PUBLICATION ETHICS

Publication Ethics for Journal Views

At Views, we are committed to maintaining the highest ethical standards in the publication of research. This statement outlines the ethical responsibilities of authors, reviewers, and editors to ensure transparency, integrity, and fairness in all aspects of the publication process. We adhere to ethical guidelines set by international organizations such as the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), and expect all parties involved to follow these guidelines.

1. Ethical Responsibilities of Authors

Authors are required to ensure that their work is original, honest, and transparent. The following ethical responsibilities apply to authors submitting manuscripts to Views:

  • Originality and Plagiarism: Manuscripts submitted to Views must be original works that have not been published elsewhere, nor should they be under review for publication in another journal. Authors should avoid plagiarism and self-plagiarism. Proper citation of all sources is required, and all text, data, and ideas borrowed from other works must be appropriately referenced.

  • Authorship: All individuals who have made substantial contributions to the research should be listed as authors. The corresponding author must ensure that all co-authors have approved the final version of the manuscript and agreed to its submission. Authors must also provide a clear explanation of each author’s contribution to the work.

  • Data and Results Integrity: Authors must ensure that all data and results are accurately represented and reported. Fabricating, falsifying, or manipulating data is strictly prohibited. Any errors or inaccuracies discovered post-publication should be promptly communicated to the editor.

  • Conflict of Interest: Authors must disclose any potential conflicts of interest that could influence the research or its interpretation. This includes financial support, personal relationships, or any other factors that could be perceived as a conflict.

  • Ethical Approval: Research involving human participants, animals, or sensitive data must receive appropriate ethical approval from relevant institutions or ethics committees. Authors must provide a statement confirming that the research was conducted in accordance with ethical standards, and provide the ethics committee approval number or reference if applicable.

  • Human and Animal Rights: If applicable, manuscripts must include a statement regarding the protection of human and animal rights, indicating that all necessary consent was obtained for the use of human subjects or animals in the research.

  • Transparency in Acknowledgments: Authors should acknowledge all financial support for their research, and disclose any potential commercial interests, affiliations, or sources of funding.

2. Ethical Responsibilities of Reviewers

Reviewers provide an essential service in maintaining the quality of the journal. The following ethical guidelines apply to reviewers:

  • Confidentiality: Reviewers must keep all manuscript contents confidential. Manuscripts should not be shared or discussed with anyone outside the peer review process. This includes refraining from using any unpublished information contained in the manuscript for personal or professional gain.

  • Objectivity: Reviews should be objective and based on the manuscript’s scientific merit. Personal biases, conflicts of interest, or any other external influences should not affect the review process.

  • Constructive Feedback: Reviewers should provide constructive, clear, and detailed feedback to the authors. The aim of the review is to improve the manuscript, not to criticize. Reviewers should highlight both strengths and weaknesses, offering suggestions for improvement where possible.

  • Conflicts of Interest: If a reviewer has any conflict of interest with the authors, they must immediately disclose it to the editor and recuse themselves from the review process.

  • Timeliness: Reviewers should complete their reviews in a timely manner, ensuring that the manuscript is processed efficiently. If a reviewer is unable to meet the deadline or does not feel qualified to review a manuscript, they should inform the editor promptly.

3. Ethical Responsibilities of Editors

Editors are responsible for making decisions regarding the publication of manuscripts. The following ethical responsibilities apply to editors at Views:

  • Fairness and Impartiality: Editors should make decisions based solely on the quality and scientific merit of the manuscript, without regard to the author's nationality, gender, or institutional affiliation. The decision-making process should be fair, transparent, and free from bias.

  • Confidentiality: Editors must maintain the confidentiality of all manuscripts submitted to the journal. Manuscripts should not be disclosed to anyone outside the editorial team without the author's permission.

  • Conflict of Interest: Editors should declare any potential conflicts of interest regarding the manuscripts they are handling. If they have a conflict of interest, they should recuse themselves from the decision-making process for that manuscript.

  • Handling Ethical Violations: Editors must take appropriate action if they suspect ethical violations, such as plagiarism, data falsification, or unethical research practices. This may involve contacting the authors, conducting further investigations, or collaborating with relevant institutions to resolve the issue.

  • Encouraging Transparency: Editors are responsible for ensuring transparency in the peer review process and for maintaining the integrity of the journal. They should ensure that the review process is blind, fair, and unbiased, and that the decision-making process is based on scientific merit.

  • Corrections and Retractions: In the case of errors or misconduct in published articles, editors are responsible for issuing corrections or retractions in accordance with established policies. They should ensure that readers are informed about any corrections to the published record.

4. Ethical Guidelines for Publications

  • Plagiarism Detection: Views uses plagiarism detection software to identify instances of plagiarism and self-plagiarism. Manuscripts found to have been plagiarized will be rejected, and authors may be banned from submitting to the journal in the future.

  • Publication of Corrections: If errors or issues with the published research are identified after publication, Views will publish corrections, clarifications, or retractions as necessary. The correction or retraction will be linked to the original article.

  • Retraction Policy: In cases of research misconduct, such as falsification or fabrication of data, Views reserves the right to retract the article after a thorough investigation. Authors must cooperate fully with the journal in the event of such investigations.

  • Appeals: If authors disagree with a decision made by the editors, they may submit an appeal. Appeals should be submitted in writing and will be reviewed by the editorial board.