Publication Ethics

Publication Ethics

Scientific Research Communications (SRC) adheres to the ethical publishing standards established by the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE) and the Committee of Publication Ethics (COPE). In scholarly publications, it is crucial to provide a comprehensive and enduring account of research endeavors. Given that publications serve as the foundation for further investigations and the practical application of findings, they possess the potential to impact not only the research community but also society as a whole, albeit indirectly. Hence, researchers bear the responsibility of ensuring that their publications exhibit honesty, clarity, accuracy, completeness, and balance while avoiding any misleading, selective, or ambiguous reporting. Furthermore, journal editors have a duty to uphold the integrity of the research literature, as outlined in the accompanying guidelines.

In alignment with these principles, SRC is fully committed to fostering openness, transparency, and the ability to reproduce research findings within the articles we publish.    

 

Authors are required to ensure the following:

  • The content of their work is original. This journal utilizes mechanisms to identify instances of overlapping and similar text in submitted manuscripts.
  • The work has not been previously published elsewhere and is exclusively submitted to this journal.
  • In cases where the material is sourced from other references (including the author's own previously published work), proper citation is provided, and appropriate permissions are obtained when necessary.
  • The work does not violate any rights of others, including privacy rights and intellectual property rights.
  • The data presented is truthful and has not been manipulated.
  • The data used is either the authors' own or has been used with permission and is properly attributed in their paper.
  • Any real or perceived conflicts of interest or competing interests are clearly disclosed upon submission of the paper, including any funding assistance received.
  • Authors comply with all research ethics guidelines relevant to their field, particularly when human or animal subjects are involved.
  • In the event of identifying material errors in their work, whether before or after publication, authors promptly inform the Editor and take necessary steps to rectify them.
  • Authorship of the paper accurately represents the contributions made, ensuring that all individuals credited as authors actively participated in the actual creation of the work and have provided consent for its publication.

 

Above all, authors are encouraged to prioritize transparency. For instance, if authors have doubts regarding the originality of their paper (such as potential duplicate publication), it is advised to inform the journal's editor accordingly.

 

Reviewers are entrusted with the following responsibilities:

  • Preserve the confidentiality of the review process, ensuring that the content of the manuscripts under review remains confidential.
  • Promptly inform the journal editor of any actual or potential conflicts of interest that may compromise the objectivity and fairness of their review. In such cases, reviewers should decline to conduct the review when appropriate.
  • Carry out their review in a fair and unbiased manner, providing an objective evaluation of the manuscript based on its merits. Reviewers should refrain from personal biases or conflicts of interest that may influence their judgment.

 

Editors are entrusted with the following responsibilities:

  • Establish and uphold ethical policies consistently across their respective journals.
  • Take appropriate measures to enforce these policies in a fair and consistent manner when necessary.
  • Safeguard the confidentiality of the review process, ensuring that the content of the reviewed manuscripts remains confidential.
  • Demonstrate the utmost personal integrity in their role as editors, proactively identifying and planning for situations where they may have a competing interest or the appearance thereof.

 

For more detailed information, please consult the guidelines provided by the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE) at https://www.icmje.org/icmje-recommendations.pdf and the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) at https://publicationethics.org/.

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    SRC follows the international standards for publishing ethics. Scholarly publications are expected to provide a detailed and permanent record of research. Because publications form the basis for both new research and the application of findings, they can affect not only the research community but also, indirectly, society at large. Researchers therefore have a responsibility to ensure that their publications are honest, clear, accurate, complete and balanced, and should avoid misleading, selective or ambiguous reporting. Journal editors also have responsibilities for ensuring the integrity of the research literature and these are set out in companion guidelines.

    SRC is committed to facilitating openness, transparency and reproducibility of research in the articles we publish.

    Authors should ensure that:

  • Their work is original. This journal detects instances of overlapping and similar text in submitted manuscripts
  • Their work has not been previously published and has been submitted only to this journal
  • Where material is taken from other sources (including their own published writing) the source is clearly cited and that where appropriate permission is obtained
  • Their work does not infringe on any rights of others, including privacy rights and intellectual property rights
  • Their data is true and not manipulated
  • Their data is their own or that they have permission to use data reproduced in their paper
  • Any real or apparent conflicting or competing interest is clearly stated on submission of their paper (this would include funding assistance)
  • They adhere to all research ethics guidelines of their discipline, particularly where human or animal subjects are involved
  • They contact the Editor to identify and correct any material errors upon discovery, whether prior or subsequent to publication of their work
  • Authorship of the paper is accurately represented, including ensuring that all individuals credited as authors participated in the actual authorship of the work and that all who participated are credited and have given consent for publication

    Above all, authors should be transparent.  For example, if authors are not sure whether their paper is original (for instance, whether it might constitute duplicate publication), they should inform the journal’s editor.

 

Reviewers must:

  • Maintain the confidentiality of the review process
  • Immediately alert their journal editor of any real or potential competing interest that could affect the impartiality of their reviewing and decline to review where appropriate
  • Conduct themselves fairly and impartially

 

    Our editors should:

  • Maintain and promote consistent ethical policies for their journals
  • Oversee and act to enforce those policies as needed in a fair and consistent manner
  • Ensure the confidentiality of the review process

    Exercise the highest standards of personal integrity in their work as editor of the journal, recognising and planning for instances where they could have a competing interest or the appearance of a competing interest