Publication ethics

Publication Ethics and Publication Malpractice Statement

International Journal of Innovative Research and Scientific Studies (IJIRSS) is committed to maintaining the highest standards of integrity, transparency, and ethical conduct throughout the publication process. The journal expects editors, reviewers, authors, and the publisher to adhere to internationally accepted ethical principles in scholarly publishing.

IJIRSS follows the principles and best practices of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE), and other internationally recognized publishing ethics guidelines.

1. Responsibilities of Authors

Authors are expected to uphold the highest standards of research integrity and publication ethics.

Originality

Authors must submit only original work. Manuscripts should not contain plagiarism, fabricated or falsified data, manipulated images, or misleading information. All submissions may be screened using plagiarism-detection software before peer review.

Multiple, Redundant, or Concurrent Submission

Authors must not submit the same manuscript to more than one journal simultaneously. Manuscripts that have been published previously or are under consideration elsewhere will not be considered for publication.

Data Integrity

Authors are responsible for ensuring that all data presented in the manuscript are accurate, reliable, and honestly reported. Data fabrication, falsification, selective reporting, or inappropriate manipulation is considered serious publication misconduct.

Authors should retain original research data and provide access to the data when requested by the editorial office, subject to legal, ethical, or confidentiality restrictions.

Authorship

Only individuals who have made substantial scholarly contributions to the research should be listed as authors.

All authors should have:

  • Contributed significantly to the study.

  • Participated in drafting or revising the manuscript.

  • Approved the final version.

  • Agreed to be accountable for all aspects of the published work.

Individuals who contributed to the work but do not meet the criteria for authorship should be acknowledged appropriately.

Disclosure of Conflicts of Interest

Authors must disclose any financial, institutional, professional, or personal relationships that could influence the interpretation or presentation of the research.

If no conflicts exist, authors should state:

"The authors declare that they have no competing interests."

Funding Disclosure

All sources of financial support must be disclosed, including grant numbers where applicable. If the study received no external funding, authors should clearly state this.

Ethical Approval

Research involving human participants, animals, personal data, or sensitive information must have prior approval from the appropriate ethics committee or institutional review board.

Authors should include:

  • Name of the approving institution

  • Approval or reference number (if applicable)

  • Confirmation that ethical standards were followed

Informed Consent

Research involving human participants must confirm that informed consent was obtained before participation and publication where required.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Artificial intelligence tools may be used only to improve language, grammar, or readability. Authors remain fully responsible for the originality, accuracy, interpretation, and integrity of their work. AI tools must not be listed as authors. Any substantial use of AI in manuscript preparation should be disclosed within the manuscript.

2. Responsibilities of Editors

Editors are responsible for ensuring a fair, objective, and transparent editorial process.

Editors shall:

  • Evaluate manuscripts solely on academic merit.

  • Maintain confidentiality throughout the review process.

  • Ensure that manuscripts undergo appropriate peer review.

  • Avoid conflicts of interest.

  • Make editorial decisions independently and without commercial influence.

  • Protect the integrity of the scholarly record.

  • Take appropriate action when ethical concerns arise.

Editors will not discriminate against authors based on nationality, ethnicity, gender, religion, political beliefs, institutional affiliation, or other personal characteristics.

3. Responsibilities of Reviewers

Peer reviewers play a vital role in maintaining the quality of published research.

Reviewers should:

  • Conduct reviews objectively and constructively.

  • Provide evidence-based recommendations.

  • Maintain strict confidentiality.

  • Complete reviews within the agreed timeframe.

  • Declare any conflicts of interest before accepting a review.

  • Decline review invitations if they lack the necessary expertise.

  • Identify relevant published work that has not been cited.

  • Report suspected plagiarism, duplicate publication, or research misconduct.

Reviewers must not use unpublished information obtained during peer review for personal research or advantage.

4. Responsibilities of the Publisher

The publisher is committed to preserving editorial independence and maintaining the integrity of the scholarly record.

The publisher supports:

  • Editorial independence

  • Transparent peer review

  • Ethical publishing practices

  • Long-term digital preservation

  • Correction of the scholarly record when necessary

  • Compliance with international publishing standards

Commercial considerations shall never influence editorial decisions.

5. Plagiarism Policy

IJIRSS has zero tolerance for plagiarism.

The following are considered unethical:

  • Direct plagiarism

  • Self-plagiarism

  • Mosaic plagiarism

  • Improper paraphrasing

  • Unattributed use of figures or tables

  • Unauthorized reuse of copyrighted material

Manuscripts with unacceptable levels of plagiarism may be rejected immediately or withdrawn at any stage of the publication process.

6. Research Misconduct

Research misconduct includes, but is not limited to:

  • Fabrication of data

  • Falsification of results

  • Image manipulation

  • Duplicate publication

  • Citation manipulation

  • Authorship manipulation

  • Undisclosed conflicts of interest

  • Peer-review manipulation

Confirmed misconduct may result in rejection, retraction, notification of institutions or funding agencies, and restrictions on future submissions.

7. Confidentiality

Editors and reviewers must treat all submitted manuscripts as confidential documents.

Information obtained during the editorial or peer-review process must not be shared or used for personal benefit without written permission from the authors.

8. Conflicts of Interest

Editors, reviewers, and authors must disclose any relationships that could influence their judgment.

When a conflict exists, appropriate measures, including reassignment of editors or reviewers, will be taken to ensure an impartial evaluation.

9. Corrections, Retractions, and Expressions of Concern

If significant errors or ethical issues are identified after publication, the journal will take appropriate action to maintain the integrity of the scholarly record.

Depending on the circumstances, the journal may publish:

  • Correction (Erratum)

  • Corrigendum

  • Expression of Concern

  • Retraction

  • Editorial Note

Retractions will remain permanently linked to the original article to ensure transparency.

10. Complaints and Appeals

Authors may appeal editorial decisions by submitting a detailed written explanation with supporting evidence.

Complaints relating to editorial procedures, peer review, or publication ethics will be investigated fairly, confidentially, and promptly.

Editors not involved in the original decision may participate in the appeal process where appropriate.

11. Copyright and Licensing

Authors retain copyright of their published work unless otherwise specified by the journal's publishing agreement.

Published articles are distributed according to the journal's selected licensing terms, allowing appropriate reuse with proper attribution where applicable.

12. Data Sharing and Reproducibility

Authors are encouraged to make research data, analytical methods, software code, and supplementary materials available whenever possible to promote transparency and reproducibility.

Where restrictions apply, authors should clearly explain the reasons within a Data Availability Statement.

13. Post-Publication Discussions

The journal welcomes legitimate scholarly discussion regarding published articles.

Substantive concerns raised after publication will be investigated according to established editorial procedures and internationally accepted ethical standards.

14. Commitment to Ethical Publishing

The International Journal of Innovative Research and Scientific Studies is dedicated to maintaining a trustworthy scholarly record through ethical editorial practices, rigorous peer review, transparency, accountability, and continuous adherence to internationally recognized publication ethics standards.

All participants in the publication process are expected to act honestly, responsibly, and professionally to ensure the integrity and credibility of the scientific literature.