Publication Ethics

Our editors and employees work diligently to ensure that the content we publish is ethically sound. To achieve this goal, we adhere closely to the advice provided in the guidelines and flowcharts available on the COPE (Committee on Publication Ethics) website. This adherence helps us maintain the highest standards of integrity and ethical practices in all aspects of our publication process, ensuring that our work meets the rigorous ethical standards expected by the academic and scientific communities.

Ethical concern for Author(s)

Declaration of interest

All authors must disclose any financial and personal relationships with other people or organizations that could inappropriately influence (bias) their work. This disclosure is crucial in maintaining the integrity and transparency of the research process. Examples of potential competing interests include employment, consultancies, stock ownership, honoraria, paid expert testimony, patent applications or registrations, and grants or other funding. Such relationships could create a conflict of interest that might bias the results or interpretations of the study.

In doing so, authors must disclose any interests in two specific places to ensure thorough transparency. First, a summary declaration of interest statement should be included in the title page file. If there are no interests to declare, authors should explicitly state this with 'Declarations of interest: none'. Second, a more detailed disclosure must be provided as part of a separate Declaration of Interest form, which becomes part of the journal’s official records. This two-tiered approach ensures that potential conflicts are clearly communicated both within the manuscript for immediate reader awareness and within the journal’s records for long-term accountability. It is essential that the information in both places matches to avoid any misunderstandings or misrepresentations. By adhering to these guidelines, authors contribute to the transparency and reliability of the scientific literature.

 

Submission declaration

Submission of an article implies that the work described has not been published previously, except in specific circumstances such as an abstract, a published lecture, or an academic thesis. It is imperative that the work is not currently under consideration for publication elsewhere and that all authors have approved its submission and potential publication. If any substantial element of your paper has been previously published, it is essential to declare this to the journal editor upon submission. Transparency in these matters is crucial to maintaining the integrity of the scholarly record and ensuring the novelty of the published research. This helps avoid duplicate publications and potential copyright issues.

Please note that the journal editor may employ tools like Similarity Check, including Crossref and Turnitin, to verify the originality of submissions received. These services compare submissions against a vast database of 49 million works from 800 scholarly publishers. By submitting your work to JSCD, you are guaranteeing that it does not infringe on any existing copyrights. This commitment helps protect the intellectual property rights of authors and publishers and maintains the ethical standards of academic publishing. Ensuring that your work is original and appropriately cited not only upholds these standards but also contributes to the credibility and trustworthiness of the research community.

 

Third party copyright permissions

Prior to article submission, you must ensure that you have applied for and received written permission to use any material in your manuscript that has been created by a third party. We are unable to publish any article with permissions still pending. To include third-party material in your work, you must clear specific rights: non-exclusive rights to reproduce the material, print and electronic rights, and rights to use the material for the life of the work. This means there should be no time restrictions on its reuse, such as a one-year license. These rights ensure that the material can be freely used and distributed as part of your published work without any legal or temporal limitations.

Operationally, when you submit your research to us, we will require proof of permission to use any third-party material. It is essential that you make every effort to clear all permissions before submission. This ensures a smooth review and publication process and avoids the need for last-minute changes to your manuscript. If you have not cleared the necessary permissions, we will ask you to remove the third-party material from your submission. Ensuring all permissions are secured not only complies with legal and ethical standards but also respects the intellectual property rights of the original creators, contributing to the integrity and professionalism of the academic publishing process.

 

Changes to authorship

Authors are expected to consider carefully the list and order of authors before submitting their manuscripts and to provide the definitive list of authors at the time of the original submission, particularly in title page. Any addition, deletion, or rearrangement of author names in the authorship list should be made only before the manuscript has been accepted and must be approved by the journal Editor. To request such a change, the Editor must receive from the corresponding author: (a) the reason for the change in the author list, and (b) written confirmation (via email) from all authors that they agree with the addition, removal, or rearrangement. This includes confirmation from any author being added or removed. This procedure ensures that all authors are fully aware of and consent to changes in authorship, maintaining transparency and fairness in the attribution of contributions.

Only in exceptional circumstances will the Editor consider the addition, deletion, or rearrangement of authors after the manuscript has been accepted. During the consideration of such requests, the publication of the manuscript will be suspended. This is to ensure that the authorship accurately reflects contributions before the work is publicly associated with specific individuals. If the manuscript has already been published in an online issue, any approved requests for changes in authorship will result in a corrigendum. This correction ensures that the official record is updated to reflect the accurate authorship, maintaining the integrity of the academic record and ensuring that all contributions are properly acknowledged.

 

Role of the funding source

You are requested to identify who provided financial support for the conduct of the research and/or preparation of the article and to briefly describe the role of the sponsor(s), if any, in various stages of the research process. Specifically, this includes detailing the sponsor’s involvement in study design, data collection, data analysis and interpretation, report writing, and the decision to submit the article for publication. Transparency about the sponsor’s role helps to clarify the extent of their influence on the research and ensures the integrity of the findings. If the funding source(s) had no involvement in any of these stages, this should be explicitly stated. For example, you might note: “The funding source(s) had no role in the study design, data collection, data analysis, interpretation of data, writing of the report, or decision to submit the article for publication.” This disclosure is important as it helps readers assess the potential for bias in the research. Clear statements about funding and sponsor involvement contribute to the credibility and transparency of the publication, ensuring that readers have a full understanding of the influences and support behind the research.

 

Ethical concern for Editors

Fair play and editorial independence

Editors evaluate submitted manuscripts exclusively on the basis of their academic merit, which includes factors such as the importance, originality, validity, and clarity of the study, as well as its relevance to the journal’s scope. This evaluation process is conducted impartially, without regard to the authors’ race, gender, sexual orientation, ethnic origin, citizenship, religious belief, political philosophy, or institutional affiliation. In this part, auditors focus solely on the academic quality and relevance of the manuscripts. The journal is to guarantee a fair and unbiased review process that upholds the highest standards of scholarly integrity. Additionally, it ensures that all submissions are given equal consideration based on their scholarly contributions, free from any form of discrimination or bias. By adhering to these principles, the journal supports the advancement of knowledge and the dissemination of high-quality research, promoting a culture of equity and respect within the academic community.

 

Confidentiality

The names and email addresses entered in this journal site will be used exclusively for the stated purposes of this journal and will not be made available for any other purpose or to any other party. Editors and editorial staff are committed to maintaining confidentiality and will not disclose any information about a submitted manuscript to anyone other than the corresponding author, reviewers, potential reviewers, other editorial advisers, and the publisher, as appropriate. This policy ensures that personal information and manuscript details are handled with the utmost discretion and privacy, protecting the integrity of the submission and review process. This protects authors’ work from premature disclosure and ensures that the review process is conducted without external influence. Additionally, the careful handling of personal data aligns with privacy regulations and ethical standards in academic publishing.

 

Disclosure and conflicts of interest

Editors and members of the editorial board are committed to maintaining the highest ethical standards in their handling of submitted manuscripts. They will not utilize any unpublished information revealed during the submission process for their own research without obtaining explicit written permission from the authors. This commitment ensures that the intellectual property and innovative ideas of the authors are fully respected and protected. It also fosters a trusting relationship between authors and the journal, as authors can be confident that their work will not be misappropriated. This protection of unpublished information is a cornerstone of academic integrity, ensuring that authors' contributions are acknowledged and that their research process remains undisturbed until they choose to publish their findings.

In addition to safeguarding unpublished information, editors and editorial board members are also bound by strict confidentiality regarding any privileged information or ideas acquired through the manuscript review process. This privileged information, which may include novel concepts, methodologies, or preliminary data, will be kept confidential and will not be used for personal advantage. This ethical stance prevents any conflict of interest and upholds the journal's integrity by ensuring that editorial decisions are based solely on academic merit. By adhering to these principles, the journal not only protects the rights and interests of the authors but also maintains the trust and credibility of the academic community. This rigorous approach to confidentiality and ethical conduct is essential for preserving the integrity and fairness of the peer review process, ensuring that all submitted works are evaluated impartially and responsibly.

 

 

Publication decisions

The editors guarantee that every manuscript submitted for potential publication undergoes review by at least two experts in the relevant field. This peer review process ensures that the evaluation of the manuscript is thorough, unbiased, and based on expert knowledge. The feedback from these reviewers plays a crucial role in assessing the validity, originality, and overall quality of the work. The Editor-in-Chief, considering the reviewers’ evaluations, determines which manuscripts are suitable for publication. This decision-making process also takes into account the work’s significance to researchers and readers, ensuring that the published content is valuable and relevant to the academic community.

Additionally, the Editor-in-Chief ensures compliance with all legal requirements, including those related to copyright and plagiarism, to uphold the journal’s ethical standards. In making the final decision, the Editor-in-Chief may consult with other editors or reviewers to gather additional insights and perspectives. This collaborative approach helps to ensure a fair and balanced evaluation, particularly in cases where the manuscript’s subject matter is complex or interdisciplinary. The editors’ commitment to these principles guarantees that the publication process is transparent, fair, and dedicated to advancing knowledge within the scientific community. As a result, the journal maintains a high standard of academic rigor and integrity.

 

Ethical concern for Reviewers

Contribution to editorial decisions

Peer review assists editors in making informed editorial decisions and, through constructive feedback and editorial communications, helps authors improve their manuscripts. This collaborative process confirms that the research is rigorously evaluated and refined before publication, enhancing the overall quality and credibility of the scholarly work. The insights and critiques provided by peer reviewers enable authors to address potential weaknesses, clarify ambiguities, and strengthen their arguments, ultimately contributing to a more robust and reliable final manuscript. Moreover, peer review encourages a culture of critical thinking and continuous improvement, driving innovation and scientific progress. Through its rigorous standards and collaborative nature, peer review reinforces the trustworthiness of the scientific literature and underpins the advancement of knowledge across diverse fields of study.

 

 

Confidentiality

Any manuscripts received for review are confidential documents and will be treated as such. Reviewers are expected to maintain strict confidentiality and must not show the manuscripts to or discuss them with others unless explicitly authorized by the Editor-in-Chief, who would only grant such permission under exceptional and specific circumstances. This policy ensures that the confidentiality of the research and the integrity of the review process are maintained, protecting the intellectual property and privacy of the authors. This confidentiality obligation also extends to invited reviewers who decline the review invitation. Even if a reviewer chooses not to participate in the review process, they are still bound by the same confidentiality agreement and must not disclose or discuss the manuscript’s content with anyone else. This ensures that the manuscript remains protected throughout the entire review process, from initial submission to final decision.

 

Standards of objectivity

Reviews should be conducted with objectivity, clarity, and constructive feedback to assist authors in improving their manuscripts. It is essential that reviewers formulate their observations and critiques clearly, providing supporting arguments and evidence where applicable. This approach helps authors understand the strengths and weaknesses of their work and provides actionable suggestions for revision. In doing so, reviewers contribute to the overall quality and rigor of the research presented. Importantly, personal criticism of the authors is inappropriate and should be avoided in peer reviews. Reviewers should focus solely on evaluating the scientific content and scholarly merit of the manuscript, rather than making disparaging remarks about the authors themselves. Constructive criticism should be framed in a professional and respectful manner, emphasizing areas where clarity, methodological rigor, or interpretation could be strengthened. This ensures a professional and collegial atmosphere within the peer review process, promoting constructive dialogue and mutual respect among researchers.

 

Disclosure and conflicts of interest

Any invited referee who identifies conflicts of interest due to competitive, collaborative, or other relationships with the authors, companies, or institutions associated with the manuscript should promptly inform the editors. It is crucial for referees to declare these conflicts of interest to the editors and decline the invitation to review, allowing alternative reviewers to be selected. This is to maintain that the peer review process remains impartial and unbiased, safeguarding the integrity of the evaluation. Furthermore, reviewers must adhere to strict confidentiality regarding unpublished material disclosed in submitted manuscripts. This includes refraining from using such information for their own research without obtaining explicit written consent from the authors. Respecting this confidentiality protects the intellectual property of the authors and upholds ethical standards in scholarly publishing. Reviewers play a critical role in maintaining the trustworthiness of the peer review process by adhering to these principles of integrity and confidentiality.

 

Withdrawal of an article

An article or chapter may only be removed from a publisher’s database under specific circumstances to uphold ethical standards and maintain the integrity of scholarly publishing. These circumstances include cases where the publication:

1. Infringes professional ethical codes: If the article violates ethical standards such as the privacy rights of research subjects, it may be considered for removal. This could occur if there is unauthorized disclosure of confidential information or if the research violates human subject protections.
2. Is subject to legal dispute: Articles may be removed if they become the subject of legal action or dispute. This could involve issues such as copyright infringement, defamation, or other legal challenges that affect the publication's integrity or legality.
3. Includes false or inaccurate data: If the article contains identified false or inaccurate data that significantly impacts the validity of the research findings, the publisher may consider removal. This ensures that misleading or incorrect information is not perpetuated within the scholarly literature.

In each of these cases, the decision to remove an article from the publisher’s database is typically made after careful consideration by editorial and legal teams. It aims to uphold the principles of academic integrity, protect the rights of individuals and organizations involved, and ensure that published content meets rigorous standards of accuracy and ethical conduct. Such actions contribute to maintaining the credibility and reliability of the scholarly record, fostering trust within the academic community and beyond.