Publication Ethics

The International Journal of Artificial Intelligence and Smart Systems (IJAISS) is committed to maintaining high ethical standards in the publication process. We follow the best practices and guidelines established by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) to ensure integrity, transparency, and the highest quality of academic publishing. The following ethics are applied to all aspects of publication: submission, peer review, and decision-making processes.

Duties of Authors

  1. Originality and Plagiarism:
    Authors must submit original work, and any part of the manuscript that has been previously published or submitted elsewhere must be properly cited. Plagiarism, including self-plagiarism, is strictly prohibited.
  2. Accuracy and Integrity of Research:
    Authors must ensure the accuracy of the data presented in their manuscript. Fabrication, falsification, or manipulation of data is not acceptable. Authors must provide honest and accurate reports of their research methods and findings.
  3. Authorship and Acknowledgments:
    Authors should ensure that all individuals who have made significant contributions to the research are listed as co-authors. Corresponding authors must ensure that all co-authors have seen and approved the final version of the manuscript before submission.
  4. Conflict of Interest:
    Authors must disclose any financial or personal relationships that could influence their work. Conflicts of interest, whether direct or indirect, should be clearly stated in the manuscript.
  5. Errors and Corrections:
    If any significant errors are found in the manuscript after publication, authors are obligated to promptly notify the journal editor and work with them to correct or retract the paper.

Duties of Editors

  1. Fair and Unbiased Decisions:
    Editors are responsible for making publication decisions based solely on the intellectual content of manuscripts. Editorial decisions are made without regard to the authors' race, gender, religious belief, ethnicity, or political philosophy.
  2. Confidentiality:
    Editors must treat all submitted manuscripts as confidential. They should not disclose any manuscript details to anyone other than the corresponding author, reviewers, or members of the editorial team.
  3. Conflicts of Interest:
    Editors should not be involved in the review of manuscripts in which they have a conflict of interest. If a conflict of interest exists, the editor should recuse themselves from the decision-making process.
  4. Transparency and Accountability:
    Editors must ensure that the peer review process is transparent and unbiased. The decision-making process should be clearly communicated to authors, and reviewers’ comments should be provided when relevant.

Duties of Reviewers

  1. Confidentiality:
    Reviewers must treat all manuscripts as confidential documents. They should not discuss or disclose manuscript details to others without permission from the editor.
  2. Impartial Evaluation:
    Reviewers are expected to evaluate manuscripts objectively, focusing on the quality and scientific merit of the work. Personal biases or conflicts of interest should not influence the review process.
  3. Constructive Feedback:
    Reviewers should provide constructive feedback that helps authors improve the quality of their manuscripts. Negative comments should be supported by clear reasoning and evidence.
  4. Conflict of Interest:
    Reviewers must disclose any conflicts of interest related to the manuscript they are reviewing. If they have any personal, professional, or financial relationship with the authors that could influence their judgment, they should recuse themselves from the review process.
  5. Acknowledging Prior Work:
    Reviewers should identify any relevant published work that has not been cited by the authors. They should also alert the editor to any substantial similarity or overlap between the manuscript under review and other published works of which they are aware.

Handling of Research Misconduct

In cases of suspected research misconduct (such as plagiarism, data fabrication, or falsification), the journal will follow the guidelines set by COPE. If misconduct is confirmed, appropriate action will be taken, including retraction or correction of the manuscript.

The IJAISS editorial board is committed to investigating all allegations of research misconduct and ensuring the integrity of the scientific record. This includes working with authors, institutions, and other relevant bodies to resolve the issue appropriately.