Publication Ethics and Malpractice Statement

The journal Childhood adheres to the standards of publication ethics as outlined in the Core Practices of the Committee of Publication Ethics (COPE). This includes policies regarding authorship, misconduct allegations, complaints, conflicts of interest, and the peer-review process.

Authorship and Contributorship

Authorship should be limited to those who have made a significant contribution to the conception, design, execution, or interpretation of the reported study. The corresponding author is responsible for ensuring all appropriate co-authors are included and have approved the final version of the paper for publication.

Plagiarism

The journal only accepts original manuscripts. All submissions are subject to a similarity check procedure. The editorial board is responsible for following up on any indications of plagiarism by the author(s).

Peer-Review Policy

Duties of Editors, Reviewers, and Authors

Duties of Editors

✅ Decision: Responsible for deciding which articles to publish based on merit.
✅ Fair Play: Manuscripts evaluated without regard to race, gender, or belief.
✅ Confidentiality: Non-disclosure of manuscript information to outside parties.

Duties of Reviewers

✅ Promptness: Notify the editor if unable to provide a timely review.
✅ Objectivity: Reviews conducted objectively without personal criticism.
✅ Conflict of Interest: Must not review manuscripts where conflicts exist.

Duties of Authors

✅ Originality: Ensure works are original and properly cited.
✅ Data Access: Prepared to provide raw data for editorial review if asked.
✅ Errors: Promptly notify the editor if significant errors are discovered after publication.