Conflict of Interest

Educação Matemática Debate, a peer-reviewed scientific journal, is guided by the ethical principles and best editorial practices established by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), as explained in its Ethics and Best Practices in Publication policy. In this context, the proper management of conflicts of interest is a fundamental principle for ensuring scientific integrity, editorial transparency, and the credibility of academic production in the field of Mathematics Education.

All agents involved in the editorial process — editors, members of the Scientific Council, ad hoc reviewers, and authors — must act in accordance with ethical standards that ensure autonomous, impartial editorial decisions based exclusively on academic and scientific criteria.

A conflict of interest is considered to be any situation in which private, personal, institutional, academic, financial, political, or religious interests may interfere, actually or potentially, with scientific judgment, editorial evaluation, or decision-making related to a manuscript, such that a reasonable observer may question the impartiality of the process.

The existence of a conflict of interest does not, in itself, constitute an ethical violation. However, its non-declaration or the provision of incomplete or inaccurate information compromises the transparency of the editorial process and the reliability of the academic record, contradicting the ethical principles adopted by Educação Matemática Debate.

Financial ties — direct or indirect receipt of financial resources, scholarships, grants, fees, consultancies, patents, equity participation, shares, material benefits, or provision of services that may influence the conduct of the research, the evaluation of the manuscript, or the editorial decision.

Academic commitments — strong adherence to theoretical, methodological, epistemological, or conceptual perspectives that may compromise objectivity in the production, evaluation, or interpretation of research in the field of Mathematics Education.

Personal relationships — family, affective, professional, friendship, rivalry, or recent academic collaboration ties between Authors, ad hoc Reviewers, members of the Scientific Council, or Editorial Board.

Political or religious beliefs — strongly held political, ideological, or religious positions that may interfere with the analysis, evaluation, or dissemination of the results presented.

Institutional affiliations — institutional ties that may generate direct or indirect benefits, such as career advancement, funding, academic prestige, or institutional advantages resulting from publication.

The declaration of conflict of interest is a mandatory condition for the processing of manuscripts in the Educação Matemática Debate. All authors must declare, ethically, transparently, and responsibly, the existence or non-existence of conflicts of interest related to the submitted and, consequently, published manuscript.

The declaration must be made at the time of submission, in the field indicated in the template, in accordance with the Author Guidelines. When pertinent, the Editorial Board may request additional clarifications.

The following situations that occurred in the last five years involving the following must also be declared:

• direct or indirect financial support for the research;
• relevant institutional relationships;
• participation of third parties in the collection, analysis, interpretation, or writing of data;
• employment relationships or provision of services to institutions that may benefit from the research results.

Conflicts of interest are inherent to scientific and editorial activity and cannot be entirely eliminated. In accordance with its Ethics and Best Practices policy, Educação Matemática Debate is committed to managing these situations ethically, transparently, and responsibly, in order to preserve the impartiality of the editorial process and the credibility of the journal.

The identification of conflicts of interest may occur:

• at the time of submission;
• during the double-blind peer review process;
• after the publication of the article.

At any of these stages, the manuscript may have its processing suspended until the conflict is analyzed and duly addressed, according to the flowcharts and guidelines of COPE adopted by the editorial board.

Deliberate omission, incomplete declaration, or presentation of inaccurate information regarding conflicts of interest may lead to editorial actions proportionate to the severity of the case, in accordance with the Ethics and Best Practices in Publication policy, including:

• suspension of the editorial process;
• rejection of the manuscript;
• publication of an erratum, expression of concern, or retraction;
• other appropriate editorial measures to preserve the integrity of the academic record.

Authors — Must declare, fully and responsibly, any conflicts of interest related to the research, the manuscript, or its publication, maintaining transparent communication with the Editorial Board.

Ad hoc reviewers and members of the Scientific Council — Must promptly inform the Editorial Board of any situation that may compromise their impartiality, abstaining from evaluation whenever a conflict of interest is identified.

Editorial Team — Members must ensure the autonomy of editorial decisions and not participate in evaluation or decision-making processes involving manuscripts in which they have direct or indirect conflicts of interest, including when involving close family members. In these situations, editorial management will be assigned to another Editor or qualified member of the Scientific Council.

Submission of manuscripts by members of the Editorial Board is permitted, provided that there is no involvement of these members in the editorial, evaluation, or decision-making process related to the work itself, as stipulated in the journal's Ethics and Best Practices policy.

Researchers, readers, reviewers, institutions, or any members of the academic community and civil society who identify a possible conflict of interest related to a submitted manuscript or published article may formally communicate this to the editorial board of Educação Matemática Debate via email at revista.emd@unimontes.br. Confidentiality will be ensured whenever requested, in accordance with the ethical principles governing the journal.