Publication Ethics and Malpractice Statement

The Bioscan Journal

The Bioscan Journal is committed to maintaining the highest ethical standards in academic publishing. This Publication Ethics and Malpractice Statement outlines the responsibilities of authors, editors, reviewers, and publishers to ensure the integrity, transparency, and credibility of published research. The journal adheres to the ethical guidelines established by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and follows best practices in scholarly publishing.

1. Duties of Authors

1.1 Originality and Plagiarism

Authors must submit original work that has not been previously published or is not under consideration elsewhere.
Plagiarism in any form, including self-plagiarism and redundant publication, is strictly prohibited.
Proper citations and acknowledgments must be provided for all referenced materials.

1.2 Authorship and Contributions

All listed authors must have significantly contributed to the research and writing of the manuscript.
Individuals who provided minor contributions (e.g., technical assistance, proofreading) should be acknowledged but not listed as authors.
Ghostwriting, guest authorship, and honorary authorship are considered unethical practices and are not allowed.

1.3 Data Integrity and Transparency

Authors must provide accurate and honest representation of their research data.
Fabrication, falsification, or selective reporting of data is strictly prohibited.
Raw data should be made available upon request for verification.

1.4 Multiple, Redundant, or Concurrent Submission

Submitting the same manuscript to multiple journals simultaneously is considered unethical and unacceptable.
Authors must disclose if any part of their manuscript has been published previously.

1.5 Acknowledgment of Sources and Conflicts of Interest

Proper acknowledgment of all sources of funding, support, or prior work must be provided.
Authors must disclose any conflicts of interest (financial, institutional, or personal) that may influence the research.

1.6 Corrections and Retractions

If significant errors are discovered in a published paper, authors are responsible for notifying the journal to issue corrections or retractions as necessary.

2. Duties of Editors

2.1 Fair and Unbiased Decision-Making

Manuscripts are evaluated based on their academic merit, originality, and relevance to the journal's scope, without discrimination regarding race, gender, religion, or political beliefs.

2.2 Confidentiality

Editors must ensure strict confidentiality of all submitted manuscripts and must not disclose information to anyone other than the corresponding author, reviewers, or editorial staff.

2.3 Handling of Ethical Violations

Editors are responsible for addressing and investigating any ethical concerns or allegations of misconduct related to submissions or published papers.
If necessary, the journal will issue expressions of concern, corrections, or retractions in accordance with COPE guidelines.

2.4 Conflicts of Interest

Editors must recuse themselves from handling manuscripts in which they have a conflict of interest (e.g., personal, professional, or financial ties with authors).

3. Duties of Reviewers

3.1 Confidentiality

Manuscripts received for review must be treated as confidential documents and must not be shared or discussed with others.

3.2 Objectivity and Constructive Feedback

Reviews should be objective, fair, and provide constructive feedback to help improve the quality of the manuscript.
Personal criticism of the author is unacceptable.

3.3 Timeliness

Reviewers must complete their reviews within the specified timeframe. If unable to meet the deadline, they should inform the editor promptly.

3.4 Identification of Ethical Issues

Reviewers should report any signs of plagiarism, data fabrication, or ethical misconduct to the editorial team.

3.5 Conflicts of Interest

Reviewers must decline to review a manuscript if they have a conflict of interest with the authors, research topic, or affiliated institutions.

4. Duties of the Publisher

4.1 Ethical Oversight

The publisher is committed to ensuring that all editorial and ethical standards are upheld in the journal’s publishing process.

4.2 Addressing Misconduct

In cases of alleged or proven misconduct, the publisher, in collaboration with the editorial board, will take necessary actions, including investigation, retraction, and banning of authors from future submissions if required.

4.3 Access and Archiving

The publisher ensures the long-term preservation and accessibility of published content through digital archiving systems.

5. Allegations of Misconduct

The Bioscan Journal follows COPE’s guidelines for handling ethical violations and misconduct, ensuring a fair and transparent investigation.
If an ethical breach is confirmed, appropriate actions will be taken, including paper retraction, author notification, and institutional reporting when necessary.

Conclusion

By submitting their work to The Bioscan Journal, authors, reviewers, and editors agree to uphold the highest standards of publication ethics. Failure to comply with these principles may result in manuscript rejection, retraction of published papers, or further disciplinary actions.