It’s important to ensure the integrity of scientific research. That’s why the publishers and editorial board of Acupuncture & Electro-therapeutics Research have adopted strict ethical guidelines, aligning themselves with the best practices of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE). These guidelines provide a clear framework for authors, reviewers, and editors, ensuring a fair and transparent publication process.
Authors: Honesty and Accountability
Authors play a crucial role in maintaining scientific integrity. They must ensure their contributions to the research and manuscript are genuine and substantial. This means that every author listed must have actively participated in the study, data analysis, and writing of the manuscript. No author can be removed during revisions without their consent and the agreement of all other authors. Similarly, adding new authors requires the consent of all existing authors, and it’s the corresponding author’s responsibility to ensure this process is followed diligently.
Transparency is paramount. Authors must declare any financial support or potential conflicts of interest that could influence their research. The International Committee for Medical Journal Editors provides detailed information on how to handle these disclosures.
Authors must also ensure the originality and novelty of their research. They must confirm that the same data has not been submitted to another journal, unless it was previously rejected. All claims made in the introduction and discussion sections must be supported by appropriate references and the methodology must be detailed enough for other researchers to replicate the study.
Plagiarism of text or data is strictly prohibited and could result in the retraction of an accepted article. Any text or figures reproduced from other sources require the explicit permission of the original copyright holders. Manipulating figures, such as applying pseudo-coloring, must be clearly described in the text and should not alter the original meaning of the data.
Finally, authors must obtain and clearly mention ethical approval for research involving humans, animals, or human tissues.
Reviewers: Guarding the Gate of Scientific Quality
Reviewers play a critical role in evaluating the quality and validity of research. They must maintain objectivity and avoid any conflicts of interest with the authors or their research. Their primary responsibility is to assess the scientific merit of the manuscript and provide constructive feedback for improvement. Reviewers should be alert to any relevant published work that might not have been cited and recommend the inclusion of these references. If they feel that the study’s methods are unclear or insufficient, they should request additional methodological details.
Remember, reviewers are entrusted with confidential information. They must treat all unpublished information they encounter as private and not share it with others.
Editors: Stewards of the Publication Process
Editors act as stewards of the publication process, ensuring a fair and unbiased evaluation of manuscripts. They carefully select an appropriate number of reviewers, ensuring a robust assessment of each submitted manuscript. The editors’ decision to reject or accept a manuscript must be based solely on its importance, originality, clarity, and suitability for the journal. They must not be influenced by any conflicts of interest with the authors or the research presented.
The editors are also responsible for maintaining the anonymity of the reviewers. If problems arise after a manuscript has been accepted, the editors commit to promoting the publication of corrections or retractions, as needed, to maintain the integrity of the scientific record.
Publishers: Ensuring Trust and Accuracy
The publishers are committed to upholding the highest ethical standards in publication. They strive to ensure the authenticity and ethical soundness of the information they publish. In the event of ethical concerns, including accusations of fraudulent data or plagiarism, the editorial board will conduct a thorough investigation, including contacting the authors’ institutions if necessary. This process will result in appropriate actions, such as corrections, clarifications, or retractions, to restore public confidence in the published research.
The publishers also actively support the NIH Public Access Policy, allowing authors of NIH-funded manuscripts to upload their final manuscripts to PubMedCentral. This ensures that the results of publicly funded research are readily accessible to the scientific community and the public.
