Publication Ethics
The Journal of Integrative Biology (JIB) is committed to maintaining the highest standards of publication ethics and takes all possible measures against publication malpractice. This statement is based on the guidelines and best practices recommended by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).
1. Duties of Authors
- Authors must ensure that their work is original and has not been published elsewhere.
- All listed authors must have made a significant contribution to the research.
- Proper acknowledgment of the work of others must be given through appropriate citations.
- Authors must disclose any potential conflicts of interest.
- All data presented must be accurate and honestly reported.
2. Duties of Editors
- Editors are responsible for deciding which submitted manuscripts should be published.
- Editorial decisions are based on scientific merit, originality, clarity, and relevance.
- Editors must ensure a fair and unbiased peer-review process.
- Confidentiality of submitted manuscripts must be maintained.
- Editors must not use unpublished materials for their own research.
3. Duties of Reviewers
- Reviewers assist editors in making editorial decisions through objective evaluation.
- All manuscripts received for review must be treated as confidential documents.
- Reviews should be conducted objectively, with constructive and respectful feedback.
- Reviewers should disclose conflicts of interest and recuse themselves if necessary.
4. Peer Review Process
The Journal of Integrative Biology follows a single-blind peer review process, in which reviewers remain anonymous to authors. Each manuscript is reviewed by experts in the relevant field to ensure scientific quality and integrity.
5. Plagiarism Policy
Plagiarism in any form is unacceptable and constitutes unethical publishing behavior. All submitted manuscripts are screened using plagiarism detection software. Manuscripts found to contain plagiarism will be rejected immediately.
6. Ethical Approval
- Human Studies: Must comply with the Declaration of Helsinki and include informed consent.
- Animal Studies: Must follow institutional, national, and international guidelines.
- Data Integrity: Authors must ensure transparency and reproducibility of data.
7. Retractions and Corrections
The journal reserves the right to retract or correct articles if significant errors, ethical violations, or misconduct are identified after publication.
8. Conflict of Interest
All participants in the publication process must disclose any financial or personal relationships that could influence the work. Transparency is essential to maintain trust in the scientific record.
9. Complaints and Appeals
Authors may submit complaints or appeals regarding editorial decisions. All such cases will be handled transparently and in accordance with COPE guidelines.