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