Ethics and Malpractice Statement

Albahit Journal of Applied Sciences is committed to maintaining the highest standards of integrity and ethical conduct in scholarly publishing. The journal ensures that all stages of the publication process follow internationally recognized principles of research and publication ethics, in accordance with the guidelines of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and the DOAJ Principles of Transparency and Best Practice in Scholarly Publishing.

This statement defines the responsibilities of all parties involved in the publication process, including authors, reviewers, editors, and editorial board members, and aims to protect the integrity of the published scientific record.

1. Responsibilities of Authors

Authors must:

  • Submit original research that has not been previously published or simultaneously submitted to another journal.
  • Ensure the accuracy of data and results and avoid fabrication or falsification.
  • Follow ethical research standards and obtain required ethical approvals for studies involving humans or animals.
  • Properly cite all sources and avoid all forms of plagiarism.
  • Include only individuals who have made genuine contributions as authors.
  • Disclose potential conflicts of interest and sources of funding or support.
  • Cooperate with the editorial office if significant errors are identified after publication.

2. Responsibilities of Reviewers

Reviewers must:

  • Provide objective and independent evaluations of submitted manuscripts.
  • Maintain confidentiality of manuscript information.
  • Avoid using unpublished information for personal or research purposes.
  • Disclose any conflicts of interest that may affect impartiality.
  • Provide constructive and scientifically based comments to improve manuscript quality.

3. Responsibilities of Editors and Editorial Board Members

Editors must:

  • Ensure independence and integrity of editorial decisions.
  • Evaluate manuscripts based solely on scientific merit, originality, and quality.
  • Ensure a fair and transparent peer-review process.
  • Maintain confidentiality of authors’ and reviewers’ information.
  • Handle research misconduct and publication ethics violations appropriately.
  • Ensure that publication decisions are not influenced by personal, commercial, or institutional interests.

4. Research and Publication Misconduct

The following practices are considered serious violations of publication ethics:

  • Plagiarism or using others’ work without proper acknowledgment.
  • Submitting the same manuscript to more than one journal simultaneously.
  • Fabrication or falsification of research data.
  • Manipulation of images, data, or scientific results.
  • Ghost authorship or inappropriate removal of legitimate contributors.
  • Misuse of references or inclusion of irrelevant citations.
  • Failure to disclose significant conflicts of interest.

5. Handling Misconduct Cases

When suspected or confirmed misconduct occurs, the journal takes appropriate actions according to the severity of the case, which may include:

  • Initial investigation by the editorial board.
  • Requesting explanations from authors.
  • Rejecting the manuscript before publication.
  • Referring the case to the authors’ institutions when necessary.
  • Publishing corrections or editorial statements.
  • Retracting published articles when misconduct is confirmed.

6. Corrections and Retractions

The journal is committed to maintaining the accuracy of the published scientific record. If significant errors or ethical violations are identified after publication, the journal follows COPE guidelines and takes appropriate corrective actions while maintaining transparency with readers.

7. Compliance with International Standards

Albahit Journal of Applied Sciences follows this statement in accordance with:

  • Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE): Core Practices and Guidelines
  • DOAJ Principles of Transparency and Best Practice in Scholarly Publishing
  • International principles of research integrity and publication ethics.