Ethical Clearance

Ethical Clearance
Ethical approval and informed consent for research submitted to JPK (Jurnal Pendidikan Khusus).
1Why It Matters

Many studies in JPK involve children, learners with disabilities, families, and teachers. These participants may be vulnerable, so researchers must protect their rights, safety, dignity, and privacy. Authors must show that the research was carried out ethically.

2When Ethical Clearance Is Required
Required
Research with human participants: interviews, observations, surveys, tests, interventions, experiments, and classroom action research. Extra care is needed for children and learners with disabilities.
Usually not required
Literature reviews and studies that use only public documents or published data that cannot identify any person. Authors should state this in the ethical statement.
Secondary data
If existing data about people are used, state the source, whether permission was given, and how identity is protected.
3What Authors Must Report
  • The ethics committee or institution that gave approval, and the approval number and date.
  • How informed consent was obtained from participants, or from parents or guardians for children and for participants who cannot consent for themselves. Where possible, also explain how the participant's own agreement (assent) was sought.
  • How privacy was protected: anonymity, confidentiality, and safe storage of data.
  • How potential harm or stress to participants was avoided or reduced.
  • If ethical approval was not required, a short explanation of why, and the name of the body or rule that confirms this.
4Informed Consent
  • Participants receive clear information in an understandable form about the purpose, procedures, risks, benefits, and their right to withdraw at any time without penalty.
  • For children and persons with disabilities, consent is obtained from parents or legal guardians, and the information is adapted so that participants can understand it as far as possible.
  • Photos, videos, and identifiable personal details are used only with specific written permission.
  • Schools or institutions that host the research should give permission as well.
5How to Write the Ethical Statement

Place the ethical statement in the Declarations section, between the Conclusion and the References.

Example (approval obtained): “This study was approved by [name of ethics committee] (approval number [number], [date]). Informed consent was obtained from all participants and from the parents or guardians of participating children.”
Example (not required): “Ethical approval was not required because this study is a literature review that did not involve human participants.”
6Double-Blind Review

In the anonymous manuscript, replace the name of the ethics committee, the approval number, and the name of the school or institution with “[anonymized for review]”. Give the full details on the title page. Editors may ask for a copy of the approval or consent documents.

7If Ethical Requirements Are Not Met

The editor may ask the authors for clarification or evidence, return the manuscript, or reject it. For published articles, see Correction, Retraction & Withdrawal and Research Misconduct.