Publication Ethics

Publication Ethics

Research Floor is a member of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and adheres to its guidelines and best practices. We are committed to maintaining the integrity of the academic record and fostering a culture of ethical publishing.

1. Duties of Authors

Authors submitting to Research Floor journals must ensure that their work is original, has not been published elsewhere, and is not under consideration by another journal. Additional responsibilities include:

• Originality & Plagiarism: All work must be the author's own. Proper attribution must be given to the work of others. Plagiarism in any form — including self-plagiarism — is unacceptable.
• Data Integrity: Data must be presented accurately and honestly. Fabrication, falsification, or selective reporting of data is a serious violation.
• Acknowledgement of Sources: All sources of funding, data, and intellectual contributions must be acknowledged.
• Authorship Criteria: All listed authors must have made a substantial contribution to the work and agree to the final version. "Ghost" or "guest" authorship is not permitted.
• Conflict of Interest: Authors must disclose any financial, professional, or personal conflicts that could influence the work.
• Human & Animal Subjects: Research involving human participants or animals must comply with ethical standards and have appropriate institutional approval.

2. Duties of Editors

Editors are responsible for the quality and integrity of the journal. Their duties include:

• Fair Play: Manuscripts are evaluated on scholarly merit without regard to race, gender, religion, nationality, or institutional affiliation.
• Confidentiality: Editors must not disclose information about manuscripts to anyone other than reviewers and editorial staff.
• Conflict of Interest: Editors must recuse themselves from handling manuscripts where they have a competing interest.
• Investigation: Editors will take appropriate action when ethical concerns are raised, including contacting authors, issuing corrections or retractions, or referring the matter to institutional authorities.

3. Duties of Reviewers

Peer reviewers play a critical role in maintaining the quality of the scientific literature. Reviewers are expected to:

• Confidentiality: Treat the manuscript as confidential and not share or discuss it with others.
• Objectivity: Provide constructive, unbiased, and evidence-based feedback.
• Timeliness: Respond to review invitations promptly and meet deadlines.
• Disclosure: Declare any conflicts of interest and recuse themselves if necessary.
• Acknowledge Sources: If a reviewer identifies relevant work that has not been cited, they should bring it to the editor's attention.

4. Research Misconduct & Allegations

Research Floor takes all allegations of research misconduct seriously. Misconduct may include fabrication, falsification, plagiarism, image manipulation, or inappropriate authorship. When an allegation is received:

1. An initial assessment is made by the editorial team.
2. If warranted, a formal investigation is initiated, following COPE guidelines.
3. The author(s) are given an opportunity to respond.
4. If misconduct is confirmed, appropriate actions may include: rejection, retraction, expression of concern, or reporting to the author's institution.

5. Corrections & Retractions

Research Floor is committed to correcting the academic record when errors are identified:

• Corrections: Minor errors that do not affect the scholarly integrity of the article are corrected via a published erratum.
• Retractions: Articles containing serious errors, fabricated data, or unethical research may be retracted. Retracted articles remain online with a clear "Retracted" watermark and a statement explaining the reason.
• Expressions of Concern: In cases where an investigation is ongoing, but there is a significant risk of harm, a formal expression of concern may be issued.

6. Compliance with COPE

Research Floor follows the COPE Core Practices for all aspects of editorial and publishing ethics. Our editors are trained to handle ethical issues in accordance with COPE flowcharts and guidance.

We encourage authors, reviewers, and readers to familiarize themselves with COPE's resources and to raise any concerns they may have about ethical conduct in scholarly publishing.

For questions about our publication ethics policies, please contact ethics@researchfloor.com.