Publication Ethics

At Scientific Thought Journal (Sci. Thought J.), we are committed to maintaining the highest standards of publication ethics. Our Publication Ethics ensure the integrity of the academic publishing process, promoting honesty, transparency, and responsibility in research. We expect all authors, reviewers, and editors involved in the journal to adhere to these principles to maintain the quality and credibility of our published content.

1. Responsibilities of Authors:

• Originality: Authors must submit original work, and any content borrowed from other sources must be properly cited. Plagiarism in any form, including self-plagiarism, is not tolerated.
• Accurate Reporting: Authors are responsible for presenting their research findings in an honest and accurate manner. Fabrication, falsification, or selective reporting of data is unacceptable.
• Authorship: Only individuals who have made substantial contributions to the conception, design, execution, or interpretation of the research should be listed as authors. All authors should approve the final manuscript and agree to its submission.
• Conflict of Interest: Authors must disclose any potential conflicts of interest that could influence the research or its interpretation. This includes financial, personal, or professional relationships that could be perceived as influencing the research outcomes.
• Acknowledgment of Sources: Proper credit should be given to others whose work has contributed to the research, including funding sources, research assistants, and prior research that influenced the study.
• Ethical Standards in Research: Authors must ensure that their research complies with ethical standards, including obtaining necessary approvals from ethics committees for studies involving human or animal subjects.

2. Responsibilities of Reviewers:

• Confidentiality: Reviewers must maintain confidentiality throughout the peer review process. Manuscripts under review must not be shared or discussed with others without the permission of the journal's editorial team.
• Objectivity: Reviews should be based on the quality of the manuscript and the soundness of the methodology, without bias or personal prejudice. Reviewers should assess the manuscript's contribution to the field and provide constructive feedback.
• Conflict of Interest: Reviewers should declare any conflicts of interest that could affect their impartiality in reviewing the manuscript. If a conflict exists, the reviewer must recuse themselves from the review process.
• Timeliness: Reviewers are expected to complete their reviews within the agreed timeframe. Delayed reviews can affect the journal’s publication schedule.

3. Responsibilities of Editors:

• Editorial Independence: Editors are responsible for making editorial decisions based on the quality of submissions and in accordance with the journal’s scope. Editorial decisions should be free from any bias or personal interests.
• Fairness: Editors must ensure that manuscripts are reviewed and processed fairly, regardless of the authors' race, gender, nationality, religious belief, or institutional affiliation.
• Confidentiality: Editors must maintain confidentiality about submitted manuscripts. They should not disclose any details of the manuscript or the review process without permission from the authors and reviewers.
• Conflict of Interest: Editors should disclose any potential conflicts of interest related to the content of the manuscript or the identities of the authors and reviewers.
• Responsibility for Corrections and Retractions: If a significant error or issue is identified in a published article, editors must ensure that appropriate corrections, retractions, or clarifications are made promptly.

4. Handling of Misconduct:

Scientific Thought Journal takes all forms of academic misconduct seriously, including plagiarism, data fabrication, and unethical research practices. If any ethical violations are detected, the following actions may be taken:

• Investigation: Any allegation of misconduct will be thoroughly investigated. Authors may be asked to provide clarification or evidence to support the integrity of their work.
• Retraction: If an article is found to contain serious ethical violations after publication, it will be retracted, and a retraction notice will be issued. This will be communicated to readers and indexing databases.
• Ban on Future Submissions: In cases of severe ethical violations, authors may be banned from submitting to the journal in the future.

5. Transparency and Disclosure:

We are committed to transparency in all stages of the publication process. Authors, reviewers, and editors must disclose any relevant relationships that could be perceived as a conflict of interest. This includes funding sources, institutional affiliations, or other associations that might influence the research or its interpretation.

By adhering to this Publication Ethics policy, Scientific Thought Journal (Sci. Thought J.) ensures that the academic publishing process remains transparent, ethical, and accountable, fostering trust in the research community and promoting high-quality scholarship.