reported immediately.

Editors and Journal Staff: Conflicts that may affect editorial responsibilities must be disclosed to the Editor-in-Chief or publisher. Individuals with such conflicts are required to recuse themselves from handling affected submissions.

Assessment and Management of Disclosed Conflicts

The Journal of Digital Religion and Contemporary Society will evaluate all disclosed interests to determine their potential to bias scholarly assessment or editorial decision-making. Appropriate actions may include:

• Publication of authors’ conflict-of-interest statements alongside the article;

• Reassignment of reviewers or editors where impartiality may be compromised;

• Rejection of manuscripts when conflicts pose a significant risk to academic integrity.

Publication of Disclosure Statements

All published articles will include a conflict-of-interest statement. When no competing interests are reported, a declaration such as “The authors declare no competing interests” will be included. Funding sources must also be disclosed, along with a statement clarifying the funder’s role in the research process. If the funder had no involvement, this must be explicitly stated.

Post-Publication Discovery of Undisclosed Conflicts

If a material undisclosed conflict of interest is identified after publication, the Journal of Digital Religion and Contemporary Society will conduct an investigation in accordance with COPE guidelines. Depending on the severity and implications for research integrity, corrective measures may include the issuance of a correction, an expression of concern, or retraction of the article.

IMPLEMENTATION PROCEDURES

For Authors

What to Disclose: Authors must disclose all financial and non-financial interests that could reasonably be perceived as influencing their work.

• Financial: Research sponsorship; employment or consultancy relationships; equity holdings; royalties or patent rights; honoraria or stipends.

• Non-financial: Institutional affiliations; personal or academic relationships; or strongly held ideological or doctrinal positions directly related to the research topic.

Funding Sources: All sources of financial support must be disclosed, including details regarding the funder’s involvement in study design, data analysis, interpretation, manuscript preparation, or publication decisions. If the funder had no such involvement, this must be clearly stated.

How to Disclose: Authors must submit a completed conflict-of-interest disclosure form at the time of submission. The journal may require use of the ICMJE Uniform Disclosure Form or an equivalent instrument. A concise disclosure statement (or a declaration of no conflicts) must also be included in the manuscript, typically preceding the reference list.

Consequences of Non-Disclosure: Failure to disclose relevant interests may result in delayed review, rejection of the manuscript, or post-publication correction or retraction.

For Peer Reviewers

What to Disclose: Reviewers must disclose any circumstances that could compromise objectivity, including but not limited to:

• Current or prior collaboration with the authors;

• Personal relationships or professional conflicts;

• Financial interests in the research outcomes;

• Prior access to or evaluation of the manuscript;

• Strong beliefs that could impair impartial judgment.

How to Disclose: Conflicts must be disclosed at the time of the review invitation or immediately upon recognition.

Action on Disclosure: Reviewers with significant conflicts will be advised to decline the review. Final determinations regarding suitability rest with the editor.

For Editors and Journal Staff (Including Editorial Board Members)

What to Disclose: Editors and staff must disclose relationships or interests that could influence—or be perceived to influence—their editorial responsibilities, including:

• Financial ties to relevant organizations;

• Personal or professional relationships with authors or reviewers;

• Submissions authored by themselves or close associates;

• Direct involvement in related research activities.

How to Disclose: Disclosures must be submitted to the Editor-in-Chief or publisher. The journal may maintain a publicly accessible register of editorial disclosures, updated periodically.

Management and Recusal: Individuals with significant conflicts must recuse themselves from editorial oversight of affected submissions. An independent editor or board member will be appointed to ensure impartial review. Manuscripts authored by editorial members will be subject to independent peer review.

Journal-Level Conflicts of Interest

The Journal of Digital Religion and Contemporary Society and its publisher affirm their commitment to editorial independence. Editorial decisions are insulated from commercial, institutional, or ideological pressures. Any conflicts arising at the journal or publisher level will be addressed with full transparency.

Record Keeping

The journal maintains secure records of all conflict-of-interest disclosures submitted by authors, reviewers, editors, and staff.

This policy seeks to promote transparency, uphold ethical standards, and preserve public trust in the scholarship published by the Journal of Digital Religion and Contemporary Society. It will be reviewed and updated periodically to reflect evolving best practices in academic publishing.

References

Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE). (n.d.). COPE guidelines on conflicts of interest. https://publicationethics.org/guidance/guidelines