Publication ethics refers to a set of rules that guide researchers in the appropriate conduct of their work and the distribution of their findings. Ethical publication ethical standards exist to ensure high-quality scientific publications, unrestricted reliance on scientific discoveries, and recognition for individuals' contributions to research and concepts.
Ethics guidelines
For authors and contributors
- Ensure every submitted original research, properly cited, and accurately represents all authors.
- Authors should double-check their research articles for accuracy in computations, data presentation, and result analysis.
- Authors must ensure their study is ethical and follows relevant regulations.
- Academic journals require authors to adhere to their peer review, editing, and publication guidelines.
- The author must submit an original, innovative manuscript that has never been published in another language or medium.
- If the journal editor desires to publish an article that has already appeared in another journal, he or she must acquire permission from the copyright holder. The fact that the material has been reprinted should be disclosed alongside the source of the original publication.
For editors
- Comply with COPE rules and the editorial and publication ethical policies of transnational corporations.
- Publish high-quality, relevant content in a timely and responsible manner to protect the journal's reputation.
- Ensure objective and confidential peer review for submissions that pass initial editorial assessment.
- Identify and justify any article types that will not undergo peer review.
- Ensure transparency in the review and publication process, with complete respect for the author(s).
- Provide authors with suggestions, explanations, and updates throughout the process.
- Grant authors the chance to challenge editorial decisions.
Key Ethical Issues in Research Publication
Plagiarism and Originality
Authors should ensure that their publications are wholly unique, and if they have used the work and/or words of others, they should properly cite or quote them. Such quotations and citations should be listed in the article's Reference section at the top.
Authorship / Author Responsibilities
- Authors should only be mentioned on a manuscript if they contributed significantly to the research and writing process. All authors must agree on the final version of the paper and its submission for publication.
- The order of authorship should reflect each author's contribution. The first author should be the individual who contributed most significantly to the manuscript's research and composition.
- Authorship conflicts should be resolved, including disagreements over authorship order or contributions.
Authorship should be based on significant contributions to the work's conception or design, as well as data collecting, analysis, and interpretation. All authors should have contributed to the manuscript's drafting or revision, and the final version should have their approval. Contributors who do not match these requirements should be acknowledged.
Data Fabrication and Falsification
Data submitted in publications must be original and not improperly selected, modified, enhanced, or invented. Image files must not be modified or adjusted in any way that could result in a misinterpretation of the original image's content.
Conflict of Interest
Reviewers should decline to assess articles if they have conflicts of interest resulting from competing, cooperative, or alternative relationships or connections with any of the authors.
Conflicts include the following:
- Financial — funding and other payments, products, and services received or expected by the authors in connection with the subject of the work, or from an organization with an interest in the work's outcome.
- Affiliations — working for, serving on the advisory board for, or being a member of an organization that has a stake in the work's outcome.
- Intellectual property — patents or trademarks owned by a person or organization.
- Personal: friends, family, relationships, and other close personal connections.
- Ideology refers to ideas or activism related to the work, such as politics or religion.
- Academic refers to competitors or critics.
