Publication Ethics
Ethics for Authors
- Originality of Articles
Each submitted article must be an original scientific work created by the author. It has not been previously published in any media, either in print or digital form, and is not currently under review or submission to another journal. By submitting this article, the author declares that his work constitutes a new scientific contribution not yet available elsewhere.
- Citation and Use of the Work of Others
Suppose the article contains quotations, references, or uses of ideas, data, or images from the scientific work of others. In that case, the author must cite the source completely and accurately in accordance with applicable scientific citation rules. This article uses APA 7th Edition scientific citation rules. Failure to provide proper attribution may be considered a violation of academic ethics.
- Prohibition of Plagiarism
Authors are strictly prohibited from committing any form of plagiarism, including direct plagiarism (copying without attribution), paraphrasing without citing the source, or self-plagiarism (reusing one's own published work without providing adequate acknowledgement or references). All forms of plagiarism constitute a serious violation of publication ethics and may result in rejection of the manuscript or retraction of the published article.
- Author Contributions
Every individual listed as an author in an article must have made a significant intellectual contribution to the research or writing process. This includes, but is not limited to, the development of the research idea, data collection and analysis, and the preparation or substantial revision of the manuscript. Authorship should not be included for purely honorific or administrative reasons. Conversely, anyone who has not made a significant contribution should not be listed as an author.
- Data Accountability and Accuracy
Authors are fully responsible for the accuracy of the data and information presented in the article. Reported data must be verifiable and presented honestly without manipulation or distortion. If requested by the editorial team or reviewers, authors must be willing to provide raw data, tables, or other supporting documents for further scientific evaluation.
Ethics for Editors
Scientific journal editors are required to carry out their duties professionally and ethically. Editorial responsibilities include the following:
- Publication Decision-Making
The editor is fully responsible for making the final decision regarding the acceptance or rejection of a manuscript for publication in the journal. This decision must be based on an objective and thorough scientific evaluation, particularly the peer-review process conducted by competent reviewers in their respective fields. Editors must consider the originality of the research, the relevance of the topic to the journal's focus, the methodology used, and the scientific contribution offered. Furthermore, editors must ensure that the articles selected for publication meet the ethical standards of scientific publications.
- Fairness and Objectivity in Evaluation
Editors are required to evaluate each manuscript fairly, objectively, and without discrimination. Evaluation should not be influenced by non-scientific factors such as gender, race, ethnicity, religion, citizenship, sexual orientation, social status, institutional affiliation, or political views of the authors. Editorial decisions must be based solely on the scientific substance of the submitted manuscript.
- Maintaining confidentiality
During and after the review process, editors must maintain the confidentiality of all information related to submitted manuscripts. Editors must not disclose the contents of the manuscript, the identities of the authors, or the reviewers to unauthorized third parties, except to those directly involved in the editorial process, such as reviewers or members of the editorial team. Editors must also not discuss or divulge information about the manuscript with anyone without the author's explicit consent.
- Avoiding Conflicts of Interest
Editors must maintain a neutral attitude and avoid any form of conflict of interest that might influence editorial decisions. Suppose an editor has a personal, professional, or financial relationship with an author or institution that might bias the manuscript. In that case, the editor must assign the manuscript to an editor without such a conflict of interest. Furthermore, editors must not use information contained in a manuscript for personal gain, including for the advancement of their own research, personal publications, or financial gain.
Ethics for Reviewers
Reviewers play a crucial role in maintaining the quality and integrity of scientific publications. In carrying out their duties, reviewers must uphold the principles of academic ethics and professionalism. Reviewers are obligated to provide objective reviews, based on sound scientific judgment and free from personal bias. The assessment should focus on the quality of the content, methodology, contribution to the field, and clarity of presentation. Reviewers are not permitted to disseminate, discuss, or use the content of manuscripts under review for personal gain, their own research, or that of others. Reviewers may decline to submit a manuscript if the topic falls outside their area of expertise. Reviewers must honestly disclose any potential conflict of interest that could affect the objectivity and integrity of the manuscript's assessment. If a conflict of interest exists, the reviewer should not continue the review process and must notify the editor so that the assignment can be reassigned to another neutral party free from the conflict.
Sanctions for Ethical Violations
Violations of publication ethics may result in sanctions, including:
- Rejection of the article or retraction of the published article.
- Notification to the author's institution.
- Prohibition on submitting articles to journals within a specific period.
