Publication ethics
Given the role journals serve as a medium for communication of research findings as well as new discoveries between researchers and the wider society, it is imperative that academic communication be accurate, high-quality, transparent, and aligned with international publishing standards. Various organizations, such as the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and reputable publishers like Elsevier, have established guidelines and ethical practices for disseminating research findings in journals. Each journal title must adhere to the specified criteria and maintain a clear publication ethics policy, prominently displayed on the journal's website for the benefit of all stakeholders.
Furthermore, both COPE and numerous publishers have delineated roles and responsibilities for three key groups within the publication cycle: authors, editors, and reviewers. This is to ensure that all members of these three groups study and adhere rigorously to the guidelines for the benefit of all stakeholders, including readers, the academic community, and society.
Duties of Authors:
1. Authors must affirm that the submitted work is original and has not been previously published elsewhere.
2. Authors must accurately report facts resulting from research, avoid data manipulation, and abstain from presenting false information.
3. Authors must appropriately cite the works of others if utilized in their own research, including creating a comprehensive list of references.
4. Authors must adhere to the prescribed format and guidelines as outlined in the 'Instructions for Authors' section.
5. All named authors must have actively contributed to the research and its execution.
6. Authors must disclose funding sources that supported the research.
7. Authors must declare any potential conflicts of interest, if applicable.
Duties of Editors:
1. Editors are responsible for assessing the quality of submitted articles for publication in the journal.
2. Editors must not disclose information about authors and reviewers unrelated to the manuscript evaluation process.
3. Editors must make decisions regarding article acceptance based on importance, novelty, clarity, and alignment with the journal's policies.
4. Editors must avoid publishing articles that have been previously published elsewhere.
5. Editors should not reject articles solely based on suspicion or uncertainty; evidence must be sought before such action is taken.
6. Editors must avoid conflicts of interest with authors, reviewers, and the editorial team.
7. Editors must employ reliable plagiarism detection software to check for copied content in submitted manuscripts.
Duties of Reviewers:
1. Reviewers must maintain confidentiality and not disclose any part of the manuscript to individuals not involved in the review process.
2. If reviewers suspect any conflict of interest or bias that could influence their assessment, they must inform the editor and decline the review.
3. Reviewers must evaluate manuscripts in their area of expertise, considering the significance of the content to the field, the quality of analysis, and the strength of the work's conclusions.
4. Reviewers should identify relevant research that has not been cited by the authors and ensure the manuscript's accuracy.
5. Reviewers should notify the editor of any overlapping or redundant content found in the manuscript.
