Publication Ethics
Shodhpith International Multidisciplinary Research Journal is the leading high quality International open access, peer-reviewed and refereed, multidisciplinary, Online published research journal. The Shodhpith International Multidisciplinary Research Journal strictly follows the COPE guidelines/policies on publishing ethics. Any complaints or appeals or conflicts of interest/competing interests will be dealt with as per the latest COPE guidelines/policies. Please visit https://publicationethics.org/ for more details.
These guidelines aim to promote the integrity, transparency, and reliability of scientific research, ensure that it is conducted ethically and with appropriate rigor, and prevent any misconduct or ethical violations.
Duties of Editors
➤ Publication Decisions:
- ☀ Editors hold full authority to accept, reject, or request revisions to manuscripts based on the review reports from the Editorial Review Board.
➤ Manuscript Review Process:
- ☀ Editors must ensure that each manuscript undergoes an initial originality check using appropriate software. After the desk review, the manuscript is forwarded for a blind peer review by the editorial review board, which provides recommendations for acceptance, rejection, or necessary modifications.
➤ Fair Evaluation:
- ☀ Manuscripts submitted to the journal must be reviewed solely based on their intellectual content, without bias towards the author’s gender, race, religion, nationality, or other personal attributes.
➤ Ensuring Confidentiality:
- ☀ Editors are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of all information related to submitted manuscripts.
➤ Conflict of Interest and Confidentiality:
- ☀ Editors must not use any unpublished material from submitted manuscripts for their personal research without obtaining written consent from the authors.
➤ Correction of Errors (Errata):
- ☀ If necessary, editors must ensure that corrections or errata pages are published to address any errors in previously published content.
➤ Ethical Standards Compliance:
- ☀ All research materials published by the editor must adhere to international ethical guidelines and publishing standards.
➤ Handling Misconduct Allegations:
- ☀ Editors should not reject manuscripts based solely on suspicion; there must be concrete evidence of misconduct before taking any action.
➤ Accountability and Editorial Duties:
- ☀ Editors are required to participate in four annual virtual meetings to discuss journal policies, scope, and potential improvements. They may propose new ideas, initiatives, and programs for publication. Additionally, they may assist in identifying special issue topics, reviewing submitted manuscripts, or inviting new authors and submissions when necessary.
Authors' duties
➤ Adherence to Publication Guidelines:
- ⬙ It is the author's responsibility to fully comply with the journal's submission guidelines. (Refer to submission guidelines policies).
➤ Originality of Work:
- ⬙ It is the author's responsibility to ensure that their work is entirely original.
- ⬙ uthors must certify that their manuscript has not been previously published elsewhere.
➤ Multiple Journal Submissions:
- ⬙ Authors must certify that the manuscript is not currently under consideration for publication in any other journal.
➤ Peer Review Process:
- ⬙ Authors are required to participate in the peer review process. (Refer to the review process and expected timeline)
➤ Paper Authorship:
- ⬙ Each author listed in the paper must have made a significant contribution to the research.
➤ Retention of Raw Data:
- ⬙ Authors must provide raw data related to their manuscript for review by the editor.
➤ Data Authenticity:
- ⬙ Authors are responsible for identifying all sources used in the preparation of their manuscript.
- ⬙ The authenticity and reliability of all data in the paper must be explicitly stated by the authors.
➤ Author Conflicts of Interest:
- ⬙ Authors must disclose any conflicts of interest to the editors.
➤ Fundamental Errors:
- ⬙ If an author discovers a significant error or inaccuracy in the manuscript, they are required to retract or correct the manuscript.
➤ Submission Checklist:
- ⬙ A checklist form for author submissions is available and must be completed by all authors. (Refer to the form).
➤ Human Subjects Research:
- ⬙ For research involving human subjects, all authors must cite approval from an Institutional Review Board (IRB).
Reviewers' responsibilities
➤ Confidentiality Maintenance:
- ◆ Reviewers must keep all information regarding submitted manuscripts confidential and treat it as privileged information.
➤ Source Acknowledgment:
- ◆ It is the responsibility of reviewers to verify that all sources of data used in the research have been properly cited and acknowledged.
➤ Objectivity in Evaluation:
- ◆ Reviews should be conducted with complete objectivity, ensuring that personal bias does not influence the assessment of the manuscript. (Refer to the manuscript review guidelines for more details)
➤ Providing Supporting Arguments:
- ◆ Reviewers must clearly articulate their opinions and provide logical, evidence-based justifications for their comments and decisions.
➤ Detecting Fraud and Plagiarism:
- ◆ If a reviewer suspects plagiarism or substantial duplication of previously published work, they must report it to the editor and cite the original source.
➤ Identifying Relevant Work:
- ◆ Reviewers should ensure that any important published work relevant to the topic, but not cited by the author, is identified and recommended for inclusion.
➤ Avoiding Conflicts of Interest:
- ◆ Reviewers must not have any conflicts of interest arising from competitive, collaborative, or personal relationships with the authors, affiliated institutions, or companies involved in the research.
➤ Timely Completion:
- ◆ If a reviewer is unable to complete the review within the given timeframe, they must inform the editor promptly so that an alternative reviewer can be assigned.
➤ Editorial Participation:
- ◆ The editorial board conducts two virtual meetings annually where reviewers contribute ideas, suggest new initiatives, and propose improvements for the journal.
➤ Review Duties:
- ◆ Reviewers are responsible for assessing submitted manuscripts, recommending topics for special issues, and inviting potential authors to contribute to the journal when necessary.
Journal Content Access
- ⚫ Commitment to Accessibility – Publishers are dedicated to ensuring that scholarly research remains permanently accessible.
- ⚫ Long-Term Preservation – Scholarly materials are preserved through partnerships with various organizations and the maintenance of dedicated digital archives.
⚫ Open Access Policy – The journal follows an open-access model, allowing unrestricted access to its published research for all readers.
