Publication Ethics

This journal is committed to upholding the highest standards of publication ethics and integrity. We adhere to the guidelines and principles set forth by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and other relevant international standards. All parties involved in the publication process—authors, reviewers, editors, and the publisher—are expected to comply with these ethical guidelines.

  1. Publication and Authorship

All submitted manuscripts must be original, not previously published, and not under consideration for publication elsewhere. Authors must accurately present their research findings and provide sufficient details and references for replication. Any form of plagiarism, including self-plagiarism, is strictly prohibited. Proper acknowledgment of all sources and contributions must be made. Authors must disclose any conflicts of interest that may influence the results or interpretation of their work.

  1. Author’s Responsibilities

Authors must ensure that their manuscript is free of falsified, fabricated, or manipulated data. All listed authors must have made significant contributions to the research and approve the final manuscript before submission. If errors or inaccuracies are discovered after publication, authors must promptly notify the journal to correct or retract the work if necessary. Authors must adhere to ethical guidelines for research involving human or animal subjects and obtain necessary approvals.

  1. Peer Review Process

The journal follows a rigorous double-blind peer review process to ensure impartial evaluation of manuscripts. Reviewers must evaluate submissions based on academic merit, originality, clarity, and relevance to the journal’s scope. They must maintain confidentiality regarding submitted manuscripts and must not use unpublished data for personal advantage. Any conflict of interest that could affect an objective review must be disclosed. Reviewers must report any suspected ethical violations or misconduct to the editorial board.

  1. Editorial Responsibilities

Editors have full authority to accept or reject a manuscript based on its scholarly quality and adherence to the journal’s ethical guidelines. They must ensure a fair and unbiased peer review process, free from conflicts of interest. Editors must maintain the confidentiality of submissions and must not use unpublished materials for personal research. Any ethical concerns or suspected misconduct must be investigated thoroughly, with appropriate actions taken, such as retractions or corrections. The editorial team must uphold the integrity of the publication process and prevent any unethical behaviour.

  1. Plagiarism and Academic Misconduct

The journal takes issues of plagiarism seriously. Any manuscript found to contain plagiarized content will be rejected immediately. If plagiarism is identified post-publication, the article may be retracted, and authors may face restrictions on future submissions. Authors must ensure proper citation of all sources and adhere to ethical research and publication practices.

  1. Conflicts of Interest

Authors, reviewers, and editors must disclose any financial or personal conflicts of interest that may influence their work. Conflicts of interest must be declared at the time of submission or review. If a conflict is discovered post-publication, corrective actions may be taken, including disclosures, corrections, or retractions.

  1. Retraction and Correction Policies

Articles may be retracted if significant ethical violations, errors, or misconduct are found post-publication. Corrections will be issued for minor errors that do not affect the overall integrity of the research. The journal follows COPE (Committee on Publication Ethics) guidelines for handling retractions and corrections.

  1. Ethical Oversight

The journal adheres to international ethical standards, including COPE and ICMJE (International Committee of Medical Journal Editors) guidelines. Ethical concerns regarding published content will be investigated, and necessary corrective actions will be taken. Authors, reviewers, and editors must comply with ethical standards to maintain the credibility and integrity of the journal.

  1. Reporting Ethical Concerns

If you suspect any ethical misconduct related to a submission or published article in the journal, please contact the Research Integrity and Ethics team at ethics@hummingbirdjournals.com and copy editorial office. All concerns will be treated confidentially and investigated promptly.