Ethics, Integrity & Retraction Policy
The Scientia Journal, published by Global Science Publisher, holds scholarly publishing to rigorous ethical standards. This policy follows COPE guidance and accepted international practice, with the aim of protecting research integrity, openness, and responsibility. Everyone involved—authors, reviewers, editors, and publisher staff—must follow these principles from submission through publication.
- Authorship and Credited Contributions
Authorship belongs only to those who have contributed substantially to the study, writing, or revision of the manuscript. Every listed co-author must approve the final submitted version. A supervisor, co-supervisor, or project co-investigator is not automatically an author; authorship depends on actual intellectual contribution. The corresponding author must confirm that all authors meet the criteria and must include a contribution statement at the end of the article.
- Initial Screening and Peer Review
All submissions are first checked for fit with the journal’s scope, formatting requirements, and similarity/plagiarism. Manuscripts that pass this stage go to double-blind review by at least two independent experts. Authors may recommend reviewers, but the editorial team decides who reviews. Reviewers must keep manuscripts confidential, disclose conflicts, and give fair, timely, and constructive reports.
- Research Integrity and Misconduct
The Scientia Journal does not permit:
- Plagiarism or self-plagiarism; submissions are screened with Turnitin.
- Fabrication or falsification of data, including selective reporting or manipulation.
- Duplicate or redundant publication, including sending the same work to more than one journal or republishing without meaningful new content.
- Gift, ghost, or honorary authorship, or leaving out contributors who deserve credit.
- Research without required ethical approval, especially for human or animal participants.
- If misconduct is confirmed, the journal may reject the manuscript, bar authors from future submission, notify institutions, or retract published work.
- Retractions, Corrections, and Errata
Corrections: Small errors that do not change the conclusions may be fixed through an erratum or corrigendum.
Retractions: Published articles may be retracted when serious ethical problems are proven, such as plagiarism, data falsification, or other major misconduct.
Expressions of Concern: If a serious concern is being investigated, the journal may publish a temporary notice while the matter is unresolved.
All correction and retraction notices follow COPE guidance and remain linked to the original article.
- Conflicts of Interest
Authors must reveal any financial, institutional, or personal interests that could affect their work. Reviewers must step aside if they have a conflict, such as a current or recent collaboration with an author or a financial stake in the outcome. Editors must not handle submissions in which they have a conflict; such cases are reassigned to another editorial member.
- Ethical Review for Human and Animal Research
Human studies must follow the Declaration of Helsinki and include ethics approval details. Animal research must meet internationally accepted standards, including ARRIVE and IACUC requirements where applicable. Authors need informed consent from human participants, especially when personal data, images, or case details are used.
- Responsibilities of Authors, Reviewers, and Editors
Authors: Ensure originality, accurate data, and correct citation. Obtain permission for reused figures, tables, or data. Keep raw data for at least five years and provide it if verification is needed.
Reviewers: Protect confidentiality, review without bias, disclose conflicts, and decline if unable to review fairly. Provide useful feedback that helps improve the manuscript.
Editors: Run a fair and transparent review process. Handle ethical complaints using COPE flowcharts. Issue corrections, expressions of concern, or retractions when needed.
- Reporting Misconduct and Appeals
Suspected ethical breaches—such as plagiarism or authorship disputes—should be reported to the Editor-in-Chief. A Fact-Finding Committee will examine the matter and recommend action. Authors may appeal an editorial decision by sending a formal justification within two weeks of being notified.
For more detailed ethical guidance, see the COPE Guidelines and DOAJ Best Practices.
This policy is issued by The Scientia Journal, Global Science Publisher.