Ethical Policy

Ethical Policy – Aitoz Multidisciplinary Review (AMR)

The Aitoz Multidisciplinary Review (AMR) is committed to maintaining the highest ethical standards in scholarly publishing. The journal adheres to the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) guidelines and ensures integrity, transparency, and fairness in all aspects of publishing.

1. Ethical Responsibilities of Authors

Authors submitting to AMR must:

  • Ensure their work is original and free from plagiarism (similarity must be below 15% as per Turnitin).
  • Properly cite all sources and avoid self-plagiarism or redundant publication.
  • Disclose any conflicts of interest related to funding, affiliations, or personal relationships.
  • Ensure their research follows ethical approval guidelines (for studies involving human or animal subjects).
  • Accurately present data, findings, and interpretations without fabrication or manipulation.
  • Take collective responsibility for the submitted work (all co-authors must approve the final version).

2. Ethical Responsibilities of Editors

Editors of AMR must:

  • Ensure fair and unbiased evaluation of all manuscripts.
  • Maintain confidentiality of submitted manuscripts and reviewer identities.
  • Make editorial decisions based solely on academic merit and originality.
  • Address ethical concerns, conflicts of interest, and research misconduct.
  • Follow COPE guidelines when handling retractions, corrections, or ethical violations.

3. Ethical Responsibilities of Reviewers

Peer reviewers play a vital role in maintaining the quality and integrity of AMR. Reviewers must:

  • Provide constructive, objective, and unbiased feedback.
  • Maintain confidentiality of the review process.
  • Avoid reviewing manuscripts where they have a conflict of interest.
  • Report any suspected plagiarism, data falsification, or unethical research.

4. Plagiarism and Research Misconduct

AMR strictly prohibits:

  • Plagiarism (using someone else's work without proper citation).
  • Duplicate or redundant publication (submitting the same research to multiple journals).
  • Data fabrication and falsification.
  • Unethical research practices, including failure to obtain ethical approval for human/animal studies.

Any case of research misconduct will be investigated and may result in:

  • Immediate rejection or retraction of the article.
  • Blacklisting of the author(s) from future submissions.
  • Informing relevant institutions and funding bodies.

5. Conflict of Interest Policy

Authors, editors, and reviewers must disclose any potential conflicts of interest that could affect the research or publication process.

Examples of conflicts of interest include:

  • Financial relationships with funding agencies or corporations.
  • Personal relationships with authors, editors, or reviewers.
  • Institutional affiliations that may influence editorial decisions.

6. Retraction and Correction Policy

If a published article is found to contain serious errors, ethical violations, or research misconduct, AMR follows COPE guidelines for:

  • Corrections (for minor errors that do not affect the validity of research).
  • Retractions (for severe ethical breaches or invalid research findings).

A Retraction Notice will be issued, and the original article will remain available with a clear "Retracted" label.

7. Ethical Approval for Research Involving Humans or Animals

  • Authors conducting research involving human participants must obtain approval from an institutional ethics committee and include an ethics statement in their manuscript.
  • For animal research, authors must comply with international ethical standards and mention ethical approvals.

8. Reporting of Ethical Violations

Anyone can report ethical concerns related to published articles or submission practices by emailing the editorial office at [editorial email]. AMR ensures a transparent and fair investigation of all complaints.

AMR is dedicated to upholding ethical publishing standards and fostering a credible and responsible research environment.