1. Responsibilities of editors

Editors play a central role in maintaining the integrity and quality of the publication process. Editors are expected to:

Editorial independence

• Make editorial decisions based solely on academic merit, originality, relevance, and scholarly quality
• Maintain independence from commercial, institutional, or personal influence

Fair evaluation

Editors must evaluate manuscripts without discrimination based on:

• Nationality
• Gender
• Race
• Religion
• Political beliefs
• Institutional affiliation

Confidentiality

Editors must:

• Protect the confidentiality of submitted manuscripts
• Avoid unauthorized disclosure of manuscript information
• Ensure reviewer and author confidentiality where applicable

Conflict of interest

Editors should avoid handling manuscripts where conflicts of interest exist, including:

• Personal relationships
• Financial interests
• Institutional conflicts
• Competitive or collaborative relationships with authors

Ethical oversight

Editors are responsible for:

• Addressing ethical concerns
• Investigating allegations of misconduct
• Taking appropriate corrective actions, including retractions, corrections, or expressions of concern where necessary

2. Responsibilities of authors

Authors submitting to ABS Research Academy journals must adhere to ethical research and publication practices.

Originality

Authors must ensure that:

• Manuscripts are original
• Research findings are authentic
• Sources are appropriately cited
• Plagiarism is avoided in all forms

Multiple submission

Authors must not:

• Submit the same manuscript to multiple journals simultaneously
• Engage in duplicate or redundant publication without disclosure

Authorship integrity

Authorship should reflect significant scholarly contributions. Authors must avoid:

• Guest authorship
• Gift authorship
• Ghost authorship

All listed authors should approve the final manuscript before submission.

Data integrity

Authors must:

• Present accurate and reliable data
• Avoid fabrication or falsification of findings
• Retain data where appropriate for verification purposes

Ethical approval

Research involving:

• Human participants
• Animals
• Sensitive personal data

must include appropriate ethical approval and informed consent where applicable.

AI and generative tools disclosure

Authors using AI-assisted technologies must:

• Disclose the use of AI tools in manuscript preparation
• Verify the accuracy and originality of generated content
• Accept full responsibility for all submitted material

AI tools cannot be listed as authors.

Conflict of interest disclosure

Authors must disclose:

• Funding sources
• Sponsorships
• Financial interests
• Institutional relationships

that may influence the research or publication process.

3. Responsibilities of reviewers

Reviewers contribute significantly to publication quality and integrity.

Confidentiality

Reviewers must:

• Treat manuscripts as confidential documents
• Not share or misuse unpublished content

Objectivity

Reviews should:

• Be constructive and professional
• Focus on academic quality and scientific merit
• Avoid personal criticism

Conflict of interest

Reviewers should decline review invitations if conflicts of interest exist.

Timeliness

Reviewers are expected to:

• Complete reviews within assigned timelines
• Inform editors promptly if delays occur

4. Peer review standards

ABS Research Academy journals may implement:

• Double-blind peer review
• Single-blind peer review
• Editorial review systems

depending on journal policy.

Peer review must remain:

• Fair
• Transparent
• Objective
• Independent

Manipulation of peer review processes is strictly prohibited.

5. Plagiarism and similarity policy

All manuscripts may be screened using plagiarism detection software.

The following are prohibited:

• Direct plagiarism
• Self-plagiarism
• Mosaic plagiarism
• Unattributed paraphrasing
• Data plagiarism
• Citation manipulation

Manuscripts with unethical similarity levels may be rejected or retracted.

6. Research misconduct

ABS Research Academy journals do not tolerate:

• Data fabrication
• Data falsification
• Image manipulation
• Fake peer review
• Citation manipulation
• Ethical approval fraud
• Undisclosed conflicts of interest
• Authorship manipulation

Suspected misconduct will be investigated following ethical procedures inspired by COPE principles.

7. Corrections, retractions, and expressions of concern

Corrections

Minor errors may be corrected through:

• Errata
• Corrigenda
• Editorial notices

Retractions

Articles may be retracted if:

• Findings become unreliable
• Misconduct is confirmed
• Major ethical violations occur

Retraction notices will remain publicly accessible.

Expressions of concern

Editors may issue expressions of concern when investigations are ongoing or unresolved.

8. Complaints and appeals

Authors and reviewers may submit appeals or complaints regarding:

• Editorial decisions
• Peer review concerns
• Ethical issues
• Publication procedures

Complaints will be handled:

• Fairly
• Transparently
• Confidentially
• Professionally

9. Confidentiality and data protection

All stakeholders must respect confidentiality during the editorial and peer-review process.

Personal and research information will be handled according to applicable privacy and data protection standards.

10. Diversity, equity, and inclusion

ABS Research Academy promotes:

• Equal opportunity
• Diversity and inclusivity
• International collaboration
• Fair representation in editorial and reviewer selection

We strongly encourage participation from researchers across all regions and backgrounds.

11. Open access and accessibility

Our journals support open-access publishing to ensure:

• Global accessibility of research
• Wider dissemination of scientific knowledge
• Inclusive scholarly communication

Editorial decisions remain independent from APCs, sponsorships, or funding arrangements.

12. Editorial transparency

ABS Research Academy journals aim to maintain transparency regarding:

• Editorial processes
• Publication timelines
• APC and waiver policies
• Peer review systems
• Ethical standards and policies

13. Responsibilities of partner journals and editorial boards

Partner journals operating under ABS Research Academy are expected to:

• Follow ethical publishing standards
• Maintain transparent peer review
• Ensure editorial independence
• Uphold publication integrity
• Cooperate in misconduct investigations

ABS Research Academy may provide:

• Editorial support
• Reviewer assistance
• Publication management systems
• DOI and hosting services
• Ethical policy guidance

14. Continuous ethical improvement

ABS Research Academy continuously works to:

• Strengthen publication ethics practices
• Improve editorial standards
• Enhance transparency and accountability
• Promote responsible research and innovation

Policies may be updated periodically in accordance with evolving international publishing standards.

Contact information

Contact form · Journals