SSR Publisher Publication Ethics

SSR Publisher is committed to upholding the highest standards of publication ethics. Our ethical guidelines are based on internationally recognized principles and are designed to ensure transparency, integrity, and fairness in the publication process. Authors, reviewers, and editors are expected to adhere to these principles to maintain the credibility of scholarly research.

1. Authorship Ethics

• Criteria for Authorship: Authorship should be limited to individuals who have made significant contributions to the conception, design, execution, or interpretation of the reported study. All listed authors must have agreed to the final version of the manuscript and consented to its submission.
• Corresponding Author: The corresponding author is responsible for the submission process and communication with the journal. They must ensure that all co-authors have approved the final manuscript and agree to its submission.
• Acknowledgment of Contributors: Contributors who do not meet the criteria for authorship should be acknowledged. This includes individuals who provided technical help, writing assistance, or financial support.

2. Originality and Plagiarism

• Original Work: Authors must ensure that their manuscript is entirely original and that any work or words of others are appropriately cited or quoted. The submission of previously published work or simultaneous submissions to multiple journals is strictly prohibited.
• Plagiarism Detection: All manuscripts will be screened using plagiarism detection software. Plagiarism in any form, including self-plagiarism, will result in rejection or retraction of the manuscript.

3. Data Integrity and Transparency

• Data Accuracy: Authors must present accurate data and results in their research. Manipulation or fabrication of data is considered unethical and will lead to immediate rejection or retraction.
• Data Availability: Authors should be prepared to provide raw data for editorial review and public access if requested. Ensuring that data is accurately represented and stored is the responsibility of the authors.

4. Conflicts of Interest

• Disclosure: Authors must disclose any financial or personal relationships that could potentially influence their research or interpretation of the findings. Conflicts of interest include, but are not limited to, funding sources, affiliations, and financial interests.
• Editorial and Reviewer Transparency: Editors and reviewers must disclose any conflicts of interest that may affect their impartiality during the review process. If a conflict exists, the individual should recuse themselves from the review or editorial decision.

5. Ethical Approval and Research Integrity

• Human and Animal Subjects: Research involving human participants or animals must adhere to ethical standards and obtain approval from relevant institutional review boards or ethics committees. Authors must include a statement in the manuscript confirming ethical approval and adherence to guidelines.
• Informed Consent: For studies involving human participants, informed consent must be obtained, and privacy rights should be respected. Authors must protect the anonymity of research participants and provide sufficient evidence that consent has been obtained.

6. Peer Review Process

• Reviewer Responsibilities: Peer reviewers play a vital role in ensuring the quality and integrity of the research. They must maintain confidentiality, provide objective and constructive feedback, and disclose any conflicts of interest.
• Double-Blind Review: SSR Publisher employs a double-blind peer review process, where both the identities of authors and reviewers are kept confidential to avoid bias.
• Unbiased Assessment: Reviewers and editors must ensure that manuscripts are evaluated on the basis of their intellectual content without regard to the race, gender, sexual orientation, religious beliefs, ethnic origin, citizenship, or political views of the authors.

7. Corrections and Retractions

• Error Corrections: If an author discovers a significant error or inaccuracy in their published work, it is their responsibility to promptly notify the journal’s editorial office so that a correction or retraction can be issued.
• Retraction Policy: In cases of serious ethical violations, such as plagiarism, data fabrication, or falsification, the journal reserves the right to retract the article. A retraction notice will be issued to maintain the integrity of the academic record.

8. Publication Misconduct

• Duplicate Submissions: Submitting the same manuscript to more than one journal simultaneously is unethical and unacceptable. Authors should not submit work that has already been published elsewhere.
• Image Manipulation: Authors must not enhance, obscure, move, remove, or introduce specific features within an image. Any adjustments should be applied equally to the entire image and reported transparently.
• Redundant Publication: The division of a study into multiple parts (also known as salami slicing) without proper justification is unethical. Each manuscript should represent a significant, unique contribution to the field.

9. Responsibilities of Editors

• Editorial Independence: Editors are responsible for the final decision on whether a manuscript should be published. Decisions should be based on the manuscript’s merit, originality, and importance, without external influence.
• Confidentiality: Editors must maintain the confidentiality of the submission and the peer review process. Information regarding a submitted manuscript should not be disclosed to anyone other than the corresponding author, reviewers, and editorial board members.
• Appeals and Complaints: Authors have the right to appeal editorial decisions. Appeals should be based on scientific grounds and will be reviewed impartially. Complaints regarding unethical behavior will be taken seriously and investigated thoroughly.

10. Responsibilities of Reviewers

• Confidentiality: Reviewers must keep all information regarding the manuscript confidential and review objectively.
• Acknowledgment of Sources: Reviewers should identify any relevant published work that has not been cited by the authors. They should also bring to the editor’s attention any substantial similarity or overlap between the manuscript under review and any other published paper.
• Timeliness: Reviewers are expected to submit their reports within the stipulated time frame. If they are unable to meet the deadline, they should inform the editorial office promptly.