Publication Ethics

The Global Journal of Multidisciplinary Research (GJMR) is committed to maintaining the highest ethical standards in academic publishing. This Publication Ethics policy outlines the responsibilities and ethical considerations for authors, reviewers, editors, and publishers to ensure that all published content meets the principles of integrity, transparency, and accountability.

1. Ethical Standards: GJMR follows the guidelines established by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE). We aim to promote academic integrity, trust, and transparency in all aspects of the publication process, from manuscript submission through to the final published article.

2. Responsibilities of Authors:

2.1 Originality and Plagiarism:

  • Authors must ensure that their work is original and has not been previously published or under consideration elsewhere. Manuscripts must not contain any form of plagiarism, self-plagiarism, or duplicate submission. Authors should properly cite and reference all sources used in their research.

2.2 Ethical Approval:

  • If the research involves human participants or animals, authors must provide evidence of ethical approval from the relevant institution or ethical committee. Authors must ensure that informed consent has been obtained from all participants.

2.3 Data Accuracy and Integrity:

  • Authors must present their data accurately and transparently. Fabrication, falsification, or misrepresentation of data is strictly prohibited. Authors should be able to provide raw data and evidence supporting their findings upon request.

2.4 Acknowledgment of Sources:

  • All sources, including ideas, data, or text, that have influenced the manuscript must be properly acknowledged. Authors should cite the contributions of other researchers and give proper credit for ideas, methods, or materials.

2.5 Conflicts of Interest:

  • Authors must disclose any potential conflicts of interest that could influence the objectivity of the research. Conflicts of interest may include financial, professional, or personal relationships with individuals or organizations that could be perceived as influencing the research.

2.6 Redundant or Duplicate Publication:

  • Authors should not submit manuscripts that overlap significantly with previously published work. Authors must disclose any related work that has been submitted, published, or is under consideration elsewhere.

2.7 Retraction and Correction:

  • Authors must notify the editorial team if they discover significant errors or inaccuracies in their published work. Authors should request retraction or correction if necessary and should cooperate with the journal to rectify any mistakes.

3. Responsibilities of Reviewers:

3.1 Confidentiality:

  • Reviewers must treat all manuscripts as confidential documents. They should not disclose the content, discuss it with others, or use information from the manuscript for personal advantage.

3.2 Objective Evaluation:

  • Reviews should be conducted objectively and based solely on the quality and merit of the manuscript. Reviewers should avoid bias based on personal, professional, or financial relationships with the authors or any parties involved.

3.3 Timeliness:

  • Reviewers are expected to complete their reviews in a timely manner, typically within 2-3 weeks. If a reviewer cannot complete a review within the allotted time, they should notify the editorial team so that an alternative reviewer can be sought.

3.4 Conflict of Interest:

  • Reviewers should disclose any potential conflicts of interest before accepting the review assignment. If a reviewer has a conflict of interest, they should decline to review the manuscript.

3.5 Constructive Feedback:

  • Reviewers should provide clear, constructive, and detailed feedback to help authors improve their manuscripts. Feedback should be respectful and focused on the content rather than personal critique.

4. Responsibilities of Editors:

4.1 Decision Making:

  • Editors are responsible for making decisions about whether a manuscript is accepted for publication. This decision is based on the quality, originality, and relevance of the manuscript to the journal’s scope, as well as the recommendations of the peer reviewers.

4.2 Fair and Unbiased Evaluation:

  • Editors should ensure that all manuscripts are evaluated fairly, regardless of the author's gender, race, ethnicity, religious beliefs, or institutional affiliation. Editors should make decisions based on the quality and relevance of the research.

4.3 Transparency and Accountability:

  • Editors should ensure transparency in the editorial process and provide authors with clear feedback and guidelines. Editors are also responsible for maintaining confidentiality and ensuring that no bias or conflicts of interest influence the review and publication process.

4.4 Handling Conflicts of Interest:

  • Editors must disclose any conflicts of interest regarding the manuscript or the authors. If a conflict of interest exists, the editor should delegate the manuscript to another editor or recuse themselves from making a decision on the manuscript.

4.5 Publication Ethics and Misconduct:

  • Editors are responsible for investigating any suspected ethical violations or misconduct in the manuscripts they receive. If misconduct is detected, editors should follow appropriate procedures in line with the journal’s policies on plagiarism, data fabrication, and other unethical practices.

4.6 Corrections and Retractions:

  • Editors must ensure that corrections, retractions, or clarifications are issued if needed. This includes cases of serious errors, data manipulation, plagiarism, or other ethical violations.

5. Responsibilities of the Publisher:

5.1 Compliance with Legal and Ethical Standards:

  • The publisher is responsible for ensuring that GJMR complies with all applicable laws, ethical guidelines, and industry standards for academic publishing. The publisher must maintain the integrity of the journal and support its editorial team in upholding ethical practices.

5.2 Access and Distribution:

  • The publisher ensures that all published articles are freely available to the global academic community under the journal's open-access policy. The publisher must also ensure that there are no barriers to access that would prevent the dissemination of scientific knowledge.

5.3 Support for Ethical Publishing Practices:

  • The publisher provides the necessary resources to support ethical publishing, including access to plagiarism detection tools, peer review management systems, and training for editors, reviewers, and authors in ethical research and publication practices.

5.4 Protection of Intellectual Property:

  • The publisher ensures the protection of the intellectual property rights of authors and reviewers. This includes proper attribution of authorship, protection against unauthorized use of research data, and fair use of copyrighted material.

6. Ethical Guidelines for Handling Complaints:

6.1 Complaints about Manuscripts:

  • GJMR provides a clear mechanism for addressing complaints about published articles, including issues related to scientific misconduct, errors in the peer review process, and conflicts of interest. Complaints should be addressed promptly and transparently.

6.2 Whistleblowing:

  • The journal encourages whistleblowing on unethical behavior, including plagiarism, data fabrication, and conflicts of interest. Whistleblowers should be protected from retaliation, and their complaints should be thoroughly investigated.

6.3 Investigation of Misconduct:

  • Any allegations of misconduct are taken seriously. The journal follows COPE guidelines for investigating allegations of ethical violations and takes appropriate action based on the severity of the misconduct.

Through this Publication Ethics policy, Global Journal of Multidisciplinary Research strives to promote a culture of integrity, transparency, and accountability in academic publishing. We are dedicated to ensuring that the research we publish adheres to the highest ethical standards and that the journal remains a trusted resource for the global academic community.