Publication Ethics and Responsibilities The journal aims to publish original, problem-oriented, innovative, and scientifically rigorous research articles. Authors and all individuals involved in the journal's editorial and publishing processes—including the Editor-in-Chief, Editorial Board members, Managing Editor, Copy Editor, and Publisher—are expected to accept and comply with the journal's ethical policies and code of conduct. The Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) Core Practices and Guidelines serve as the primary framework for the ethical conduct of authors, editors, reviewers, and other individuals involved in scholarly publishing. Publication and Editorial Decision-Making The journal shall comply with applicable copyright and reproduction laws and regulations and shall protect the rights of individuals and other rights holders in the publication of scholarly works. Fair and Impartial Decision-Making Editorial decisions concerning manuscripts at any stage of the publication process shall be made without discrimination based on the authors' race, sex, gender, sexual orientation, religious beliefs, ethnicity, citizenship, or political philosophy. Confidentiality Personal information concerning manuscript authors must be kept strictly confidential by all individuals with access to such information, including the Editor-in-Chief, Editorial Board members, Managing and Executive Editors, and other authorized journal personnel. Such information must also remain confidential when accessed by reviewers, consultants, editors, and the publisher, and must be protected at all times. Respect for the Rights and Interests of Others The results, findings, or other intellectual contributions of other researchers may only be used with appropriate citation and, where required, with the explicit written permission of the original author or rights holder. Responsibilities of Reviewers 1. Assisting Editorial Decision-Making Reviewers assist the Editor-in-Chief and Editorial Board in evaluating the quality, scientific content, and scholarly merit of submitted manuscripts. Through constructive communication with the editorial team and, where appropriate, with authors, reviewers should contribute to improving the scientific quality and content of manuscripts. 2. Timely Review Selected reviewers should promptly inform the Editor-in-Chief, following their initial assessment of a manuscript, if they are unable to undertake the review. This may include circumstances such as: The subject matter of the manuscript falls outside the reviewer's area of expertise. The reviewer does not have sufficient time to complete the review. The reviewer lacks adequate access to the necessary resources or facilities. The review can only be completed with substantial delay because of workload or other legitimate circumstances. 3. Confidentiality All information contained in submitted manuscripts must be treated as confidential by reviewers. Reviewers must protect the confidentiality of the manuscript and must not disclose, share, or use unpublished information for personal or professional purposes. 4. Objective, Evidence-Based, and Transparent Evaluation Manuscript evaluations must be based on scientific evidence, sound reasoning, and clear justification. Reviewers should communicate their comments and recommendations clearly and constructively to the journal and the authors. Personal, subjective, discriminatory, racial, religious, or otherwise inappropriate judgments must not influence the review process. 5. Attention to Cited Sources Reviewers should assess the appropriateness and completeness of the references cited in the manuscript. Research findings, concepts, statements, quotations, and other material derived from previous work should be appropriately and accurately cited in the reference list and throughout the manuscript. 6. No Review for Personal Interests Reviewers should decline to review manuscripts when they have a conflict of interest, including personal, professional, institutional, financial, or other relationships that could affect, or reasonably be perceived to affect, the objectivity of their evaluation. Responsibilities of Authors 1. Submission of Scientific and Standardized Manuscripts Authors should prepare manuscripts in a scientifically rigorous, coherent, and well-organized manner and in accordance with the journal's publication standards. The research methodology should be conducted carefully and objectively, and data should be reported accurately and transparently. Authors must respect the intellectual rights of others through complete and accurate citation. Manuscripts should not contain sensitive or unethical content, unsupported personal or subjective statements, discriminatory racial or religious content, fabricated or inaccurate information, or translations/adaptations of others' work without appropriate attribution. 2. Provision of Raw Data When Required Authors may be requested to provide, where necessary, raw data, interview materials, questionnaires, or other research instruments used in the study. Making such information available, where appropriate and consistent with the ALPSP–STM Statement, can contribute to the verification, transparency, and improvement of published research. 3. Originality of the Submitted Manuscript Manuscripts submitted to the journal must represent the original work of the submitting authors. Any use of the research, ideas, words, data, or other intellectual contributions of others must be appropriately acknowledged and cited. 4. Prohibition of Simultaneous or Duplicate Submission and Publication Submitting the same manuscript simultaneously to more than one journal is prohibited. Authors must not submit manuscripts that have already been published or accepted for publication elsewhere. 5. Appropriate Citation and Referencing Authors must provide appropriate references for all books, journal articles, websites, databases, and other scholarly sources used in the manuscript, in accordance with the APA referencing style. 6. Accurate Identification of the Corresponding Author and Co-Authors The corresponding author should be an individual who has made a substantial contribution to the conception, design, preparation, conduct, or implementation of the research. Other individuals who have made substantial contributions should be appropriately identified as co-authors. The corresponding author is responsible for ensuring that: All individuals who meet the authorship criteria are appropriately listed. No individual who does not meet the authorship criteria is included as an author. The names and affiliation information of all authors are accurate and complete. All listed authors have read and approved the manuscript. All authors have agreed to its submission to the journal. 7. Disclosure of Potential Risks to Humans or Other Living Organisms Any potential risks or hazards to humans or other living organisms arising from the research must be clearly disclosed in the manuscript. Authors must ensure that appropriate ethical safeguards and procedures have been implemented to minimize such risks. 8. Disclosure of Financial Support Authors must disclose all sources of financial support received for the research and/or preparation of the manuscript. 9. Reporting Major Errors in Published or Submitted Manuscripts If an author discovers a significant error, inaccuracy, or omission in a submitted or published manuscript at any stage, the author must promptly notify the journal and cooperate with the editorial team to correct the error. Where necessary, the author should request withdrawal or retraction of the manuscript in accordance with the journal's policies and applicable publication-ethics standards.Iranian Journal of Motor Behavior and Sport Psychology