Publication Ethics and Guidelines

The Pinnacle upholds the highest standards of academic integrity, scholarly excellence, and ethical conduct in research and publication. The journal adheres to international best practices as outlined by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), Scopus Content Policy and Selection, and Web of Science (WoS) Journal Evaluation Process and Selection Criteria.

Editorial and Review Process

All submissions undergo a rigorous, multi-stage review process designed to ensure scholarly quality, originality, and ethical integrity. The Editorial Board conducts an initial evaluation to determine compliance with the journal’s aims, scope, formatting requirements, and ethical policies. Submissions that meet these criteria proceed to peer review. Eligible manuscripts are forwarded to at least two qualified external reviewers recognized in their respective disciplines. The double-blind system ensures that both authors and reviewers remain anonymous to preserve objectivity and impartiality. Reviewers provide detailed comments, constructive feedback, and a recommendation. Authors are expected to respond point by point to reviewers’ comments and revise accordingly. The Editorial Board, based on reviewers’ reports and the Editor-in-Chief’s recommendation, makes the final decision regarding publication. The Board reserves the right to decline submissions that fail to meet scholarly or ethical standards, including those violating copyright, originality, or data integrity requirements. Accepted manuscripts undergo copyediting, formatting, and final proofreading prior to publication. Authors will review and approve the final version before online release.

Author Responsibilities

Authors are expected to maintain the highest ethical and professional standards in preparing and submitting their work. Manuscripts must represent original, unpublished work not under review or consideration by another journal. Simultaneous submissions are strictly prohibited. Authors bear full responsibility for the accuracy of quotations, data, and references. All data sources, methodologies, and funding acknowledgments must be transparently reported. All listed authors must have made substantial contributions to the conception, research, and writing of the manuscript. Changes in authorship after submission require formal approval from all authors and the Editorial Board. Authors must disclose any financial, institutional, or personal relationships that may influence the research or its interpretation. Manuscripts may only be withdrawn through a formal written request to the Editorial Board. Once accepted for publication, withdrawal is discouraged except under exceptional circumstances.

Citation and Formatting Styles

Authors are required to adhere to the citation and formatting conventions appropriate to their respective academic disciplines to ensure clarity, consistency, and scholarly rigor.

• Social Sciences and Humanities: Use the APA 7th Edition citation style.
• Philosophy and Theology: Use the Chicago/Turabian Author-Date Style.
• Mathematics and Natural Sciences: Follow the recognized disciplinary citation format (e.g., IEEE, ACS, or equivalent).

Manuscripts must be single-spaced, using Times New Roman, 12-point font, with 1-inch margins on all sides. Each submission must include an abstract of 200-250 words, followed by 3-5 keywords. Only non-English terms should be italicized. Authors are expected to use standard punctuation, grammatically correct sentences, and clear, scholarly language throughout the manuscript. Noncompliance with the prescribed citation or formatting requirements may result in the manuscript being returned to the author for revision prior to peer review.

Plagiarism and Similarity Policy

To uphold academic integrity, The Pinnacle employs Turnitin plagiarism detection software for all submissions. The overall similarity index must not exceed 15%, excluding properly cited quotations, references, and standard terminology. Any form of plagiarism will result in immediate rejection.

Ethical Compliance and Research Integrity

Authors must ensure that all research complies with international ethical standards. Studies involving human participants or animals must include ethics approval and informed consent statements. Authors are encouraged to provide data availability statements and ensure that data supporting their findings are accessible when ethically and legally permissible. The journal follows COPE procedures for handling corrections, retractions, and expressions of concern to maintain transparency in the scholarly record.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) Tools

AI tools may be used only to assist in language editing or technical formatting. Submissions must reflect original human intellectual contribution. Manuscripts containing more than 15% AI-generated content (as determined by editorial assessment) will be subject to further scrutiny. Authors must explicitly disclose the use of AI tools in manuscript preparation (e.g., language editing, data visualization). AI systems cannot be credited as authors.

Copyright, Licensing, and Open Access Policy

Upon acceptance, authors shall grant The Pinnacle the non-exclusive right to publish their work under an appropriate open-access license (e.g., Creative Commons Attribution CC BY) while retaining copyright. Authors are encouraged to deposit the published version in institutional repositories or research networks, provided full citation to The Pinnacle is given. The journal complies with Scopus and DOAJ standards for accessibility, discoverability, and long-term archiving.

Editorial Ethics and Transparency

The Pinnacle maintains editorial independence and transparency throughout its operations. Editorial decisions are based solely on scholarly merit and relevance to the journal’s scope. The journal avoids conflicts of interest in reviewer selection, decision-making, and publication processes. The Editorial Board is committed to the continuous improvement of the journal’s quality, visibility, and alignment with Scopus Content Selection and Advisory Board (CSAB) criteria.