Ethics of Journal Editors / Associate Editors
Conflicts of interest: Editors / Associate Editors recuse themselves from the peer review process when they have a conflict of interest or personal stake in the publication of a research work.
Confidentiality: Editors / Associate Editors must follow the double-blind peer-review process. Neither the authors nor the reviewers know each other's identity. The Editors / Associate Editors are obliged to preserve confidentiality and they neither disclose the contents of the manuscript nor the identity of the author throughout the review process. Comments, information or ideas obtained through the peer review must be kept confidential and not used for personal advantage. Unpublished materials disclosed in a submitted manuscript must not be quoted or referenced by an editor without the express written consent of the author.
Objectivity: Decisions on publication will be made objectively after reviewing the submitted manuscript and the peer reviews. The importance of the article's contribution to the existing research in its field, the quality of articulation of the argument, and the strength of the evidence provided are critical factors in the decision to publish an article.
Publication Decision: Journal Editors / Associate Editors will not accept articles which have been published (except in the form of an abstract) or are being considered for publication by another journal. Papers being considered here should not be submitted to other journals. The Editors / Associate Editors should select reviewers based on the content and scope of the submitted manuscripts, reviewers’ area of expertise, and freedom from conflict of interest. The Editors / Associate Editors are responsible for deciding which articles should be published. The Editors / Associate Editors are guided by the policies of the Journal's Editorial Board and constrained by such legal requirements as shall then be in force regarding libel, copyright infringement and plagiarism. The Editors may confer with the Associate Editors or the Reviewers for this decision making.