Journal of Decision Support Systems and Multi-Criteria Decision Making (JODESMA) requires authors to comply with applicable ethical standards for research involving human participants, animals, personal information, sensitive datasets, or other research activities requiring formal ethical oversight.

Where ethical approval is required, authors should obtain approval before conducting the relevant research activities and before submitting the manuscript to the journal.

The manuscript should clearly state:

• Whether ethical approval was required.
• The name of the responsible ethics committee or institutional review body.
• The institution or organization providing the approval.
• The approval or reference number, where applicable.
• Any relevant ethical procedures followed during the research.

Where the study did not require formal ethical approval, authors should provide an appropriate statement explaining the basis for the exemption or non-requirement when relevant.

For research involving human participants, authors should comply with applicable requirements concerning informed consent, privacy, confidentiality, and responsible handling of personal information.

Where identifiable participant information, photographs, recordings, or other personal materials are included, appropriate consent or authorization should be obtained unless a valid legal or ethical basis for an exception exists.

For research involving animals, authors should comply with applicable institutional, national, and international requirements concerning animal welfare and ethical treatment.

The journal may request documentary evidence of ethical approval or other relevant authorization when necessary to assess compliance.

Editors may reject or suspend consideration of a manuscript when there is credible evidence that required ethical approval was not obtained or that research participants, animals, personal data, or other protected research materials were handled improperly.

Ethical approval does not remove the authors' responsibility for conducting research responsibly. Authors remain responsible for compliance with applicable laws, institutional policies, disciplinary standards, and ethical requirements.

Compliance with ethical oversight requirements forms part of the broader commitment of Journal of Decision Support Systems and Multi-Criteria Decision Making (JODESMA) to responsible research, research integrity, participant protection, and ethical scholarly publishing.