Journal of Science-Technology-Innovation Ecosystem (JSTIE) is committed to maintaining the highest level of integrity in the content published. The manuscripts are required to comply with national and international ethic rules for publishing. Authors must pay attention to recommendations and guidelines given by the Editorial Board Members of the journal. Importantly, both researchers and authors, as well as referees and editors, must comply with certain ethical rules during evaluation process since new ideas and studies include unpublished methods and data. In the Journal of Science-Technology-Innovation Ecosystem (JSTIE), authors, reviewers and editors must comply with the following responsibilities:-
Responsibilities of Author
Submitted works should not have been published elsewhere and the manuscript should not be submitted to more than one publication for simultaneous consideration. Authors submit their articles to JSTIE with a template provided by the journal. Authors are invited to publish their results under condition that they shall be liable for the truthfulness, reliability, completeness and adequacy of the information. Authors are required to agree that their paper will be published in Open Access under the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY 4.0).
The ethical responsibilities of the author(s) who submit articles for publication to this journal are listed below:-
1. Truthfulness and honesty: One of the fundamental ethical responsibilities of authors is to be truthful and honest in their writings. They should not distort information or data, either unintentionally or intentionally, and should avoid misleading readers.
2. Proper citation of sources: Authors should accurately cite the information, quotes, or data they use in their texts. When using another person's ideas, statements, or works, they should provide proper attribution and citations.
3. Disclosure of conflicts of interest: Authors should disclose any conflicts of interest in their writings and clearly state them. For example, if they are writing a review about a product or service and have a connection with the manufacturer of that product, they should disclose this conflict to their readers.
4. Social and cultural sensitivity: Authors should demonstrate social and cultural awareness in their writings. They should avoid demeaning, discriminatory, or offensive language and steer clear of content that could hurt or offend individuals.
5. Respect for privacy: Authors should respect the privacy and confidentiality of others. They should not access private information without permission or publish such information. They should protect people's privacy rights and personal data.
6. Prevention of plagiarism: Authors should not copy or plagiarize other people's works. When using someone else's text, ideas, or opinions, they should appropriately quote and attribute the source. Plagiarism is considered a serious ethical violation in the academic and scientific community. Authors should check their texts for plagiarism and copyright infringements. They should use plagiarism detection tools (iThenticate) to examine their texts and safeguard the intellectual property rights of others.
7. Research ethics: Academic authors should adhere to ethical rules in their research. They should maintain research integrity, comply with ethical standards regarding human and animal subjects, and honestly evaluate research findings. Manipulation of data or presenting results in a misleading manner should be avoided.
8. Respect for human rights: Authors should respect human rights. They should prepare their writings in line with fundamental human rights values such as freedom, justice, equality, and human dignity.
9. Managing conflicts of interest: Authors should manage any conflicts of interest and inform relevant parties. For instance, in cases where sponsorship agreements or commercial relationships could influence their writings, they should disclose these conflicts to their readers.
10. Open communication: Authors should establish open and transparent communication with their readers. They should be open to feedback, respond to questions, and make efforts to correct any possible errors.
Responsibilities of Referees
The referees who will evaluate the articles submitted to this journal for publication should observe the ethical responsibilities listed below:-
1. Confidentiality: Referees must maintain the confidentiality of the manuscripts they review. They should not disclose or use the content or findings of the manuscript for personal gain or to benefit others.
2. Competence: Referees should possess expertise and knowledge in their respective fields. They should be able to provide informed judgments and evaluate the scientific quality of the manuscripts.
3. Objectivity: Referees should evaluate manuscripts objectively, without relying on personal biases, opinions, or previous works. Their focus should be solely on the quality and scientific rigor of the manuscript.
4. Ethical responsibility: Referees should identify potential ethical violations in the manuscripts they review and take appropriate actions. They should report any instances of plagiarism, data manipulation, or copyright infringement.
5. Constructive criticism: Referees should provide constructive criticism to identify any deficiencies or errors in the manuscript. They should offer feedback in a constructive manner that helps authors improve their work.
6. Timely response: Referees should strive to evaluate manuscripts in a timely and efficient manner. If they are unable to complete the review within the given timeframe, they should communicate this to the relevant parties.
7. Avoidance of disclosure: Referees should refrain from sharing information about the manuscripts they review with others. They should not disclose the content or findings of the manuscript in conferences, seminars, or other platforms.
8. Citation of relevant work: Referees should appropriately reference and acknowledge the authors' previous work in the manuscripts they review. They should respect the authors' previous contributions by citing relevant references and accurately assessing the context and contributions of those works.
9. Effective communication: Referees should maintain a respectful and constructive attitude when communicating with authors or editors. In cases of any issues or disagreements related to the review process, they should keep communication channels open and encourage effective communication between parties.
10. Data privacy: Referees should protect the confidentiality of the data presented in the manuscripts. They should not share or use the data presented in the manuscript for their own purposes.
11. Continuity and currency: Referees should actively participate in the evaluation process and provide timely feedback on requested revisions or corrections. Additionally, they should stay updated with developments in their fields and make assessments based on current knowledge.
12. Responsibility and reliability: Referees should approach their assigned tasks with responsibility. They should thoroughly examine the manuscript, make accurate and reliable evaluations, and provide unbiased judgments.
13. Professional development: Referees should prioritize continuous professional development and stay updated with advancements in their fields. By keeping their knowledge and skills up to date, they contribute to the evaluation process.
Responsibilities of Editors
The editors who will evaluate the articles submitted to this journal for publication should observe the ethical responsibilities listed below:-
1. Neutrality: Editors should remain neutral and make objective decisions throughout the publication process. In case of any personal, commercial, or ideological conflicts of interest, they should disclose these conflicts and take necessary measures.
2. Compliance with principles and ethical rules: Editors should ensure that the articles to be published adhere to ethical publishing principles. They should identify unethical practices such as plagiarism, data manipulation, and copyright infringement, and prevent the publication of such works.
3. Transparency of publication policies: Editors should clearly define publication policies and communicate them to authors, reviewers, and readers. Publication policies should ensure fair, transparent, and consistent processes.
4. Confidentiality: Editors should maintain the confidentiality of information during the review process and protect the data related to the articles. They should not disclose or use information about unpublished articles' content or results.
5. Management of conflicts of interest: Editors should manage conflicts of interest during the publication process and ensure unbiased decision-making. They should disclose their own conflicts of interest or connections and, if necessary, transfer the responsibility to another editor or reviewer.
6. Peer reviewer selection: Editors should demonstrate impartiality and competence in selecting appropriate reviewers. They should assess the reviewers' expertise, scientific reputation, and experience in relevant fields.
7. Constructive criticism: Editors should provide constructive criticism during the evaluation and editing process of articles. They should identify deficiencies and improvement opportunities that help authors enhance their articles.
8. Provision of relevant information: Editors should provide authors and reviewers with necessary information regarding the articles. They should facilitate the required communication to ensure a fair and transparent process.
9. Preservation of reputation: Editors should strive to maintain the quality and scientific reputation of published articles. They should identify unethical practices, evaluate the compliance of articles with scientific standards, and take corrective measures when necessary.
10. Disclosure of conflicts of interest: Editors should disclose any conflicts of interest during the publication process. For example, if an editor has authorship relationships or competitive interests, they should inform the relevant parties and take appropriate measures according to guidelines.
11. Article rejection and retraction: Editors can appropriately reject or retract unpublished or published articles. For instance, in cases of ethical violations, data manipulation, or non-compliance with publication policies, they can retract or reject articles.
12. Effective communication: Editors should establish effective communication with authors, reviewers, and other relevant parties. They should provide feedback in an open and constructive manner, address inquiries about the process, and demonstrate a solution-oriented approach in case of any issues or disputes.
13. Information security: Editors should ensure the security of information during the publication process. They should limit access to articles, implement data protection measures, and take necessary steps in case of data breaches.
14. Plagiarism detection: Editors should check for plagiarism in the articles to be published and detect such cases. They should report plagiarism cases and ensure correction before publication.
15. Access to current information: Editors should stay updated with developments in their fields and have access to current information. This includes considering the latest research findings and methods during the evaluation process and updating publication policies.
16. Professional development: Editors should prioritize continuous professional development and stay updated with innovations in publishing. They should participate in training programs to enhance their editorial skills, learn best practices in the industry, and follow current editorial guidelines.
17. Publication ethics education: Editors should organize educational programs to inform authors, reviewers, and other participants in the publication process about publication ethics. Educational programs addressing ethical issues can help encourage researchers to adhere to ethical standards.
18. Plagiarism prevention: Editors should employ effective methods to prevent plagiarism. They should use plagiarism detection software to check articles and take necessary measures when potential plagiarism cases are identified.
19. Honesty and Reliability: Editors should be honest and reliable throughout the publication process. They should keep the information of authors and reviewers confidential and inspire trust within the scientific community.
20. Speed of the Evaluation Process: Editors should promptly assess articles and ensure a fast publication process. By conducting fair and effective evaluations, they should enhance the efficiency of the publication process.
21. Good Management: Editors should effectively manage the publication process and regularly monitor all steps involved. They should keep communication channels open, promote collaboration among parties, and provide explanations for their decisions when necessary.
22. Equality and Diversity: Editors should prioritize equality and diversity principles in the publication process, ensuring equal opportunities and fair evaluations for everyone. Discrimination and bias should not be tolerated.
23. Reader Satisfaction: Editors should ensure the publication of articles that meet the readers' needs and expectations. By valuing high-quality and engaging content, they should enhance reader satisfaction. Editors should consider readers' feedback and shape publication policies, content selection, and presentation accordingly.
24. Addressing Ethical Issues: Editors should effectively address ethical issues that may arise during the publication process. They should identify unethical behavior, conduct necessary investigations and corrective actions, process complaints, and safeguard the rights of all parties involved.
25. Societal Impact: Editors should strive to ensure that published articles have a positive impact on society. Particularly, they should carefully select content to prevent misinformation, discrimination, or the dissemination of harmful content.
26. Honesty and Transparency: Editors should manage their processes and decisions with honesty and transparency. They should provide clear and understandable information regarding publication policies, the status of unpublished articles, the evaluation process, and other relevant matters.
27. Authorship and Publishing Ethics Education: Editors should regularly organize training sessions on publishing ethics for authors and participants in the publication process. These training sessions raise awareness to encourage authors to adhere to ethical standards and prevent unethical practices.
28. Communication and Collaboration: Editors should promote effective communication and create a collaborative environment among authors, reviewers, and other relevant parties. Mutual respect, understanding, and collaboration support the healthy functioning of ethical publishing processes.
29. Reliable Sources and Data: Editors should make efforts to ensure the reliability of sources and data used in published articles. They should carefully evaluate compliance with accuracy, validity, and reliability standards and prevent the publication of false or misleading information. Additionally, they should encourage data sharing and open access principles.
30. Appeals Process: Editors should provide an appeals process for authors and reviewers. Authors should have the opportunity to challenge criticisms and rejection decisions for their articles and respond openly to reviewers' evaluations. The appeals process should be fair and transparent.
31. Responsible publishing: Editors should adopt a responsible approach throughout the publication process. They should make publication decisions while considering scientific ethics, social impact, environmental impact, and other responsibilities. They should carefully select content to minimize potential harmful effects.
32. Innovation and originality: Editors should encourage the publication of innovative and original research. They should conduct a careful evaluation to prevent similar or duplicate studies and consider compliance with standards of originality.
33. Social and environmental responsibility: Editors should fulfill their social and environmental responsibilities during the publication process. For example, they should adopt environmentally friendly publishing practices to reduce paper consumption, support community service initiatives, and prioritize works reflecting principles of social justice.
34. Correction and retraction policies: Editors should manage errors, deficiencies, or ethical violations identified in published articles according to correction and retraction policies. They should effectively implement these policies to ensure that readers have access to accurate and up-to-date information.
35. Informing about authorship and copyright: Editors should provide guidance to authors on publication ethics and copyright issues. They should clearly communicate authorship principles, author order, recognition of contributors, and copyright guidelines for published works. Additionally, they should emphasize the importance of avoiding plagiarism and appropriately citing others' works.
36. Editorial independence: Editors should adhere to principles of independence and neutrality throughout the publication process. They should not allow their financial, ideological, or personal interests to influence publication decisions. Editorial decisions should be based solely on scientific merits and publication policies.
37. Scientific integrity: Editors bear responsibility for maintaining scientific integrity and preventing scientific misconduct, data manipulation, or other unethical practices. They should identify such situations, conduct necessary investigations, and take appropriate corrective measures.
38. Peer reviewer selection: Editors should choose and assign suitable and qualified peer reviewers. They should ensure that reviewers are experts in their respective fields, capable of providing unbiased, objective, and ethical evaluations. Preventing conflicts of interest and promoting diversity are important in the reviewer selection process.
39. Confidentiality and data protection: Editors should ensure the confidentiality and data protection of information throughout the publication process. They should keep unpublished manuscripts confidential, safeguard the information of reviewers and other participants, and implement data security measures.
40. Updating publication policies: Editors should regularly review and update publication policies. They should keep their policies up to date by considering changing needs and best practices in publication ethics, open access, data sharing, and other important topics.
