Policy Document

About J-STAR

J-STAR: Journal of Social & Technological Advanced Research is an interdisciplinary journal exploring the integration of social sciences and technological research. It addresses contemporary challenges by encouraging studies that combine innovation, policy, and human development. The journal publishes original research, case studies, and reviews that contribute to global knowledge and problem-solving. By fostering collaboration between scholars, technologists, and policymakers, J-STAR creates a bridge between research and practice. It aims to inspire solutions that advance both society and technology for a better future.


Aim & Scope

Aim / Objective

J-STAR is committed to:

  • Advancing research at the intersection of social sciences and technology

  • Publishing high-quality interdisciplinary and applied studies

  • Promoting collaboration between social scientists, technologists, and policymakers

  • Encouraging inclusive perspectives on global social and technological issues

  • Supporting innovation and evidence-based research for societal advancement

Scope

The scope of J-STAR integrates research across social and technological disciplines. It welcomes original research, reviews, and applied studies in (but not limited to):

  • Sociology and Anthropology

  • Political Science and Governance

  • Communication and Media Studies

  • Education and E-Learning Technologies

  • Information and Communication Technology (ICT)

  • Technology Policy and Innovation

  • Digital Transformation and Society

  • Business and Management Research

  • Psychology and Human Behavior in Technology

  • Sustainable Development and Technology

  • Public Administration and Policy Research

J-STAR provides a platform for exploring the synergy between society and technology, encouraging integrative approaches that address modern challenges.


Open Access Policy

The J-STAR: Journal of Social & Technological Advanced Research is a fully open-access journal, meaning all content is freely available to users and their institutions. Users are allowed to read, download, copy, distribute, print, search, or link to the full texts of the articles, or use them for any other lawful purpose, without asking prior permission from the publisher or the author.  All published articles are immediately and permanently available online without subscription or access barriers.

All content is distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0). Authors retain copyright and grant the journal the right of first publication.

Under CC BY 4.0, users may read, download, copy, distribute, print, share, adapt, and reuse the content for any lawful purpose, provided proper attribution is given to the original authors.

J-STAR does not impose any embargo period on published content.


Plagiarism Policy

Introduction

J-STAR: Journal of Social & Technological Advanced Research upholds the highest standards of academic integrity and professional ethics. Plagiarism, in any form, undermines the credibility of scientific research and compromises the trustworthiness of scholarly communication. To ensure the originality and reliability of all published content, J-STAR enforces a strict zero-tolerance plagiarism policy.

Definition of Plagiarism

Plagiarism is defined as the presentation of another person’s ideas, text, images, data, or intellectual output without proper acknowledgment. This includes, but is not limited to:

  • Direct Copying: Reproducing content from published or unpublished sources without quotation marks and proper citation.

  • Paraphrasing: Rewriting another author’s work or findings without due credit.

  • Unacknowledged Data Use: Using figures, graphs, tables, or datasets from external sources without appropriate referencing.

  • Self-Plagiarism: Republishing one’s own previously submitted or published work without citation, disclosure, or permission from the prior publisher.

Plagiarism Threshold

  • J-STAR Standard: Manuscripts submitted to ApexMed must not exceed a 19% similarity index.

  • HEC Benchmark (Pakistan): While the Higher Education Commission (HEC) allows up to 19% similarityJ-STAR maintains a stricter limit to encourage excellence and ensure the authenticity of medical research.

Detection and Prevention

  • Plagiarism Detection Tools: All manuscripts are rigorously screened using leading plagiarism detection software (e.g., Turnitin).

  • Author Responsibility: It is the author’s responsibility to ensure that all submitted work is originalproperly cited, and free from intellectual property violations.

Handling of Plagiarism

Initial Review

If potential plagiarism is detected, the editorial board conducts a thorough preliminary review to assess the extent and context of similarity.

Verification

The flagged content is cross-checked with original sources. Authors may be asked to explain or provide supporting documentation during this process.

Actions Taken

Type of Plagiarism Editorial Action
Minor (Unintentional citation errors or oversight) Manuscript will be returned for revision and proper citation.
Major (Intentional or extensive copying without credit) Manuscript will be rejected immediately. If already published, the article will be retracted and removed from archives.
Repeated or Severe Offenses Authors will be blacklisted from future submissions. In serious cases, the author’s institution or funding agency may be notified.

Author’s Declaration

All authors must submit a Statement of Originality, affirming that:

  • The manuscript is original.

  • All external sources have been properly cited.

  • The manuscript is not under review elsewhere and has not been published previously.

Appeals Process

Authors who believe a plagiarism decision was made in error may file a formal appeal. Appeals are reviewed by the J-STAR's Editorial Board, and a final decision will be issued following a comprehensive and impartial evaluation.

Transparency and Retraction Policy

In cases of retraction due to plagiarism, J-STAR will publish a formal retraction notice outlining the reason to maintain transparency and protect the integrity of the journal and the academic community.

Use of AI-Generated Content

J-STAR strictly prohibits the use of AI-generated content (e.g., ChatGPT, Bard, Gemini, etc.) in submitted manuscripts. Authors must ensure that all academic submissions are a result of original human scholarship and independent scientific thinking.

  • AI-assisted content is not acceptable in any part of the manuscript (e.g., abstract, methodology, discussion).

  • All manuscripts must reflect 0% AI-generated content.

  • Violations will be handled with the same severity as plagiarism, and offending manuscripts will be rejected or retracted.


Archiving Policy

J-STAR is committed to the long-term preservation and accessibility of published scholarly content.

Digital Preservation

The journal utilizes the PKP Preservation Network (PKP PN) and other preservation mechanisms available through the Open Journal Systems (OJS) platform to ensure permanent accessibility of published articles.

Website Backup

Regular backups of journal data, articles, metadata, and system files are maintained to safeguard against accidental loss.

Persistent Access

Published content remains freely available and permanently accessible through the journal website.

Content Preservation

If the journal ceases publication, all published content will remain accessible through preservation services and institutional archives whenever possible.


Peer Review Policy

Overview

J-STAR: Journal of Social & Technological Advanced Research is committed to maintaining the highest standards of academic excellence and integrity through a rigorous, transparent, and ethical peer review process. All submitted manuscripts undergo thorough evaluation to ensure scientific validityclinical relevancemethodological soundness, and ethical compliance. The peer review process is central to ensuring the credibility and quality of the research we publish.

Review Model: Double-Blind Peer Review

To uphold fairness and objectivity, J-STAR employs a double-blind peer review system, meaning:

  • Author anonymity: Reviewers do not know the identity of the authors.

  • Reviewer anonymity: Authors are not informed of the reviewers' identities.

This system ensures that manuscripts are judged solely on their scientific merit, independent of personal or institutional affiliations.

Peer Review Workflow

1. Submission and Preliminary Editorial Screening

  • Authors must submit manuscripts via the official J-STAR online portal.

  • The editorial office conducts an initial screening to verify:

    • Scope and relevance to health sciences

    • Formatting and compliance with submission guidelines

    • Ethical approval (for studies involving humans or animals)

    • Plagiarism check (using Turnitin or equivalent software)

Submissions not meeting these standards may be rejected without external review.

2. Reviewer Selection and Assignment

  • Suitable manuscripts are forwarded to at least two independent reviewers with expertise in the relevant field.

  • Reviewers are selected based on:

    • Subject matter expertise

    • Research experience and publication history

    • Absence of any conflict of interest with the authors or study

3. Review Process

  • Reviewers assess manuscripts based on:

    • Scientific rigor and originality

    • Clinical and public health significance

    • Research design and statistical analysis

    • Ethical compliance and transparency

    • Clarity of presentation

  • Reviewers submit recommendations:

    • Accept without revision

    • Accept with minor revisions

    • Major revisions required (resubmission)

    • Reject

4. Editorial Decision and Communication

  • The editor evaluates the reviewers' reports and issues a final decision.

  • If revisions are needed, authors receive detailed feedback and a timeline for resubmission.

  • Revised manuscripts may undergo further review.

  • Authors are informed of the decision with comments to enhance transparency and learning.

Timeframe

The typical peer review cycle takes 4–6 weeks, though this may vary based on:

  • Reviewer availability

  • Manuscript complexity

  • Number of revisions required

Authors are encouraged to respond to revision requests promptly to expedite publication.

Reviewer Ethics and Responsibilities

Selection Criteria

Reviewers are selected for their scientific expertiseintegrity, and impartiality, and represent a diverse international community of health professionals and researchers.

Confidentiality

All manuscripts are confidential documents. Reviewers must not:

  • Share manuscript content

  • Use data or ideas from the manuscript before publication

  • Discuss content with third parties without editor approval

Ethical Conduct

Reviewers must:

  • Provide objective and constructive feedback

  • Declare any conflicts of interest (personal, professional, or financial)

  • Refrain from discriminatory or biased comments

Appeals Process

If an author believes a rejection was unjustified, they may submit a formal appeal with justification. Appeals are:

  • Reviewed by the editorial board

  • May involve a third-party expert for independent review

  • Final decisions rest with the Editor-in-Chief

Ethical Standards and Compliance

J-STAR aligns with the COPE (Committee on Publication Ethics) guidelines and adheres to ethical benchmarks set by the Higher Education Commission (HEC) of Pakistan. All editorial and review practices are grounded in transparency, fairness, and academic responsibility.

Reviewer Recognition

In recognition of the valuable contributions of reviewers:

  • J-STAR publishes an annual list of peer reviewers (with consent).

  • Certificates of appreciation are issued upon request.

Conclusion

At J-STAR, peer review is the cornerstone of quality control. Our double-blind, ethically governed, and scientifically rigorous system ensures that only original, impactful, and clinically relevant research is published. This commitment strengthens scientific progress and builds trust within the global medical community.


Copyright & Licensing Policy

Copyright Policy

The copyright policy of J-STAR is based on a non-exclusive publishing agreement, according to which the journal retains the right of first publication, but the author(s) are free to publish their work subsequently. The copyright of all work rests with the author(s).

Licensing Policy

All articles published by J-STAR are made available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0  (CC BY 4.0).

Under CC BY 4.0, users may read, download, copy, distribute, print, share, adapt, and reuse the content for any lawful purpose, provided proper attribution is given to the original authors.


Repository Policy

J-STAR  permits authors to deposit all versions of their work in institutional or other repositories like Research Gate, ORCID, Academia, ArXiv, etc.  without embargo, including:

  • Preprint (submitted version)

  • Author’s Accepted Manuscript (AAM)

  • Published Version (Version of Record)

Proper citation to the original published article is required.