Ethics Policy

Scipora and all journals published on its platform are committed to upholding the highest standards of publication ethics, integrity, and transparency in scholarly communication. This Ethics Policy is designed to ensure that all parties involved in the publication process—authors, editors, reviewers, and the publisher—adhere to ethical principles that safeguard the credibility of the academic record.

1. Research Integrity and Originality

Submitted manuscripts must represent original work and must not be under consideration elsewhere. Authors are responsible for ensuring the accuracy of data, results, and references. Any form of plagiarism, data fabrication, falsification, or manipulation is strictly prohibited.

2. Author Responsibilities

Authors are expected to:

• Present accurate and honest research findings
• Properly cite all sources and acknowledge prior work
• Ensure that all listed co-authors have made significant contributions and approve the final manuscript
• Disclose any potential conflicts of interest
• Obtain necessary ethical approvals for research involving humans, animals, or sensitive data

3. Editorial Responsibilities

Editors are responsible for:

• Ensuring a fair, unbiased, and confidential review process
• Evaluating submissions solely on academic merit, relevance, and originality
• Managing conflicts of interest appropriately
• Acting promptly on ethical concerns, including allegations of misconduct
• Safeguarding the integrity of the peer-review process

4. Reviewer Responsibilities

Reviewers are expected to:

• Provide objective, constructive, and timely evaluations
• Maintain strict confidentiality regarding submitted manuscripts
• Disclose any conflicts of interest before accepting a review assignment
• Avoid using unpublished material for personal advantage
• Report any suspected ethical issues to the editorial team

5. Plagiarism and Misconduct

All submissions are subject to screening for plagiarism and other forms of academic misconduct. In cases of confirmed ethical violations, journals may take appropriate action, including rejection, retraction, or notification of relevant institutions.

6. Conflicts of Interest

All participants in the publication process must disclose any financial, institutional, or personal relationships that could influence their judgment. Journals are responsible for managing such conflicts transparently and appropriately.

7. Human and Animal Research Ethics

Research involving human participants or animals must comply with internationally recognized ethical standards and obtain approval from relevant ethics committees. Authors must clearly state compliance within their manuscripts.

8. Corrections and Retractions

Journals maintain procedures for issuing corrections, expressions of concern, or retractions when necessary to preserve the accuracy of the scholarly record. Transparency is prioritized in all post-publication updates.

9. Publisher Role

Scipora provides publishing infrastructure and operational support but does not participate in editorial decision-making or peer review. Responsibility for ethical oversight, manuscript evaluation, and publication decisions rests entirely with the respective journal’s editorial board.

This Ethics Policy reinforces Scipora’s commitment to maintaining trust, accountability, and integrity in scholarly publishing across all journals hosted on the platform.