Informed Consent Policy

The International Journal of Counseling and Applied Psychology (IJCAP) requires authors to ensure that all research involving human participants adheres to the highest ethical standards regarding informed consent, autonomy, and participant rights.

1. General Requirement

  • Authors must confirm that informed consent was obtained from all individual participants involved in the study.
  • Consent must be given voluntarily, without coercion, and after participants are fully informed of the study’s purpose, procedures, risks, and benefits.
  • A clear statement of informed consent must be included in the Methods or Ethics Statement section of the manuscript.

2. Special Populations

  • For minors (under 18 years old) or participants unable to provide legal consent, authors must obtain parental/guardian consent in addition to the participant’s assent (agreement).
  • For vulnerable groups (e.g., clinical clients, students, or individuals in counseling settings), authors must describe additional safeguards taken to protect their welfare and rights.

3. Confidentiality and Anonymity

  • Personal details, images, or identifiable data of participants must not be published without explicit written consent.
  • Authors must ensure anonymity by removing or coding identifying information unless participants have expressly agreed to disclosure.
  • In counseling or case study research, details must be modified or anonymized to prevent identification while preserving scientific integrity.

4. Consent for Publication

  • If manuscripts include personal information (e.g., photographs, case reports, video/audio recordings), authors must obtain written consent for publication from participants.
  • Copies of signed consent forms should be available upon request from the editorial office (they should not be submitted with the manuscript to protect confidentiality).

5. Ethical Compliance

  • The journal expects authors to comply with the ethical principles outlined by the Declaration of Helsinki and the APA Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct.
  • Failure to provide adequate evidence of informed consent may result in rejection of the manuscript or retraction of the published article.