Publication Ethics

This page outlines the publication ethics for all parties involved, including Authors, Editors, and Reviewers. The basic ethical code of scientific publishing consists of three core values:

  1. Neutrality: All actions should be objective and not influenced by personal interests.
  2. Fairness: Providing equal rights and obligations to all parties based on their roles.
  3. Integrity: Freedom from duplication, fabrication, falsification, and plagiarism in publishing.

Author Responsibilities:

  • Reporting Standards
    Authors must present an accurate report of the research conducted, providing an objective discussion on the significance of the research. Data used should be accurately presented in the article. An article must include enough detail and references so that others can use and implement the work done by the author. Intentional falsification or misreporting of information is considered unethical and unacceptable.

  • Data Access and Retention
    Authors are required to provide raw data associated with the article for review and must be prepared to make the data accessible to the public (based on the ALPSP-STM Statement on Data and Databases). If possible, authors should retain the data after publication.

  • Originality and Plagiarism
    Authors must ensure that their work is completely original and the result of their own efforts. If they use the work and/or words of others, they must ensure that proper citations are made.

  • Duplicate, Redundant, and Concurrent Publication
    An author should not publish the same research in more than one journal or main publication. Submitting the same article to multiple journals simultaneously is unethical and unacceptable.

  • Acknowledgement of Sources
    Authors must appropriately acknowledge the work of others. All significant contributions to the research reported should be cited.

  • Authorship of Articles
    Authors should be limited to those who have made significant contributions to the conception, design, execution, or interpretation of the research reported. All who have made substantial contributions should be listed as co-authors. Those who participated in specific aspects of the research project should be acknowledged or listed as contributors. Corresponding authors should ensure that all appropriate authors are listed and that no inappropriate authors are included. Corresponding authors must ensure that all authors have seen and approved the final version of the article and agreed to its publication.

  • Disclosure of Information and Conflicts of Interest
    All authors must disclose any conflicts of interest, whether substantive or financial, that could influence the research outcomes or interpretation. All sources of financial support for the research must be disclosed.

  • Corrections to Published Work
    If an author discovers a significant error or inaccuracy in a published article, they are obliged to immediately notify the journal editor or publisher and cooperate with the editor to retract or correct the article.

  • Hazards and Human or Animal Subjects
    If the work involves hazardous materials, procedures, or equipment, authors must clearly identify this in the article.

Editor Responsibilities:

  • Fairness
    Editors evaluate authors’ articles without regard to race, gender, sexual orientation, religious belief, ethnicity, nationality, or political views of the authors.

  • Confidentiality
    Editors and editorial staff should not disclose any information about submitted articles to anyone other than the authors, reviewers, potential reviewers, other members of the editorial board, and the publisher.

  • Disclosure of Information and Conflicts of Interest
    Articles that are not selected for publication, whether due to rejection or for other reasons, should not be used by the editor for personal gain without the written consent of the author.

  • Publication Decisions
    The editor is responsible for deciding which articles should be published. This decision is based on the article’s suitability, validity, and relevance to other researchers and readers. Editors are guided by the journal’s editorial policy and constrained by legal provisions such as defamation, copyright infringement, and plagiarism. Editors may consult with other editors or reviewers in making this decision.

  • Article Review Process
    Editors must ensure that each article is checked for originality before being reviewed. Editors must fairly and wisely organize and assign reviewers. Editors should clearly explain the article review process in the "For Author" section. Editors must select qualified reviewers who are suitable for the subject matter of the article.

Reviewer Responsibilities:

  • Contributions to Editorial Decisions
    Reviewers assist editors in making editorial decisions and can help authors improve the quality of their articles by providing constructive comments.

  • Timeliness
    Reviewers who feel they are not qualified or interested in reviewing a manuscript, or who do not have enough time, should immediately inform the editor and withdraw from the review process.

  • Objectivity Standards
    Reviews should be conducted objectively. Personal criticism of the authors is inappropriate. Reviewers should clearly express their views with supporting arguments.

  • Confidentiality
    Any article received for review must be treated as a confidential document. It should not be shared or discussed with others unless authorized by the editor and the author.

  • Disclosure of Information and Conflicts of Interest
    Information or ideas obtained through the review process must be kept confidential and not used for personal gain. Reviewers should not make decisions influenced by conflicts of interest arising from competition, collaboration, or other connections with the author, company, or institution related to the article.

  • Acknowledgement of Sources
    Reviewers should identify references that have not been cited by the authors. Any observation, derivation, or argument previously reported should be accompanied by relevant citations. Reviewers should also inform the editor of any substantial similarity or overlap between the article under review and other articles they are aware of.