Publication Ethics

Publication Ethics

Samalas Journal of Geoenvironmental adheres to the guidelines established by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) to address all aspects of publication ethics, including the management of research and publication misconduct. To uphold high ethical standards, the journal applies COPE principles for publishers, editors, authors, and reviewers. Clear communication of ethical practices is essential for enhancing the global quality of research. The following outlines the ethical responsibilities for authors, editors, and reviewers:

Ethical Responsibilities of Authors

  • Originality and Accuracy: Manuscripts must present original research findings with accurate and reliable data, free from fabrication or falsification.
  • Plagiarism: Submissions must be free of plagiarism. Authors are advised to maintain a similarity index below 15%.
  • Data Transparency: Authors must ensure data availability and share raw data upon request from editors or reviewers unless confidentiality applies.
  • Publication Integrity: Manuscripts must not have been published or be under consideration elsewhere. Refer to journal policies for reproducing published material.
  • Conflict of Interest Disclosure: Authors should disclose any potential conflicts of interest and funding sources, ensuring funders do not influence study design or data interpretation.
  • Error Reporting: Authors must notify editors of any significant errors or inaccuracies discovered before or after publication for correction or retraction if necessary.

Ethical Responsibilities of Editors

  • Objective Evaluation: Manuscripts are assessed based on academic merit, novelty, and scientific validity without discrimination or external influence.
  • Confidentiality: Editors ensure the confidentiality of submitted manuscripts throughout the review process.
  • Reviewer Selection: Editors must respect authors' requests to exclude certain reviewers if justified.
  • Decision Communication: Editors inform authors of manuscript acceptance or rejection promptly and transparently.

Ethical Responsibilities of Reviewers

  • Objective Review: Reviewers provide unbiased evaluations based solely on scientific quality and publication standards.
  • Confidentiality: Review documents are treated confidentially, and reviewer identities are kept anonymous.
  • Timely Reporting: Reviewers must submit reports punctually or communicate with editors if more time is required.
  • Ethical Compliance: Reviewers must report suspected misconduct, including plagiarism or data manipulation.

Conflict of Interest

  • Authors must disclose financial or institutional affiliations in a separate section before references.
  • Editors and reviewers must recuse themselves from handling or evaluating manuscripts where conflicts of interest exist due to affiliations or collaborations with authors.

Ethical Approval Requirements

  • Human Studies: Research involving human subjects requires institutional review board approval and adherence to the Declaration of Helsinki. Participant anonymity and informed consent are mandatory.
  • Animal Studies: Authors must follow internationally recognized guidelines and adhere to the "3Rs" principles—Replacement, Reduction, and Refinement—to ensure ethical animal research practices.

Reproducing Published Material

Authors must secure permissions for reproducing non-public domain materials and follow specific guidelines for citation and acknowledgment.

Publication Misconduct and Allegations

Samalas Journal of Geoenvironmental addresses misconduct allegations, including data fabrication, falsification, plagiarism, and improper authorship, in accordance with COPE guidelines. Proven misconduct will result in manuscript rejection or post-publication retraction, and authors may face temporary publication bans.

Samalas Journal of Geoenvironmental remains committed to maintaining the accuracy, integrity, and ethical standards of the scientific record through clear policies and responsible editorial practices.