•  
•  

Ethics Policy

The Editors guide the Journal of Applied Sport Management. They provide for its direction, taking into consideration the interests of the journal’s stakeholders, including the readership, editorial board, members of the Applied Sport Management Association (ASMA), and staff responsible for the publication of the journal. The Editors are committed to ensuring a fair, efficient, and timely manuscript review process for possible publication in the journal. They are also tasked with establishing and maintaining high professional quality standards within the journal.

Editor Actions and Responsibilities

Decisions to accept or reject a manuscript for publication are determined after the Editor and/or Associate Editors review the manuscript and evaluate the reviewer feedback. Paper decisions are based on the originality of the study, its relevance and importance to the advancement of sport management, clarity of writing, and alignment with the aims and scope of the journal. Decisions are made solely on the merits of the paper. Author’s citizenship, ethnicity, gender, political beliefs, and race are not considered in the decision-making process. Affiliation with ASMA will not be considered in the decision-making process.

Research manuscripts are peer reviewed prior to publication. The Editor and Associate Editors consult on manuscripts, potentially seeking advice from experts in specific areas pertinent to submissions. Manuscripts are initially evaluated by the Editor and Associate Editors for writing quality, rigor, and journal appropriateness for the journal. Manuscripts may be rejected without peer review if deemed to lack sufficient quality, academic rigor, or relevance to the journal’s scope.

Confidentiality

Manuscript submissions are confidential documents. Information about the manuscripts is not discussed with others without the approval of the Editor. The Editor and editorial staff will not disclose any details about a manuscript under consideration to anyone except those from whom professional advice regarding the manuscript’s publication is sought. All reviewer information remains confidential; reviewer names will not be released.

Dealing with Misconduct

When evaluating potential misconduct, the Editor and Associate Editors will consider both the intention of the author(s) and the alleged act or omission in the manuscript. Misconduct may include but is not limited to plagiarism, inappropriate attribution, incorrect co-author listing, and duplication of previously published research. Authors will be given the opportunity to respond to any charge of misconduct.

Reviewer Actions and Responsibilities

Peer Review Process

The process of peer review is one of the most important components in determining whether a manuscript submission should be published or declined by the journal. Peer feedback helps the Editor and Associate Editors in making this decision. It also aims to help author(s) improve the quality of their submissions that may eventually be published in the journal.

Confidentiality

Manuscripts and correspondence between the reviewers and the Editors and/or Associate Editors are confidential. This information should not be discussed without the approval of the Editor and/or Associate Editors. Manuscripts that have been reviewed should not be retained by the reviewers after the review process is complete.

Disclosure and Conflicts of Interest

Editors and reviewers will not use unpublished information disclosed in a submitted manuscript for their own research purposes without the explicit written consent of the author(s). Reviewers must recuse themselves from considering manuscripts in which they have conflicts of interest. Should a conflict of interest arise, an alternative reviewer will be requested to review the manuscript, as coordinated by the Editor and/or Associate Editors.

Objectivity and Timeliness

Reviewers shall not engage in personal attacks directed at the author(s). Feedback should be objective, clearly expressed, and supported by logical arguments or data. Reviews should be objective, fair, and completed by the reviewers in a prompt manner. Reviewers should do their best to complete reviews within the timeframe allotted by the journal. If a review cannot be completed on time, the Editor should be informed so that a replacement reviewer can be assigned, ensuring the peer review process proceeds without undue delay.

Author Actions and Responsibilities

Authorship

Only individuals who made a significant contribution to the conception, design, and crafting of the manuscript should be included as authors. Those who assisted with the manuscript but whose contributions do not warrant authorship should be acknowledged at the end of the manuscript.

Disclosure and Conflicts of Interest

Any potential conflicts of interest, whether financial or otherwise, should be disclosed in the manuscript. The Editor should be informed of any conflicts of interest.

Errors in Published Works

Significant errors or inaccuracies in a published work must be corrected. The author(s) will coordinate and cooperate with the Editor to make the necessary corrections to the published work or, if such corrections are not possible, retract the work.

Originality, Plagiarism, and Acknowledgement of Sources

Manuscripts should be original works. Repurposed data from a previously published study (i.e., data that has already been used in publication) that is rewritten for the journal does not constitute an original work. The work and words of others should be appropriately cited or quoted. Authors should only cite publications that have been influential in the design, development, and discussion of the manuscript. Private conversations and correspondences should not be used without explicit, written permission from the source.