Quantitative Economics and Management Studies (QEMS) (e-ISSN: 2722-6247) is a peer-reviewed journal published by PT Mattawang Mediatama Solution that committed to upholding the highest standards of publication ethics and takes all possible measures against publication malpractice. This statement clarifies the ethical behavior of all parties involved in the act of publishing an article in this journal, including the author, the chief editor, the Editorial Board, the peer-reviewer­­­­­ and the publisher (PT Mattawang Mediatama Solution, Indonesia).

Quantitative Economics and Management Studies (QEMS) is committed to upholding the highest standards of publication ethics and research integrity, with particular emphasis on the unique ethical considerations that arise in quantitative research across economics and management disciplines. This document outlines our specific ethical requirements and processes, developed by our editorial team to address the distinctive challenges of our field.

While informed by broader ethical principles in scholarly publishing, including those from the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), this statement has been specifically developed for QEMS to reflect our understanding of and commitment to ethical practices relevant to our scope and content.

1. Principles of Ethical Quantitative Research

1.1 Methodological Integrity

At QEMS, we consider methodological integrity to be foundational to ethical research practice. Authors must:

• Provide complete, transparent documentation of all quantitative methods, models, and analytical procedures
• Report all statistical tests conducted, not only those yielding significant or desirable results
• Disclose all data exclusions, transformations, and analytical decisions that could influence findings
• Clearly distinguish between planned (confirmatory) and exploratory analyses
• Present findings with appropriate precision and acknowledgment of uncertainty

1.2 Data Integrity

Ethical handling of data in quantitative economics and management research requires:

• Clear documentation of data sources, collection procedures, and sample characteristics
• Transparent reporting of data cleaning procedures and handling of missing values
• Appropriate attribution when using secondary data sources
• Secure storage of research data with protection of sensitive information
• Retention of data for verification purposes according to best practices in the field

1.3 Human Subjects Research Ethics

For research involving human participants, QEMS requires:

• Documented approval from appropriate Institutional Review Board (IRB) or Ethics Committee
• Informed consent from all research participants with clear explanation of data usage
• Appropriate protections for participant anonymity and confidentiality
• Special considerations for vulnerable populations or sensitive topics
• Honest recruitment practices without coercion or inappropriate incentives
• Respectful reporting of findings without stigmatizing groups or communities

2. Responsibilities in the Publication Process

2.1 Author Responsibilities

2.1.1 Originality and Acknowledgment

• Submit only original work not published or under consideration elsewhere
• Properly acknowledge the work of others through appropriate citation
• Obtain permission for use of copyrighted material
• Disclose any content published previously (e.g., in conference proceedings)

2.1.2 Authorship Criteria

QEMS defines authorship based on substantial contribution to:

• Conceptualization of research questions or economic models
• Development of quantitative methodology or analytical approach
• Collection, generation, or acquisition of data
• Implementation of econometric or statistical analyses
• Interpretation of results in economic or management context
• Drafting or critical revision of the manuscript
• Final approval of the version to be published

All individuals meeting these criteria must be listed as authors. Each author is accountable for their specific contributions and should have confidence in the integrity of the entire work.

2.1.3 Transparency and Disclosure

Authors must disclose:

• All funding sources and their role in the research process
• Any potential conflicts of interest that could influence research or its interpretation
• Limitations of data, methods, and conclusions
• Any unusual circumstances or deviations from standard procedures

2.1.4 Ethical Responsibilities

Authors have ethical obligations to:

• Report findings honestly without fabrication, falsification, or inappropriate data manipulation
• Address errors promptly if identified after publication
• Share data, program code, and materials as appropriate for verification
• Respect the confidentiality of information obtained during research
• Consider implications of their work for society and specific stakeholders

2.2 Reviewer Responsibilities

2.2.1 Contribution to the Process

Reviewers assist QEMS by:

• Evaluating methodological rigor, statistical validity, and economic reasoning
• Providing specific, constructive feedback even when recommending rejection
• Suggesting improvements to strengthen quantitative analyses
• Identifying any ethical concerns in research design or reporting

2.2.2 Professional Conduct

Reviewers commit to:

• Only accepting review assignments within their areas of expertise
• Declining reviews where conflicts of interest exist
• Providing timely, thorough evaluations
• Maintaining confidentiality of all materials reviewed
• Respecting author intellectual independence while ensuring methodological soundness

2.2.3 Assessment Standards

Reviews should focus on:

• Methodological appropriateness for the research question
• Technical correctness of mathematical and statistical approaches
• Logical consistency of economic arguments and interpretations
• Clarity and transparency in reporting methods and results
• Acknowledgment of limitations and alternative interpretations

2.3 Editor Responsibilities

2.3.1 Publication Decisions

QEMS editors make decisions based solely on:

• Methodological rigor and technical correctness
• Relevance to the journal's scope
• Originality and contribution to knowledge
• Clarity of presentation and reproducibility
• Compliance with ethical standards

All decisions are independent of commercial considerations, personal relationships, or author characteristics including institutional affiliation, nationality, political beliefs, or demographic factors.

2.3.2 Confidentiality

Editors must:

• Protect the confidentiality of all submissions
• Not use unpublished information for personal research
• Ensure blind review processes are properly implemented
• Maintain confidentiality of reviewer identities unless operating under open review

2.3.3 Ethical Oversight

Editors are responsible for:

• Investigating suspected ethical violations thoroughly and fairly
• Following documented procedures for handling misconduct
• Implementing appropriate responses to ethical breaches
• Publishing corrections, clarifications, or retractions when necessary
• Ensuring all published research complies with relevant ethical standards

3. Specific Policies and Procedures

3.1 Handling Allegations of Misconduct

QEMS follows a structured process for addressing allegations of research or publication misconduct:

1. Initial Assessment: The Editor-in-Chief conducts a preliminary evaluation to determine if the allegation merits formal investigation.
2. Formal Investigation: For substantive concerns, a committee of subject matter experts uninvolved in the original handling of the manuscript examines evidence and documentation.
3. Author Response: Authors are provided with specific concerns and given opportunity to respond with evidence or explanation.
4. Determination: Based on investigation findings and author response, the committee makes a determination regarding the nature and severity of any misconduct.
5. Proportional Response: Actions taken are proportional to the severity of the violation, ranging from corrections to retraction, with notification to authors' institutions in cases of serious misconduct.

Throughout this process, QEMS maintains confidentiality, presumes innocence until evidence indicates otherwise, and ensures fair treatment of all parties.

3.2 Corrections and Retractions

QEMS employs a tiered approach to post-publication amendments:

• Minor Corrections: For spelling errors or formatting issues that do not affect interpretation
• Substantive Corrections: For errors that affect interpretation but do not invalidate main conclusions
• Expressions of Concern: When inconclusive evidence raises questions about validity or integrity
• Retractions: For findings that cannot be reliably relied upon due to error or misconduct

All corrections and retractions are linked to the original article, with clear explanation of the nature and reason for the amendment.

3.3 Conflicts of Interest and Disclosure

3.3.1 Definition

QEMS defines conflicts of interest as financial, personal, or professional relationships or circumstances that could influence or appear to influence professional judgments related to the publication process.

3.3.2 Disclosure Requirements

All participants in the publication process must disclose:

• Financial interests related to the research or its interpretation
• Professional relationships that could influence objectivity
• Personal relationships with other participants in the publication process
• Institutional or organizational affiliations relevant to the research

3.3.3 Management Procedures

Identified conflicts are managed through:

• Recusal from handling or reviewing affected manuscripts
• Additional independent review when conflicts cannot be avoided
• Transparent disclosure in published articles
• Editorial oversight of potential conflicts in the review process

3.4 Data Sharing and Reproducibility

QEMS promotes reproducible research through:

• Data Availability Requirements: Authors must include a data availability statement indicating how and where data supporting findings can be accessed.
• Code Sharing Expectations: For computational or statistical analyses, authors should provide analysis code or scripts sufficient to reproduce main findings.
• Exceptions Process: When legitimate restrictions prevent complete data sharing (e.g., proprietary or sensitive data), authors must:
  • Explain specific constraints in their data availability statement
  • Provide aggregate or transformed data where possible
  • Establish a clear process for qualified researchers to request access
  • Consider alternative verification approaches such as independent analysis
• Verification Procedures: For selected articles, QEMS may implement reproducibility checks to verify that provided materials can reproduce key findings.

3.5 Appeals Process

Authors may appeal editorial decisions through a structured process:

1. Initial Appeal: Authors submit a formal appeal letter to the Editor-in-Chief detailing specific scientific or procedural grounds for reconsideration.
2. Editorial Review: The Editor-in-Chief evaluates the appeal and determines whether it merits further consideration.
3. Independent Assessment: For substantial appeals, an independent editorial board member not involved in the original decision evaluates the manuscript and review process.
4. Final Determination: Based on independent assessment, a final decision is rendered, which may affirm the original decision or initiate a new review process.
5. Response Timeline: QEMS commits to acknowledging appeals within 7 days and providing initial responses within 30 days.

4. Special Considerations for Quantitative Research

4.1 Statistical Reporting Standards

QEMS requires comprehensive statistical reporting including:

• Complete description of statistical methods with citations where appropriate
• Clear specification of statistical models including equations where relevant
• Reporting of effect sizes with appropriate confidence intervals
• Disclosure of sample sizes and power calculations
• Transparency regarding multiple hypothesis testing and corrections applied
• Clear distinction between causal claims and correlational findings

4.2 Economic Model Transparency

For theoretical or computational economic models, authors must provide:

• Clear specification of all assumptions and their justifications
• Complete mathematical formulation with variables defined
• Boundary conditions and limitations of the model
• Comparison with alternative modeling approaches where relevant
• Code or algorithms for computational models
• Calibration procedures and parameter selection rationale

4.3 Management Implications Ethics

When presenting implications for management practice, authors must:

• Distinguish clearly between evidence-based recommendations and speculation
• Consider potential unintended consequences of implementing recommendations
• Acknowledge contextual factors that may affect applicability
• Recognize ethical dimensions of management decisions
• Present balanced assessment of potential benefits and risks

5. Implementation and Education

QEMS is committed to promoting ethical research and publication practices through:

• Regular ethics training for editorial board members
• Educational resources for authors on responsible quantitative research
• Clear guidelines for reviewers on ethical evaluation
• Periodic review and updating of ethical policies
• Transparency in ethical processes and decisions

By submitting to, reviewing for, or editing QEMS, individuals agree to adhere to these ethical standards and contribute to maintaining the integrity of the scholarly record in quantitative economics and management research.