Publication Ethics

The Andalasian International Journal of Entomology (AIJENT) is committed to upholding the highest standards of publication ethics, fostering an environment of integrity, transparency, and accountability for all contributors, including authors, editors, reviewers, and the publisher. AIJENT adheres to guidelines set by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE), and the World Association of Medical Editors (WAME) to ensure ethical publishing practices.

  1. Ethical Standards for Authors
  • Originality and Plagiarism: Authors must submit original work and properly cite or quote the work and ideas of others. AIJENT strictly prohibits plagiarism, data fabrication, data falsification, and redundant publication. Manuscripts are screened using Turnitin, and those with over 20% similarity are returned to authors for revision.
  • Data Accuracy and Integrity: Authors are responsible for ensuring the accuracy of all data presented in their work. Any errors discovered after submission must be reported promptly to the editorial team for correction. Misrepresentation of data constitutes ethical misconduct and will be subject to correction, retraction, or other measures as necessary.
  • Authorship and Contributions: Authors should ensure that only individuals who have made significant contributions to the conception, design, execution, or interpretation of the research are listed as co-authors. The corresponding author is responsible for ensuring that all authors have approved the final version of the manuscript. AIJENT discourages "honorary authorship" and requires that each author’s specific contributions be detailed upon submission.
  • Disclosure of Conflicts of Interest: Authors must disclose any financial or personal conflicts that could potentially influence the research results or interpretation. This includes funding sources, affiliations, or other interests that may pose a competing influence.
  • Acknowledgment of Sources: Authors must appropriately acknowledge all sources of funding and other contributions to the research that do not meet the criteria for authorship. This includes research assistants, technical staff, and others whose contributions support the manuscript.
  1. Responsibilities of Editors
  • Fair and Impartial Evaluation: The editors of AIJENT are dedicated to providing fair and unbiased consideration to all submitted manuscripts. Decisions on publication are based solely on the manuscript's scientific merit, originality, clarity, and relevance to the journal's focus and scope, without regard to authors' nationality, ethnicity, gender, or institutional affiliation.
  • Confidentiality: Editors and editorial staff must keep all details regarding submitted manuscripts confidential. Information about a manuscript is only shared with the authors, reviewers, potential reviewers, and the publisher as part of the editorial process. Unpublished information disclosed in a manuscript is not used in an editor’s own research without the explicit written consent of the author(s).
  • Conflict of Interest: Editors recuse themselves from handling manuscripts if they have any conflicts of interest with the authors, institutions, or funding agencies associated with the manuscript. When conflicts arise, another qualified editor will take over the manuscript review process.
  • Publication Decisions: Final decisions on manuscript acceptance, revision, or rejection are made by the handling editor, guided by reviewers' recommendations and the journal's quality standards. Editors also ensure that all accepted manuscripts undergo rigorous peer review and ethical scrutiny to maintain the journal’s integrity.
  1. Reviewer Responsibilities
  • Contribution to Editorial Decisions: Peer reviewers play a central role in the editorial process by providing constructive feedback that aids the editor's decision and improves the quality of the manuscript. Reviewers are encouraged to be objective, constructive, and respectful in their comments.
  • Confidentiality: Reviewers must treat all manuscripts as confidential documents. They are not permitted to share, discuss, or use information from a manuscript they are reviewing for any purpose outside of the review process.
  • Conflict of Interest: Reviewers are required to disclose any conflicts of interest that could bias their judgment of a manuscript. If a reviewer believes they cannot provide an impartial review due to conflicts, they must inform the editor and recuse themselves from the review process.
  • Standards of Objectivity: Reviews should be conducted objectively, with a focus on advancing scientific discourse. Criticism should be constructive and supported by evidence, focusing on the scientific content rather than personal opinions or biases.
  1. Handling Allegations of Misconduct
  • Investigation of Misconduct: AIJENT follows COPE’s guidelines for addressing allegations of misconduct, including plagiarism, data fabrication, and manipulation. Allegations are taken seriously, and an investigation is conducted by the editorial team in coordination with relevant stakeholders. Both pre- and post-publication allegations will be addressed rigorously.
  • Corrections and Retractions: In cases where ethical breaches are confirmed, AIJENT will issue corrections, expressions of concern, or retractions, as appropriate. Retractions will be clearly indicated and linked to the original article to maintain transparency.
  • Whistleblower Protection: AIJENT supports and protects whistleblowers who report ethical concerns or misconduct. Complaints are handled confidentially, and AIJENT takes steps to ensure the individual’s protection throughout the process.
  1. Data Sharing and Reproducibility
  • Data Availability: AIJENT encourages authors to make data underlying their research publicly available, enhancing reproducibility and furthering scientific inquiry. Authors are encouraged to submit data to open-access repositories and provide data availability statements in their manuscripts.
  • Transparency and Reproducibility: AIJENT promotes transparent reporting of research methods and results, enabling other researchers to verify findings or conduct further studies. Authors should include sufficient methodological detail to allow for reproducibility.
  1. Post-Publication Discussions and Corrections
  • Open Discourse and Corrections: AIJENT encourages post-publication discussions, corrections, and updates through mechanisms such as letters to the editor, commentaries, or third-party platforms. This enables ongoing scholarly discourse and the rectification of any post-publication issues that may arise.
  • Correction and Retraction Policy: AIJENT has a clear process for correcting or retracting articles when errors, omissions, or ethical issues are identified. Corrections are issued promptly and transparently, following COPE guidelines to uphold the scientific record’s integrity.
  1. Intellectual Property and Licensing
  • Copyright and Licensing: Authors retain copyright over their work, while granting AIJENT the right of first publication under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike (CC-BY-SA) license. This license allows for wide dissemination and use, supporting AIJENT’s commitment to open access.
  • Protection of Intellectual Property: AIJENT protects the intellectual property of its authors by enforcing anti-plagiarism policies and investigating unauthorized use of published content. Authors are encouraged to contact the editorial office if they suspect misuse or misrepresentation of their work.
  1. Advertising Policy
  • Separation of Content and Advertising: If AIJENT chooses to feature advertisements, these will be clearly distinguished from editorial content. Advertising decisions are made independently of editorial decisions, ensuring that advertisements do not influence the journal’s scientific and editorial integrity.