Publication Ethics

Publication Ethics and Malpractice Statement

Next Scientists – Open Access Academic Publisher

At Next Scientists, we are deeply committed to upholding the highest standards of ethical publishing practices across all of our international open access journals. This Publication Ethics and Malpractice Statement outlines the responsibilities and expected ethical conduct of all parties involved in the publication process: Authors, Editors, Reviewers, and the Publisher.

This statement adheres to the guidelines and best practices established by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and is applicable to all journals under the Next Scientists publishing group.

1. Duties of Authors

Authors must uphold integrity and transparency in the research and publication process.

1.1 Originality and Plagiarism

Authors must submit only original work.
All sources must be appropriately cited and quoted.
Plagiarism in any form—including self-plagiarism—will result in immediate rejection or post-publication retraction.

1.2 Multiple, Redundant, or Concurrent Submissions

Submitting the same manuscript to multiple journals simultaneously is unethical and prohibited.
Previously published work should not be submitted unless it involves substantial revisions and proper disclosure.

1.3 Authorship of the Manuscript

Only individuals who have made a significant contribution to the conception, design, execution, or interpretation of the research should be listed as authors.
All co-authors must approve the final version of the manuscript.

1.4 Acknowledgment of Sources

Proper acknowledgment must be given to all sources of data, funding, inspiration, or individuals who contributed to the work.

1.5 Data Access and Retention

Authors may be required to submit raw data for editorial review.
Data should be retained for a reasonable period following publication and be made available upon request when ethically appropriate.

1.6 Ethical Compliance

Research involving human participants or animals must include a statement on ethical approval from an appropriate ethics committee.
Informed consent must be obtained and documented where applicable.

1.7 Conflict of Interest Disclosure

Authors must disclose any financial or personal conflicts of interest that may influence the results or interpretation of their manuscript.

1.8 Correction of Errors

If an author discovers a significant error or inaccuracy in their published work, they are obligated to promptly notify the journal editor and cooperate in issuing a correction or retraction.

2. Duties of Editors

Editors are responsible for making publication decisions and managing the peer review process with impartiality and fairness.

2.1 Editorial Decision-Making

Manuscripts are evaluated solely on their scholarly merit, originality, and relevance—without discriminationbased on the authors’ race, gender, religion, institutional affiliation, or nationality.

2.2 Confidentiality

Editors must maintain confidentiality concerning submitted manuscripts and must not disclose information to anyone other than reviewers and the editorial team.

2.3 Fair Review Process

Editors must ensure that manuscripts are reviewed by qualified, independent reviewers using a double-blind peer review process.

2.4 Handling Unethical Behavior

Editors must actively investigate ethical concerns or complaints regarding submitted or published manuscripts and take appropriate corrective actions, including retraction or issuing a correction if necessary.

2.5 Conflicts of Interest

Editors must recuse themselves from considering manuscripts in which they have a conflict of interest.

3. Duties of Reviewers

Reviewers play a critical role in ensuring the quality and credibility of published research.

3.1 Confidentiality

All manuscripts received for review must be treated as confidential documents.

3.2 Objectivity and Constructive Feedback

Reviews must be conducted objectively and respectfully, with clear and constructive feedback.

3.3 Acknowledgment of Sources

Reviewers must alert editors to any substantial similarity between the manuscript under review and other published work.

3.4 Timeliness

Reviewers should complete their reviews within the agreed timeframe. If unable to review, they should inform the editor promptly.

3.5 Conflict of Interest

Reviewers must decline to review a manuscript if they have any personal or professional conflicts of interest with the authors or the research.

4. Duties of the Publisher (Next Scientists)

As the publisher, Next Scientists is committed to ensuring ethical and transparent practices throughout the publication process.

4.1 Ethical Oversight

We monitor all journals for compliance with ethical standards and work closely with editorial teams to resolve ethical issues.

4.2 Plagiarism and Misconduct Screening

All submissions are screened using reliable plagiarism detection software before peer review.

4.3 Retractions and Corrections

We publish retractions, corrections, or expressions of concern when necessary, following COPE-recommended procedures.

4.4 Long-Term Preservation

All published articles are preserved through secure digital archiving systems to ensure long-term access and integrity.

4.5 Access and Licensing

All journals under Next Scientists are open access and published under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0).

5. Handling of Misconduct and Complaints

All allegations of unethical behavior will be investigated thoroughly and confidentially.
In confirmed cases of misconduct (e.g., falsification, plagiarism, unethical authorship), appropriate actions will be taken, which may include:
- Rejection of the manuscript
- Retraction of published articles
- Banning of future submissions
- Notification of the authors' institution

Reports of ethical concerns can be submitted to:
???? eieditor@eipublication.com

This publication ethics statement is reviewed and updated regularly to reflect emerging ethical standards and ensure accountability.