Editor in Chief: Dr. N. Rakesh, Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, FDS

Publication Ethics

Publication of research findings in peer-reviewed journals of impeccable standing is always an aspiration of a researcher. The Quality of journal and its academic reach hinge on the academic contributions and professional ethics exhibited by the authors, reviewers, editors and publisher. Since research is a systematic and scientific approach in search of knowledge and its dissemination; it is essential that certain ethical guidelines be adhered by everyone involved in the publication of research paper to sustain the continued Quality of the journal. Some of the widely accepted norms and standard ethical practices to be adopted by the authors, reviewers, editors and publishers can be summarized as follows:

Duties of Authors:

1. Originality and Reporting Standards

  • Authors are the primary contributors for the academic standard of the journal
  • The research reported in the submitted manuscript should be the original work and should not have been published apriori or currently should not be under review for any publication elsewhere
  • Since research is a honour and privilege, authors have the bounden obligation to reveal the research findings adopting the rule of revealing "Whole Truth, Only the Truth and Nothing but the Truth" philosophy
  • It is the responsibility of the authors to ensure that all the information and pertinent details be provided in the research paper to facilitate a reasonably knowledgeable researcher to prove, validate and verify the results and claims reported in the paper

ISSN: 2278-2494

2. Acknowledgement of Sources

  • If tables or figures have been reproduced from another source, a letter from the copyright holder (usually the Publisher), stating the authorization to reproduce the material must be attached along with the manuscript
  • Information availed from any source irrespective of the quantity should be acknowledged in the research paper by citing the source of information in the recommended format stipulated by the journal

3. Authorship of the Paper

  • All the individuals who have contributed to the formulation of the research problem, implementation and execution as well as in the verification should be given due credit as an author
  • All contributors to the research findings reported in the manuscript should be included in the list of authorship and all the authors listed in the manuscript should have clear identifiable contributions to the manuscript

4. Hazards and Human or Animal Subjects

  • Manuscripts with research findings involving hazards and human or animal subjects should not be submitted to the journal without the granted ethical clearance
  • The responsibility of obtaining the clearance from the appropriate ethical committee solely rests on the corresponding author

5. Disclosure and Conflicts of Interest

  • Any implicit or explicit financial obligations/conflict of interest of the authors pertaining to a research theme should not influence the research findings and the associated interpretation or inference reported in the paper

6. Fundamental Errors in Published Works

  • Authors are solely responsible for correctness and authenticity of facts, figure, statements and opinion reported in the manuscript under consideration
  • Authors are duty bound to notify the Editor-in-Chief any correction or retraction to deal with any inaccuracy, error or mis-representation in the published version of the paper, discovered subsequent to its publication

7. Plagiarism

  • It is the responsibility of the authors to maintain the academic Quality of the manuscript conforming to the required standards to ward off plagiarism issues

Duties of Reviewers:

1. Contribution of Peer Review

  • While the authors are the primary contributors to the academic standard of the journal, the reviewers have the duty to express their academic judgment after the complete review of the submitted manuscript without any bias, fear or favour
  • Reviewers assist the Editorial Board in arriving at informed and justifiable decision about the acceptance or non-acceptance of the submitted manuscript
  • Reviewers with their research experience and accomplishments try to suggest the authors to improve the Quality and the reporting standard wherever applicable

2. Confidentiality of the Manuscript

  • The role of Reviewers is associated with honour, privilege, responsibility and professional ethics
  • The research content and findings reported in the manuscript should be used solely for the purpose of assessment, arriving at academic judgment as well as to suggest the modifications to improve the Quality of submitted manuscript wherever applicable
  • The Reviewers should not use any information either in full or in part of the manuscript under review for their personal advantage
  • Reviewers should not undertake the review of the manuscript if the research topic of the manuscript is beyond their experience, expertise and area of interest
  • Reviewers should promptly convey their unwillingness to continue the review of the manuscript arising due to personal or any other extraneous circumstances to maintain the set timeline for the review process

3. Objectivity of Review

  • The role of a reviewer is to serve as a referee to judge or to assess the Quality of research findings and to foresee any possible improvement in the standard of presentation and content of the manuscript
  • The academic judgment, views and opinions expressed by the reviewers should be supported with well-founded arguments, principles and evidentiary information
  • The personnel views of the reviewers about the authors or the topic of the manuscript under consideration should have no influence on the arrived academic decision
  • Reviewers should recuse from undertaking the review of a manuscript if they foresee any conflict of interest from personnel, professional or financial perspectives associated with the submitted manuscript

4. Duties of Editors

  • The primary duty of Editors is to plan, implement and oversee the review process of the submitted manuscript in a holistic and objective manner without any personal or professional bias while following the policies and guidelines of the journal
  • The decision about the acceptance or non-acceptance of the manuscript should be guided by the recommendations of the reviewers
  • The research content and findings reported in the manuscript should be used solely for the purpose of assessing the appropriateness of the research theme, assignment of reviewers for the submitted manuscript and for arriving at the final decision based on the recommendations of the reviewers
  • Editor should opt out of the review as well as the decision making process if they foresee any conflict of interest from personnel, professional or financial perspectives associated with the submitted manuscript

5. Duties of Publishers

  • Publisher should ensure that advertisement or any other commercial revenue associated with the publication of the journal shall have no role or influence in the Editorial decisions
  • Publishers should adopt the applicable regulatory standards and adhere to the best practices to exhibit professional ethics and conduct
  • Publisher will liaison with other journals or publisher to help the Editors in improving and sustaining the academic standard of the journal