Ethical oversight

Introduction

At TISJ, we are dedicated to ensuring the highest ethical standards in all stages of the research and publication process. In line with the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) guidelines, we are committed to upholding the integrity of published research and providing ethical oversight in all aspects of our operations. This policy outlines the journal's approach to ethical oversight, including how we address conflicts of interest, ethical considerations in research, and the role of authors, reviewers, and editors in ensuring ethical conduct.

Our ethical oversight framework ensures that the research we publish is conducted with respect for research participants, integrity, transparency, and compliance with relevant ethical standards and regulations.

Ethical Guidelines for Research

Human and Animal Subjects

Research published in TISJ must comply with ethical guidelines for studies involving human or animal subjects. Authors are required to adhere to the principles of ethical research, including obtaining informed consent from human participants and following appropriate animal welfare regulations. Authors should provide evidence of ethics committee approval or an explanation of why such approval was not required.

Informed Consent

For studies involving human participants, authors must explicitly state in their manuscript that informed consent was obtained. This includes consent for participation in research and consent for publication of results, particularly in cases where sensitive or identifying information is involved.

Ethical Approval

Authors must provide confirmation that their study was reviewed and approved by a recognized ethics committee or institutional review board (IRB) before data collection began. In cases where ethical approval was not required (e.g., secondary data analysis), authors must explain the rationale.

Confidentiality and Privacy

Authors must ensure that they protect the privacy and confidentiality of research participants, including anonymizing data where applicable. Any personal information (e.g., medical histories, personal identifiers) should not be published without explicit consent from the individuals concerned.

Conflict of Interest (COI) Disclosure

Author COI Disclosure

Authors are required to disclose any financial, professional, or personal conflicts of interest that could potentially influence the research or its interpretation. This includes funding sources, affiliations with commercial entities, and any other interests that might be perceived to affect the objectivity or integrity of the research.

Reviewer and Editor COI Disclosure

Reviewers and editors are also required to declare any conflicts of interest that may arise during the peer review process. If a reviewer or editor has a conflict of interest with the manuscript under review, they must recuse themselves from the evaluation process to maintain impartiality and objectivity.

Transparency and Accountability

Authors, reviewers, and editors must provide clear and full disclosure of any conflicts of interest, which will be published alongside the article if deemed relevant by the editor. The journal is committed to transparency in all conflicts of interest and will take appropriate steps to address any potential bias or undue influence in the research process.

Plagiarism and Research Misconduct

Plagiarism

We have a zero-tolerance policy toward plagiarism. Authors must ensure that their work is original and that they appropriately cite all sources of ideas, data, and text that are not their own.

Data Fabrication and Falsification

We do not tolerate any form of data fabrication or falsification. Authors must provide accurate, verifiable data that support their findings. Any suspected cases of data manipulation or falsification will be investigated according to the journal's procedures for handling research misconduct.

Retractions and Corrections

In the event of ethical breaches, including plagiarism or data falsification, the journal will follow COPE guidelines for handling such issues, which may include the retraction of articles, issuing corrections, or publishing expressions of concern. Any suspected research misconduct will be investigated thoroughly, with input from appropriate parties (e.g., institutions, ethics committees).

Peer Review Process and Ethical Oversight

Fairness and Impartiality

The peer review process at TISJ is designed to ensure fairness, impartiality, and confidentiality. Reviewers must assess manuscripts based on the scientific merit of the research, without regard to personal biases, professional affiliations, or any other factors unrelated to the quality of the work.

Confidentiality

Both authors and reviewers are expected to respect confidentiality throughout the peer review process. Authors should not share their manuscript with third parties without explicit consent, and reviewers should not disclose any information related to the manuscript or the review process.

Reviewer Responsibilities

Reviewers are expected to provide constructive, honest, and unbiased feedback to the authors. They should report any potential ethical issues they observe, such as research misconduct, plagiarism, or conflicts of interest, and must not use unpublished material from manuscripts under review for their own research purposes.

Editorial Oversight

Editors play a critical role in overseeing the ethical conduct of the review process. Editors must ensure that manuscripts undergo a fair, unbiased review, and that all ethical concerns raised by reviewers or authors are addressed promptly. Editors are responsible for making final decisions regarding the publication of articles, in accordance with ethical guidelines.

Ethical Oversight for Authors, Reviewers, and Editors

Responsibility of Authors

Authors must ensure that their work complies with all ethical standards and that any potential ethical concerns are addressed prior to submission. This includes adherence to ethical research practices, proper citation of sources, and transparency in reporting conflicts of interest. Authors must also ensure that all contributors to the manuscript are appropriately acknowledged.

Responsibility of Reviewers

Reviewers must conduct their evaluations with integrity and confidentiality. They should be objective, provide evidence-based assessments, and raise any ethical issues (e.g., plagiarism, data manipulation) they encounter. If reviewers have any conflicts of interest, they must disclose them and recuse themselves from the review process if necessary.

Responsibility of Editors

Editors are responsible for ensuring that ethical guidelines are followed throughout the editorial process. This includes overseeing the peer review process, ensuring that authors are provided with clear feedback, and addressing any ethical concerns that arise, such as allegations of misconduct or conflicts of interest. Editors must also ensure that decisions are made in a transparent, fair, and unbiased manner.

Handling Allegations of Misconduct

Reporting Misconduct

TISJ encourages the responsible reporting of ethical breaches or research misconduct. Any concerns regarding the ethical conduct of a manuscript or research should be submitted to the editorial office, where the matter will be investigated in accordance with COPE guidelines.

Investigating Allegations

All allegations of misconduct will be investigated thoroughly and confidentially. The editorial team will work with the involved parties, including institutions and ethical oversight bodies, to address the issue in a fair and transparent manner.

Consequences of Misconduct

If misconduct is confirmed, appropriate actions will be taken, including issuing corrections, expressions of concern, or retracting articles if necessary. The authors and relevant parties will be informed, and the findings will be documented in accordance with COPE guidelines.

Conclusion

At TISJ, we are committed to promoting high ethical standards in all aspects of scientific publishing. This Ethical Oversight Policy reflects our dedication to transparency, fairness, and integrity in the research process. By adhering to these guidelines, we aim to foster a responsible, ethical, and rigorous scientific community.

For any questions regarding this policy or ethical concerns related to a manuscript or publication, please contact the editorial office at journal@topitalianscientists.org.