The following ethical guidelines are mandatory for all authors. Non-compliance may result in penalties from the competent authorities, potentially leading to suspension or cancellation of publishing rights.
Reporting Standards
Research reports and data must be detailed and accurately referenced. False or misleading statements are strictly prohibited.
Originality and Plagiarism
- Any plagiarism results in rejection of the manuscript.
- Quoted material must be clearly identified with quotation marks.
- The similarity index must not exceed 19% (HEC policy).
Declaration & Certificate
- Authors must submit a declaration that the manuscript is original, unpublished and not under consideration elsewhere.
- Co-authored papers must include an agreement on authorship rights and order.
Submission to Other Journals
Submitting the same manuscript to more than one journal is unethical and results in immediate rejection.
Acknowledgment of Sources
- Properly acknowledge others' work and the contributions of those who supported the research.
- Conduct a thorough literature review and cite original publications.
Authorship Credit
- Authorship is credited only to those with significant contribution to concept, data analysis and manuscript preparation.
- The corresponding author ensures all co-authors approved the final version.
Privacy of Participants
- Respect participant privacy; obtain clear informed consent where identity is disclosed.
Data Access and Preservation
If accuracy or validity is questioned during review, authors should provide the raw data to the editor.
Conflicts of Interest
Disclose potential conflicts (employment, consultancies, honoraria) and all sources of financial support at the earliest opportunity.
Acceptance and Rejection
- 30 days after submission and the acknowledgement letter, authors may inquire about the status of their article.
- If revisions are suggested, authors must revise within the specified timeframe and detail all changes.
- Authors who disagree with a rejection may appeal by contacting the editor.