Ethical Guidelines

Introduction

The guidelines aim to provide a thorough and updated perspective on publishing ethics, specifically tailored for the Indus Journal of Law and Social Sciences (IJLSS). These guidelines are intended to support all stakeholders involved in scholarly publishing, including societies, editors, authors, librarians, students, funders, corporations, and journalists, by offering best practice guidance from leading organizations globally.

Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE)

IJLSS strongly encourages all editors to consider membership in the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE). COPE provides valuable resources, such as codes of conduct, e-learning tools, and seminars, to help maintain high ethical standards in publishing. COPE's resources are designed to assist editors in managing ethical issues in a systematic and consistent manner. Editors are urged to familiarize themselves with COPE's code of conduct for both publishers and editors, which offers detailed guidance on a wide range of ethical issues.

Ethics Helpdesk at IJLSS

Editors and authors should initially consult their IJLSS publisher or journal publishing manager for any ethical concerns. If further assistance is required, the IJLSS ethics helpdesk can be contacted at ethics@ijlss.org. The helpdesk provides support and guidance on complex ethical issues, ensuring that all concerns are addressed promptly and effectively.

Addressing Ethical Issues

Ethical issues in journal publishing are best managed as a collaborative effort. Discussions should involve editors, publishers, and other journal team members before any action is taken. In cases involving legal implications, such as defamation, breach of contract, or copyright infringement, legal advice should be sought. Serious misconduct cases may also require involving relevant institutions, employers, or funders to conduct thorough investigations. Editors should document all steps taken to address ethical issues, ensuring transparency and accountability.

Research Integrity and Misconduct

Research misconduct, including fabrication, falsification, and plagiarism, undermines the integrity of scholarly publishing. IJLSS follows international models for responding to misconduct, such as the guidelines provided by the Office of Research Integrity (ORI). Journal publishing teams are expected to play an active role in identifying and addressing potential cases of unethical research practices. Institutions should be responsible for conducting investigations into suspected misconduct, but journals may also take action in cases of plagiarism or image manipulation. Clear policies and procedures should be in place to handle these issues, ensuring that all relevant parties are informed and involved in the resolution process.

Whistleblowing

IJLSS takes allegations of suspected misconduct seriously. Whistleblowers, whether anonymous or named, should provide detailed evidence to support their claims. Editors can refer to COPE for guidance on handling whistleblower communications, ensuring that all concerns are addressed fairly and transparently. Journals should have clear policies on how to handle whistleblower reports, including mechanisms for protecting the identity of whistleblowers and ensuring that their concerns are thoroughly investigated.

Fabrication, Falsification, and Image Manipulation

Fabrication and falsification involve making up or altering data to mislead readers. Image manipulation, when done to produce misleading results, is also considered fabrication or falsification. Journals should educate authors on appropriate image manipulation techniques and may use software tools to check images for manipulation. Authors are required to declare any image manipulations, and journals should provide clear guidelines in their instructions for authors. Editors should be vigilant in identifying potential cases of image manipulation and take appropriate action when misconduct is detected.

Plagiarism

Plagiarism, including the unattributed copying of another's work, is a serious ethical violation. IJLSS uses tools like CrossCheck to detect instances of overlapping and similar text. Authors must understand that plagiarism, whether intentional or not, is unacceptable. Journals should have clear plagiarism policies, communicate these policies to authors, and take decisive action when plagiarism is detected. This may include rejecting the manuscript, notifying the author's institution, and, in severe cases, retracting published articles.

Duplicate and Redundant Publication

Duplicate or redundant publication involves submitting the same material to multiple journals or publishing the same content in different forms without proper attribution. This practice is strictly prohibited as it wastes resources and can inflate the perceived significance of certain findings. Authors must avoid reproducing verbatim content from their other publications and should clearly label any previously published results. Journals should have processes in place to detect and handle duplicate publications, and any redundant articles should be retracted following COPE guidelines. Authors are encouraged to be transparent about related publications and should provide copies of related work to editors at the time of submission.

Research Ethics in Journal Articles

Authors must adhere to ethical standards regarding human rights, privacy, confidentiality, cultural heritage, clinical trials registration, animal research, and biosecurity. IJLSS provides specific guidelines to ensure that all research respects these ethical considerations. For example, research involving human subjects should follow the Declaration of Helsinki, and clinical trials should be registered in a recognized registry. Authors should obtain necessary approvals and informed consent for their research and ensure that their studies are conducted in accordance with ethical principles. Journals should require authors to include statements on ethical approval and informed consent in their manuscripts.

Editorial Standards and Processes

IJLSS maintains high editorial standards, ensuring transparency in authorship, funding, peer review, conflicts of interest, and editorial independence. Editors and journal staff should avoid any conflicts of interest that could compromise the integrity of the editorial process. Clear policies should be in place for managing conflicts of interest, and these should be communicated to all stakeholders. The peer review process should be transparent and fair, with mechanisms to address potential biases and ensure the quality and integrity of published research. Editors should provide clear guidance to reviewers and authors on the expectations for peer review and the criteria for manuscript evaluation.

Authorship and Contributorship

Determining authorship can be challenging, especially in collaborative projects. IJLSS follows the guidelines of the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE), which state that authorship should be based on substantial contributions to conception and design, data acquisition, or analysis and interpretation of data; drafting the article or revising it critically for important intellectual content; and final approval of the version to be published. All individuals who meet these criteria should be listed as authors. Conversely, those who do not meet these criteria but have contributed in other ways should be acknowledged appropriately. Journals should require authors to provide a detailed description of each contributor's role and ensure that all contributors agree on the author order and contributions.

Handling Complaints and Appeals

IJLSS has clear procedures for handling complaints and appeals from authors, reviewers, or readers. Complaints should be addressed promptly and fairly, with the aim of resolving issues through dialogue and transparency. Appeals against editorial decisions should be considered by an independent panel or editor who was not involved in the original decision. All complaints and appeals should be documented, and policies should be in place to prevent retaliation against those who raise legitimate concerns.

Copyright and Intellectual Property

Before publication, authors must transfer copyright to IJLSS or sign an open access agreement. Journals should ensure that all published content respects copyright and intellectual property laws. Authors should obtain necessary permissions for any third-party material included in their manuscripts. Journals should clearly communicate their copyright and open access policies to authors, and provide guidance on how to handle copyright issues.

Resources for Responsible Publication

IJLSS provides various resources, including COPE flowcharts and sample letters, to help editors and authors navigate ethical challenges in publishing. These resources are designed to ensure that all stakeholders uphold the highest standards of integrity and responsibility in scholarly publishing. Journals should make these resources readily available to authors, reviewers, and editorial staff, and provide training on ethical publishing practices.

By adhering to these comprehensive best practice guidelines, IJLSS aims to promote ethical publishing and maintain the trust of the scholarly community. These guidelines ensure that all stakeholders are aware of their responsibilities and are equipped to handle ethical issues effectively, contributing to the overall integrity and quality of scholarly publishing.