Ethical Guidelines for Authors

Maintaining academic integrity and upholding responsible research practices are essential for all authors submitting to this journal. These guidelines outline the core principles expected and incorporate relevant policies from HEC.

  1. Accuracy and Transparency:
  • Ensure your research report and data contain sufficient detail and references for others to replicate your findings. Fabrication or inaccuracies are unacceptable.
  • Clearly report your methods, analysis, and results, allowing for independent verification.
  1. Originality and Plagiarism:
  • Submit original work, properly citing any borrowed ideas or materials. Plagiarism is unethical and strictly prohibited.
  • As per HEC's policy, manuscripts exceeding a 19% similarity index may be rejected or conditionally accepted at the Editorial Board's discretion.
  1. Authorship and Contribution:
  • Authorship credit belongs only to those who made significant contributions to the research (conceptualization, design, execution, analysis, writing). Acknowledge others who assisted in an "Acknowledgements" section.
  • All co-authors must have substantially contributed and agree to authorship order and final manuscript submission.
  1. Research Ethics:
  • Respect participant privacy and obtain informed consent before using any information. Share only data necessary for the study's understanding.
  • If participant identities must be revealed, obtain explicit and informed consent. For deceased participants, seek consent from their family.
  1. Multiple and Current Publications:
  • Avoid submitting the same research to multiple journals unless re-submitting a rejected or withdrawn manuscript.
  • Substantially revised or corrected prior research can be re-published, with proper citation and acknowledgement of the original publication.
  • Concurrent submissions are unethical and unacceptable.
  1. Acknowledgment of Sources:
  • Properly acknowledge the work of others, including clear references for all information quoted or offered (except common knowledge).
  • Acknowledge individuals, organizations, and institutes who assisted your research, including technical help, writing assistance, and funding.
  • Conduct a thorough literature review and cite original publications describing closely related work.
  1. Data Access and Retention:
  • Be prepared to provide raw data to the Editor if requested during the review process to address concerns about research accuracy or validity.
  1. Responsible Image Use:
  • Ensure research and data images are free from manipulation and accurately represent their generation and production.
  1. Disclosure and Conflicts of Interest:
  • Disclose any potential financial, personal, or other conflicts of interest that could influence the research results. This includes employment, consultancies, funding sources, and patent applications.
  • Disclose potential conflicts at the earliest stage.
  1. Copyright and Publication Process:
  • You may be required to sign an agreement allowing the journal to circulate your article and derivative works.
  • The review process typically takes 1-2 months. During this time, you may inquire about the review status.
  • Following review, your manuscript will be accepted, rejected, or requested for revisions.
  • Clearly explain all corrections made in revisions and submit the revised manuscript for reassessment.
  • You may appeal rejection decisions by contacting the Editor.

 

Remember, adhering to these guidelines builds trust in your research and upholds the integrity of our journal. We encourage authors to familiarize themselves with these principles and ensure their manuscripts reflect responsible research practices.