Publication Ethics

Peer-reviewed scientific publications are a crucial foundation for building a coherent and trusted knowledge network. Publication ethics govern the conduct of all parties involved, including authors, editors, editorial boards, reviewers, and publishers. This ethical framework follows the best practice guidelines provided by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).

Ethical Guidelines for Publication

Publishers bear full responsibility for safeguarding integrity at every stage of publication. Editorial decisions must remain free from influence by advertising, reprints, or other commercial revenue sources.

Allegations of Research Misconduct

Research misconduct includes fabrication, falsification, citation manipulation, and plagiarism in the process of research or manuscript preparation. When misconduct is suspected, editors are responsible for ensuring the accuracy and integrity of the scientific record. The procedure for handling allegations includes:

  • Assessing the validity of the claim and determining whether it constitutes research misconduct.
  • Ensuring that individuals raising the allegation have no conflicts of interest.
  • Requesting a detailed response from the corresponding author regarding the allegation.
  • Consulting additional experts, such as statistical reviewers, if further evaluation is required.

If misconduct is confirmed, manuscripts may be rejected prior to publication or retracted after publication. Relevant institutions are expected to conduct thorough investigations. These measures ensure that the scientific record remains accurate and reliable.

Publication Decisions

Editors are responsible for determining which manuscripts are suitable for publication based on their quality and relevance to researchers and readers. Decisions should be guided by editorial board policies and legal requirements concerning defamation, copyright infringement, and plagiarism.

Complaints and Appeals

Journals must maintain clear procedures for handling complaints against editorial staff, the editorial board, or the publisher. Complaints may concern editorial processes, citation manipulation, unfair reviewer or editor practices, or peer-review manipulation, and are addressed in accordance with COPE guidelines.

Fairness and Confidentiality

Editors evaluate manuscripts objectively, without regard to the author’s race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, ethnicity, citizenship, or political beliefs. Manuscript information is confidential and shared only with relevant parties, including the corresponding author, reviewers, and publisher.

Disclosure and Conflicts of Interest

Unpublished materials in a submitted manuscript must not be used for an editor’s research without the author’s express written consent.

Duties of Reviewers

  • Contribution: Reviewers assist editors in decision-making and provide feedback to improve manuscript quality.
  • Promptness: Reviewers who feel unqualified or unable to review promptly must decline the assignment.
  • Confidentiality: Manuscripts must be treated as confidential and not shared without permission.
  • Objectivity: Reviews should be impartial; personal criticism of the author is inappropriate.
  • Acknowledgment of Sources: Reviewers should identify relevant uncited work and alert editors to substantial overlap with other publications.
  • Conflict of Interest: Reviewers must decline to evaluate manuscripts in which they have conflicts of interest.

Duties of Authors

  • Reporting Standards: Authors must present accurate, objective accounts of their research and its significance.
  • Data Access and Retention: Authors should retain raw data for editorial review and, where possible, public access to ensure reproducibility.
  • Originality and Plagiarism: Manuscripts must be original, with all sources properly cited.
  • Multiple or Redundant Publication: Submitting the same work to more than one journal concurrently is unethical.
  • Acknowledgment of Sources: Proper credit must be given to prior work that influenced the research.
  • Authorship and Contributorship: Only those who made substantial contributions to the conception, design, execution, or interpretation of the research should be listed as authors. All co-authors must approve the final manuscript.
  • Disclosure and Conflicts of Interest: Authors must disclose any financial or other conflicts of interest and funding sources.
  • Fundamental Errors in Published Work: Authors must promptly notify editors if significant errors are found in their published work and cooperate with corrections or retractions.
  • Ethical Oversight: Research involving humans, animals, hazardous materials, or confidential data must comply with legal and ethical regulations and provide appropriate approvals.