Publication Ethics and Research Integrity

1. Publication Ethics Statement

Open Global Scientific Journal is committed to upholding the principles of integrity, honesty, objectivity, transparency, and accountability throughout the entire scholarly publishing process. This policy applies to authors, editors, peer reviewers, journal management, and any other parties involved in scholarly publishing.
Open Global Scientific Journal adheres to the guidelines set forth by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) for addressing issues related to publication ethics, alleged research misconduct, conflicts of interest, and concerns regarding the integrity of scholarly work.

2. Allegations of Research Misconduct

Research and publication misconduct are actions that contradict the principles of academic integrity and may compromise the validity of scientific findings. Examples of alleged misconduct include:

Fabrication: The creation of research data, results, or information that was never actually obtained.
Falsification: The alteration, manipulation, or omission of research data or results, such that they no longer accurately represent the actual findings.
Plagiarism: The use of another party’s work, ideas, or research results without proper attribution
Duplicate publication: The republication of the same or substantially overlapping work without adequate disclosure and justification.
Citation manipulation: The inappropriate use of citations to influence citation metrics or gain other unfair advantages.
Peer review manipulation: Any attempt to influence the review process through the use of false identities, the appointment of unauthorized reviewers, or other manipulative practices.
Authorship misconduct: The unauthorized inclusion, omission, or alteration of authorship.
The concealment of material conflicts of interest, the use of data without permission, breaches of confidentiality, or any other unethical conduct that may compromise research integrity.

3. Reporting Mechanism

Any individual possessing information or evidence regarding alleged research or publication misconduct may submit a report to the Editor-in-Chief via the official communication channels provided on the journal’s contact page. Reports should include the identification of the article or manuscript, a description of the alleged misconduct, and supporting evidence. The journal may also consider anonymous reports, provided they contain sufficient information to facilitate an investigation. The identity of the reporter and other sensitive information will be kept confidential to the extent permitted by the investigation process and applicable legal requirements.

4. Investigation of Alleged Misconduct

All reports received will be handled through the following stages:

Receipt and recording of the report. The editor documents the information and initial evidence provided.
Preliminary assessment. The editor evaluates the relevance of the report, the sufficiency of the information, and its potential impact on the integrity of the article.
Clarification. The parties involved are given the opportunity to provide an explanation or supporting evidence.
Further investigation. If necessary, the editor may seek input from independent experts, the publisher, or the institution where the research was conducted.
Determination of action. The editor or relevant authority decides on the appropriate editorial course of action based on the findings of the investigation.
Documentation and follow-up. The process, evidence, communications, and decisions are recorded to ensure accountability.

Reports are handled in a proportionate manner and are not acted upon based solely on unverified allegations.

5. Actions Regarding Misconduct

Editorial actions may include requesting clarification, requiring manuscript revisions, suspending the editorial process, rejecting a manuscript, issuing a correction, publishing an "expression of concern," or retracting an article. The choice of action takes into account the severity of the issue, the quality of the evidence, the impact on the validity of the research, and applicable publication ethics guidelines. Retraction is not automatically applied to every instance of misconduct. Decisions are made based on an assessment of the substance, reliability, and integrity of the scientific record.

6. Conflict of Interest

A conflict of interest occurs when personal, financial, professional, institutional, or other relationships have the potential to influenceor are perceived to influence the objectivity of research, peer review, or editorial decisions. Conflicts of interest may be actual, potential, or perceived by others. All parties involved in the publication process are required to transparently disclose any relevant conflicts of interest.

7. Obligations of Authors

Authors are required to disclose any relationships or interests that could influence the conduct, analysis, reporting, or interpretation of their research. Disclosures may include sources of funding, relationships with sponsors, paid employment or consulting, commercial interests, and any relevant personal or professional relationships. If there are no conflicts of interest to disclose, authors may use the following statement:

"The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest related to this research and publication."

This statement must be accurate and agreed upon by all authors.

8. Obligations of Editors

Editors must maintain the independence of their editorial decisions and refrain from handling manuscripts if a conflict of interest exists that could compromise their objectivity. If an editor has a relationship that could potentially create a conflict of interest, the handling of the manuscript shall be transferred to another, independent editor. Editorial decisions must not be influenced by personal relationships, institutional pressure, financial interests, or publication fees.

9. Obligations of Reviewers

Reviewers are required to provide an objective and professional assessment based on scientific substance. Reviewers must disclose any potential conflicts of interest before accepting an assignment. If a conflict exists that could compromise the independence of their assessment, the reviewer must inform the editor and may be asked to decline the assignment. Reviewers are prohibited from using information from an unpublished manuscript for their own personal gain or for the benefit of any other party.

10. Management of Conflicts of Interest

The disclosure of a conflict of interest does not automatically result in the rejection of a manuscript or the termination of the review process. The editor will assess the nature and extent of the conflict of interest and determine the appropriate course of action, which may include reassigning the manuscript, appointing an independent reviewer, or requesting further disclosure. If a significant conflict of interest is discovered after publication, the journal will conduct an investigation and issue a notice or take other necessary editorial action.

11. Ethics in Research Involving Human Participants

Research involving human participants including interviews, observations, surveys, language experiments, or the collection of personal data must adhere to principles regarding informed consent, confidentiality, privacy, the protection of vulnerable groups, and compliance with applicable ethical standards. If the research requires approval from an ethics committee, the author(s) must provide the relevant supporting information or documentation. The identities and sensitive data of participants may not be published without appropriate consent or a valid legal basis.

12. Objections and Appeals

Authors or other relevant parties may submit an objection to a decision regarding the handling of a misconduct case, provided that they include the rationale and relevant evidence. Objections will be reviewed by editorial staff who have no conflicts of interest. If necessary, the review process may involve the publisher or an independent third party. The final decision will be based on the outcome of the review, the integrity of the scholarly record, and the applicable publication ethics guidelines.

Open Global Scientific Journal is committed to addressing issues of publication ethics in a manner that is fair, objective, confidential, and accountable.