Publication Ethics
Scientific Literature ethical expectations for authors, editors, reviewers, research integrity, authorship, conflicts of interest, and the scholarly record.
Responsible Publishing Depends on Shared Ethical Standards
Authors, editors, reviewers, and publishers each have responsibilities for maintaining the accuracy, fairness, transparency, and integrity of scholarly communication.
Author Responsibilities
- Submit work that is accurate, original, and appropriately attributed.
- Report methods and findings honestly and avoid fabrication, falsification, or misleading manipulation.
- Identify all individuals who meet appropriate authorship criteria and avoid honorary, guest, or ghost authorship.
- Disclose relevant funding and conflicts of interest.
- Obtain required ethical approvals, permissions, and informed consent where applicable.
- Notify the journal promptly if a significant error is discovered.
Editorial Responsibilities
Editors should make decisions independently, manage conflicts appropriately, protect confidential information, select qualified reviewers, communicate professionally, and respond appropriately to credible research-integrity concerns.
Reviewer Responsibilities
Reviewers should provide objective, constructive assessments; protect manuscript confidentiality; disclose conflicts; avoid personal criticism; and report suspected ethical concerns confidentially to the editor.
Research Misconduct and Integrity Concerns
Potential issues may include fabrication, falsification, plagiarism, inappropriate image manipulation, duplicate publication, undeclared conflicts, unethical research, citation manipulation, peer-review manipulation, or serious authorship disputes.
Where necessary, the journal may seek clarification from authors, consult editors or reviewers, request supporting records, or refer matters to institutions or other responsible bodies better placed to investigate.
Authorship
Authorship should reflect meaningful scholarly contribution and accountability. Contributors who do not meet authorship criteria may be acknowledged where appropriate. Changes to authorship may require explanation and agreement from relevant parties.
Conflicts of Interest
Financial, professional, academic, personal, or other relationships that could reasonably be perceived to influence scholarly judgment should be disclosed. Disclosure does not necessarily prevent publication, but transparency allows editors and readers to evaluate possible influences.
Post-Publication Integrity
Published work may require correction, expression of concern, or retraction when significant issues arise. Actions should focus on maintaining an accurate scholarly record and should be proportionate to the available evidence.