Code of Ethics
Our Code of Ethics articulates the values and expectations that guide behavior and decision-making across our membership, leadership, and collaborators. We are committed to the highest standards of professional conduct, recognizing that our actions affect colleagues, research participants, partner institutions, and the wider public.
Professional conduct. Members and representatives are expected to act with professionalism, diligence, and courtesy in all organizational activities. This includes maintaining appropriate boundaries, honoring commitments, responding to others in a timely manner, and contributing constructively to meetings, collaborations, and public discourse.
Honesty and integrity. We require honesty and integrity in all aspects of our work, including research, teaching, administration, and public engagement. Misrepresentation of credentials, results, roles, or contributions is not tolerated. Decisions should be based on accurate information, fair assessment of evidence, and open acknowledgment of uncertainty.
Respect for all stakeholders. We foster an inclusive environment that values the dignity, rights, and perspectives of all individuals, irrespective of role, status, or background. Discrimination, harassment, bullying, or retaliation are prohibited. We expect civil, respectful communication, particularly when disagreements arise, and special care when engaging with vulnerable populations.
Accountability and stewardship. Members and leaders share responsibility for using organizational resources, facilities, data, and reputation responsibly. Individuals must acknowledge and correct errors, cooperate with good-faith inquiries or reviews, and accept the consequences of their actions where policies have been breached.
Commitment to the public good. Our work is grounded in a commitment to advancing knowledge and contributing positively to society. We seek to identify and mitigate potential harms, communicate findings responsibly, and ensure that our activities do not undermine public trust in research or in our institution.
Leadership responsibilities. Individuals in leadership or supervisory roles have a heightened duty to model ethical behavior, promote a culture of integrity, provide clear guidance on expectations, and respond promptly and fairly to concerns raised by others.
Research Integrity
We are committed to rigorous, reproducible, and transparent research practices. All individuals involved in research under our auspices must comply with applicable laws, institutional requirements, ethical review processes, and the highest professional standards in their field.
Standards of conduct. Research must be designed, conducted, analyzed, and reported in a manner that is methodologically sound and ethically responsible. This includes appropriate study design, adequate documentation of methods, and honest representation of limitations and uncertainties.
Data management and stewardship. Researchers are responsible for the secure, accurate, and organized collection, storage, and retention of research data and materials. Data management plans should address access controls, back-up procedures, anonymization or de-identification where appropriate, and retention periods consistent with legal and disciplinary norms.
Falsification, fabrication, and plagiarism (FFP). Falsifying or fabricating data, results, or documentation, and plagiarizing the work or ideas of others, are serious violations of our standards and may result in disciplinary action. This includes inappropriate image manipulation, selective reporting to mislead, and failure to properly credit sources, collaborators, or prior work.
Reproducibility and transparency. Where feasible and consistent with ethical and legal constraints, researchers are encouraged to share data, code, and materials, and to preregister hypotheses and analysis plans. Transparency in reporting methods, deviations from protocols, and negative or inconclusive findings is integral to robust research.
Peer review responsibilities. Individuals involved in peer review must treat all materials as confidential, provide timely and constructive feedback, and recuse themselves when conflicts of interest exist. Reviews should focus on the quality, rigor, and clarity of the work and must not be used to delay competitors or appropriate ideas.
Mentorship and supervision. Senior researchers, supervisors, and mentors are responsible for fostering an environment that promotes integrity, skill development, and wellbeing among students and early-career researchers. This includes providing appropriate training in research methods, ethics, and responsible authorship, as well as ensuring that workloads and expectations are reasonable.
Reporting and addressing misconduct. Concerns about potential research misconduct or questionable practices should be raised in good faith through appropriate channels. We will address such concerns promptly, fairly, and with respect for confidentiality and due process. Retaliation against individuals who report concerns in good faith is prohibited.
Publication Ethics
Our publication practices are intended to ensure that scholarly outputs are accurate, trustworthy, and appropriately credited. Authors, editors, and reviewers all share responsibility for upholding these standards.
Authorship criteria. Authorship should accurately reflect substantive intellectual contributions to the conception, design, execution, or interpretation of the research. All listed authors must approve the final version and agree to be accountable for their contributions. Honorary or guest authorship is not permitted, and significant contributors who do not meet authorship criteria should be appropriately acknowledged.
Proper attribution and citation. Authors must give appropriate credit to the work of others through accurate citation and referencing practices. Use of text, figures, data, or ideas from other sources requires proper acknowledgment and, where necessary, permission.
Avoiding duplicate publication and redundant reporting. Authors should not submit the same or substantially similar work to multiple outlets simultaneously, nor publish overlapping reports that may mislead readers about the novelty or volume of evidence. When related work exists, it must be transparently referenced and distinguished from the current submission.
Corrections, expressions of concern, and retractions. When errors are identified that affect the interpretation or reliability of published work, authors are expected to cooperate with editors to issue timely corrections or, where warranted, retractions or expressions of concern. The goal is to maintain the integrity of the scholarly record rather than to assign blame.
Editorial independence and integrity. Editors and editorial boards must make decisions based on the scholarly merit, rigor, and relevance of submissions, independent of commercial, personal, or institutional interests. Editors should disclose and manage their own conflicts of interest and recuse themselves when necessary.
Responsibilities of reviewers. Reviewers are expected to provide fair, objective, and evidence-based assessments. They should identify potential ethical issues, including possible plagiarism, data irregularities, or undisclosed conflicts of interest, and communicate these concerns to the editor confidentially.
Responsibilities of authors. Authors are responsible for ensuring that their submissions are original, accurate, and compliant with ethical and legal requirements, including approvals for research involving humans, animals, or sensitive data. All funding sources and potential conflicts of interest must be fully disclosed.
Conflict of Interest
Conflicts of interest can arise when personal, financial, or professional considerations have the potential to compromise, or appear to compromise, judgment, objectivity, or loyalty to the organization. The existence of a conflict does not, in itself, imply wrongdoing, but it must be disclosed and appropriately managed.
Definition and types of conflicts. Conflicts of interest may include, but are not limited to, financial interests (such as equity holdings, consulting fees, or intellectual property rights), personal relationships (such as family members or close associates), and professional commitments (such as leadership roles in external organizations) that could influence decision-making or the perception of impartiality.
Disclosure requirements. Individuals involved in research, governance, procurement, hiring, evaluation, or other decision-making activities must disclose relevant actual, potential, or perceived conflicts of interest in a timely and complete manner. Disclosures should be updated when circumstances change.
Management and mitigation. Disclosed conflicts will be reviewed and, where necessary, managed through measures such as recusal from decisions, modification of roles, independent oversight, or, in some cases, divestment or termination of conflicting activities. The specific management plan will be proportionate to the nature and magnitude of the conflict.
Transparency. When appropriate, and subject to privacy and legal considerations, relevant conflicts and their management plans may be communicated to affected stakeholders, including research participants, collaborators, or readers of publications.
Consequences of non-disclosure. Failure to disclose relevant conflicts of interest, or intentional misrepresentation of such conflicts, may lead to corrective actions, including reassignment of responsibilities, withdrawal of work products, or disciplinary measures in accordance with organizational procedures.
Privacy Policy
We are committed to protecting the privacy and security of individuals who interact with our website, services, and programs. This Privacy Policy outlines what information we collect, how we use and share it, and the choices and rights available to you. This statement is intended to be read alongside, and does not replace, any applicable legal or institutional requirements.
Information we collect. We may collect information that you provide directly, such as when you subscribe to communications, create an account, register for events, submit forms, or contact us. We may also collect certain technical information automatically when you use our website, such as IP address, browser type, device identifiers, and usage data.
How we use information. We use collected information to provide and improve our services, respond to inquiries, manage registrations and memberships, communicate about events and research, maintain website security, and meet our legal and compliance obligations. We do not sell your personal information.
Data storage and security. Personal information is stored using reasonable administrative, technical, and physical safeguards designed to protect against unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration, or destruction. However, no method of transmission or storage is completely secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.
Data sharing. We may share information with trusted service providers who assist us in operating the website, delivering communications, processing registrations, or performing analytics, subject to appropriate confidentiality and security obligations. We may also disclose information when required by law, to protect our rights or the safety of others, or in connection with organizational restructuring.
Cookies and similar technologies. Our website may use cookies and similar technologies to enhance user experience, remember preferences, and analyze site traffic. You can manage cookie settings through your browser or device, though some features of the site may not function properly if certain cookies are disabled.
User rights and choices. Subject to applicable law, you may have rights regarding your personal information, such as the right to access, correct, delete, or restrict certain processing, and to withdraw consent where processing is based on consent. To exercise these rights, please contact us using the information provided below.
Third-party services and links. Our website may contain links to or integrations with third-party websites, tools, or platforms. We are not responsible for the privacy practices or content of those third parties, and we encourage you to review their privacy policies before providing personal information.
Contacting us about privacy. If you have questions, concerns, or requests relating to this Privacy Policy or our handling of personal information, please contact us through the designated privacy or data protection contact for the organization.
Terms of Use
These Terms of Use govern your access to and use of this website and any related content, features, or services that we provide. By using this site, you agree to comply with these terms, as well as any additional policies referenced herein, including our Privacy Policy.
Acceptable use. You agree to use the site only for lawful purposes and in a manner that does not infringe the rights of, or restrict or inhibit the use and enjoyment of the site by, any other person. Prohibited activities include transmitting harmful or disruptive code, attempting unauthorized access to systems, or using the site to harass, defame, or otherwise harm others.
Intellectual property and copyright. Unless otherwise indicated, the content on this site, including text, images, graphics, and other materials, is protected by copyright and other intellectual property laws and is owned by us or our licensors. You may access and use content for personal, educational, or research purposes, subject to any applicable license terms, but you may not reproduce, distribute, or create derivative works without prior permission, except as permitted by law.
User-generated content. Where the site enables you to submit or post content (such as comments, contributions, or materials), you are responsible for ensuring that such content is lawful, accurate, and does not infringe the rights of others. By submitting content, you grant us a non-exclusive, worldwide license to use, reproduce, and display that content in connection with the operation and promotion of our activities, subject to any specific terms that may apply.
Disclaimers and limitation of liability. The site and its content are provided for general informational purposes only and are not intended as professional, legal, medical, or other advice. We make reasonable efforts to ensure accuracy but do not guarantee that content is complete, current, or free from errors. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we disclaim all warranties and shall not be liable for any loss or damage arising from your use of, or inability to use, the site.
Changes to the site and terms. We may modify, suspend, or discontinue any aspect of the site at any time without prior notice. We may also update these Terms of Use periodically. Continued use of the site after changes are posted constitutes acceptance of the updated terms.
Governing law and jurisdiction. These Terms of Use, and any disputes arising out of or relating to them or your use of the site, will be governed by the laws of the relevant jurisdiction in which our organization is established, without regard to conflict of law principles. Where legally permissible, you agree to submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of that jurisdiction.
South Asian Research Society for Theology & Missiology 