Publication ethics

Publication Ethics and Publication Malpractice Statement

For all parties involved in the act of publishing (the author, the journal editor(s), the peer reviewer and the publisher) it is necessary to agree upon standards of expected ethical behavior. The ethics statements Analyses and Studies CASP are based on the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) Best Practice Guidelines for Journal Editors.

EDITOR RESPONSIBILITIES

Accountability

The scientific editor plays a pivotal role in shaping the content of the journal. They are responsible for selecting articles suitable for publication as well as ensuring the overall quality and integrity of the material presented to readers. When making editorial decisions, the editor adheres to both the journal’s editorial guidelines and applicable legal standards—particularly regarding intellectual property protection, plagiarism prevention, and defamation issues. The editor may consult with members of the editorial team and reviewers to uphold the highest scholarly standards. Additionally, the editor is obliged to address any irregularities by publishing corrections, clarifications, retractions, or apologies when necessary. In this way, the editor not only oversees the publishing process but also safeguards the credibility and ethical accountability of the journal.

Impartiality and fairness

The editor is obliged to evaluate submitted articles impartially, focusing solely on their substantive content, regardless of the author’s race, gender, sexual orientation, religious beliefs, ethnic background, nationality, or political views. All information related to the reviewed manuscripts is kept strictly confidential and is shared only with the authors, reviewers, potential reviewers, and, in justified cases, selected members of the editorial team or editorial board. Such discretion forms the foundation of trust and integrity in the review process.

 

Confidentiality

No editor or member of the editorial team is permitted to disclose any details about a submitted manuscript to third parties, except for the authors, reviewers, potential reviewers, other editorial consultants such as translators or language proofreaders, and the publisher. Maintaining this confidentiality is fundamental to protecting the rights of authors and ensuring the integrity of the publishing process.

Disclosure, Conflicts of Interest, and Related Matters

Unpublished materials contained within submitted manuscripts must not be used in the editor’s own research without the explicit written consent of the author. Confidential information and ideas obtained during the review process must be treated with the utmost discretion and cannot be exploited for personal gain.

The editor is responsible for ensuring that financial aspects such as advertising, reprints, or other commercial revenues do not influence editorial decisions. The priority is to maintain a fair, rigorous, and objective evaluation of every submitted article.

Before initiating the review of a manuscript, the editor must disclose any potential conflicts of interest arising from competition, collaboration, or other relationships with the authors, affiliated companies, or institutions connected to the submission. In such cases, the editor is obliged to delegate the review process to associate editors or other members of the editorial team.

The editorial office requires all collaborators to fully disclose any significant competing interests. Should conflicting interests come to light after publication, appropriate corrections must be issued promptly, and if necessary, further actions such as article retraction or publication of a correction should be undertaken.

Involvement and cooperation in investigations

The editor serves as the guardian of the journal’s credibility and integrity, proactively ensuring the accuracy of published content by implementing necessary corrections and retracting articles when warranted. They are tasked with diligently identifying questionable research and potential irregularities within publications. The editor must closely oversee the peer review process, detecting editorial oversights and reviewer errors. When ethical concerns arise regarding submitted or published works, the editor is obligated to take decisive and appropriate actions to uphold the highest standards of scholarly integrity.

REVIEWER RESPONSIBILITIES

 

Contribution to Editorial Decisions
The review process plays a crucial role in guiding editorial decisions by providing the editor with a thorough and objective assessment. Additionally, it serves as a vital communication channel between the editorial team and the author, helping to enhance the quality of the manuscript.

Timeliness
Any reviewer invited to evaluate a manuscript who feels unqualified or unable to complete the review within the specified timeframe should promptly notify the editor. This allows the editorial team to assign the task to an alternative reviewer.

Confidentiality
All manuscripts under review must be treated as confidential documents. Sharing or discussing their content with individuals outside the review process, without the editor’s explicit permission, is strictly prohibited.

Objectivity
Reviews should be conducted with impartiality and focus on the content. Personal criticism of the authors is unacceptable. Reviewers are expected to express their opinions clearly and support their assessments with well-reasoned arguments.

Verification of Sources
Reviewers should identify relevant published works that the authors have overlooked. Any claim that observations or arguments have been previously published must be backed by appropriate citations. Significant similarities or overlap between the manuscript and other published works should be brought to the editor’s attention.

Disclosure and Conflicts of Interest
Privileged information or ideas gained through the review process must be treated as confidential and not used for personal advantage. Reviewers should refrain from evaluating manuscripts where conflicts of interest arise due to competition, collaboration, or other relationships with the authors, affiliated companies, or institutions.

AUTHOR'S RESPONSIBILITIES

Accuracy in Reporting Research Findings
Authors presenting original research should provide a thorough and precise account of their work, along with an objective discussion of the results and their significance. Essential data must be clearly documented, and the manuscript should include sufficient detail and references to enable others to replicate the study. Deliberate fabrication or falsification of information is strictly unethical.

Originality and Avoidance of Plagiarism
Authors must ensure their work is entirely original. Any use of others’ ideas, text, or data must be properly cited and attributed. Submitting the same research findings to multiple journals or publishing identical material in more than one primary source is considered unethical and unacceptable.

Acknowledgments and Funding Sources
Manuscripts should include acknowledgments for individuals or institutions that supported the research. Authors should also cite any publications that significantly influenced the framing or content of their work.

Authorship Criteria
Authorship should be limited to those who have made a substantial contribution to the conception, execution, and interpretation of the research. All significant contributors must be listed as co-authors, while those who participated in limited aspects of the project should be acknowledged separately. The corresponding author is responsible for ensuring that all co-authors have reviewed and approved the final version of the manuscript and consented to its publication.

Disclosure of Conflicts of Interest and Funding
Authors are required to disclose any financial or non-financial conflicts of interest that could be perceived as influencing the research outcomes or their interpretation. All sources of financial support for the study must be clearly identified.

Corrections of Published Errors
If significant errors or inaccuracies are discovered in a published work, authors must promptly notify the journal editor or publisher and cooperate in issuing corrections or retractions to maintain the scientific record’s integrity.

 

PUBLISHER'S STATEMENT

In instances where allegations or confirmed cases of scientific misconduct, unethical publication practices, or plagiarism arise, the publisher, in close collaboration with the journal editor, will take all appropriate measures to investigate the matter thoroughly and rectify the situation. These actions may include the prompt issuance of a correction (erratum) or, in more severe cases, the complete retraction of the article to uphold the integrity and trustworthiness of the scholarly record.