Publication Ethics & Malpractice

IASR Multidisciplinary Journal is committed to maintaining high standards of publication ethics and research integrity. The journal follows established principles of responsible scholarly publishing and expects authors, editors, reviewers, and other participants in the publication process to act honestly, transparently, and responsibly.

The journal does not tolerate plagiarism, fabrication, falsification, duplicate publication, manipulation of the peer-review process, or other forms of research and publication misconduct.

1. Responsibilities of Authors

Authors are responsible for ensuring that:

  • The submitted manuscript is original and has not been published previously, except where appropriately disclosed and permitted.
  • The manuscript is not simultaneously under consideration by another journal.
  • All authors who made significant contributions to the work are appropriately listed as authors.
  • All listed authors have approved the final version of the manuscript and agree to its submission.
  • Sources, data, and previously published work are appropriately acknowledged and cited.
  • Research findings are reported accurately and honestly.
  • Any relevant ethical approval, informed consent, funding, and conflict-of-interest information is disclosed.
  • Any errors discovered after publication are promptly communicated to the editorial office.

2. Plagiarism and Duplicate Publication

IASR Multidisciplinary Journal considers plagiarism, including substantial unattributed copying of text, ideas, data, images, or other material, to be a serious form of publication misconduct.

Manuscripts may be screened for plagiarism or inappropriate textual overlap during the editorial and peer-review process.

Duplicate publication, redundant publication, and simultaneous submission to multiple journals are not permitted.

Where misconduct is identified, the journal may reject the manuscript or take appropriate post-publication action in accordance with the circumstances.

3. Fabrication and Falsification

Authors must not fabricate, manipulate, or falsify research data, results, images, methods, or other information.

If concerns regarding research integrity arise, the journal may request supporting information or clarification from the authors and may contact the relevant institution or authority where appropriate.

4. Authorship and Contributorship

Authorship should be based on substantial contributions to the research and manuscript.

All listed authors should have:

  • Made a meaningful contribution to the work;
  • Participated in drafting or critically revising the manuscript;
  • Approved the final version; and
  • Accepted responsibility for the integrity of the work.

Individuals who do not meet authorship criteria should not be listed as authors. Appropriate contributors may instead be acknowledged where applicable.

Any request to add, remove, or change the order of authors after submission should be supported by an explanation and require agreement from all affected authors.

5. Conflicts of Interest

Authors, editors, and reviewers should disclose any financial, personal, professional, or other relationships that could reasonably influence the research or publication process.

Editors and reviewers should not participate in the evaluation of manuscripts where they have a conflict of interest.

6. Ethical Approval and Informed Consent

Research involving human participants, identifiable personal information, animals, or other ethically sensitive material must comply with applicable ethical standards.

Where required, authors must provide information regarding approval by an appropriate ethics committee or institutional review board and obtain informed consent from participants.

For case reports or publications containing identifiable patient information, appropriate consent for publication should be obtained where required.

7. Responsibilities of Editors

Editors are responsible for:

  • Conducting appropriate editorial assessment of submitted manuscripts.
  • Ensuring that manuscripts are evaluated on the basis of academic and scholarly merit.
  • Maintaining confidentiality during the editorial and peer-review process.
  • Selecting appropriate reviewers.
  • Managing conflicts of interest.
  • Making editorial decisions independently and fairly.
  • Taking appropriate action when ethical or publication concerns are identified.

Editorial decisions should not be influenced by an author's nationality, ethnicity, gender, religion, institutional affiliation, political views, or other irrelevant personal characteristics.

8. Responsibilities of Reviewers

Reviewers should:

  • Evaluate manuscripts objectively and constructively.
  • Maintain confidentiality regarding submitted manuscripts.
  • Identify relevant published work that has not been appropriately cited where possible.
  • Disclose potential conflicts of interest.
  • Decline a review assignment if they do not have appropriate expertise or cannot complete the review within the required timeframe.
  • Not use unpublished information obtained through peer review for personal or professional advantage.

9. Research and Publication Misconduct

Potential misconduct may include, but is not limited to:

  • Plagiarism
  • Fabrication
  • Falsification
  • Duplicate or redundant publication
  • Undisclosed conflicts of interest
  • Inappropriate authorship
  • Manipulation of citations
  • Manipulation or interference with peer review
  • Unethical research practices
  • Misrepresentation of research findings

The journal will assess allegations of misconduct fairly and confidentially and may request clarification or supporting documentation from the authors.

Where appropriate, the journal may contact the authors' affiliated institution or other relevant authority.

10. Corrections and Retractions

If a significant error or ethical concern is identified after publication, the journal may publish an appropriate correction, retraction, expression of concern, or other editorial notice.

The action taken will depend on the nature and seriousness of the issue.

11. Appeals and Complaints

Authors may contact the editorial office regarding editorial decisions, ethical concerns, or complaints.

Appeals should provide a clear explanation and relevant supporting information. The journal will consider appeals objectively and may review the decision where appropriate.

12. Generative AI and AI-Assisted Technologies

Authors remain fully responsible for the accuracy, originality, integrity, and ethical standards of their manuscripts.

Generative AI tools must not be listed as authors. Where the use of AI-assisted technologies is substantive and relevant to the preparation or content of a manuscript, authors should disclose such use in accordance with the journal's Generative AI Policy.

Editors and reviewers must maintain confidentiality and should not upload confidential manuscript content into external AI systems where this could compromise confidentiality or intellectual property.

13. Editorial Independence

IASR Multidisciplinary Journal aims to maintain editorial independence. Editorial decisions should be based on scholarly quality, relevance, originality, ethical standards, and the journal's editorial policies rather than commercial or personal interests.

14. Commitment to Research Integrity

IASR Multidisciplinary Journal is committed to promoting responsible research and ethical scholarly communication. The journal expects all participants in the publication process to uphold principles of honesty, transparency, accountability, confidentiality, and respect for research participants.