Publication Ethics Policy
Publication Ethics and Malpractice Statement
1. Purpose and Commitment
Thoughts Review (TR) is committed to upholding the highest standards of academic integrity, transparency, and accountability. This statement outlines the ethical principles and procedures that govern all editorial and publishing activities of the journal. It applies to all participants, including authors, reviewers, editors, editorial board members, and the publisher. The journal aligns its practices with the Core Practices of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and the Principles of Transparency and Best Practice in Scholarly Publishing (COPE, DOAJ, OASPA, WAME).
2. Ethical Principles
All participants are expected to observe the following core principles:
- Honesty and Integrity: In research, data collection, analysis, and reporting.
- Originality and Attribution: Ensuring work is original and all sources are appropriately acknowledged.
- Fairness and Impartiality: In editorial evaluation and peer review, decisions based solely on scholarly merit.
- Transparency: Regarding authorship, funding, conflicts of interest, and the use of AI tools.
- Confidentiality: Respecting the privacy of research participants and the confidentiality of submitted manuscripts.
- Accountability: For published work and cooperation in correcting the scholarly record when necessary.
3. Responsibilities of Authors
Authors submitting to Thoughts Review affirm that:
1. Their work is original and not under consideration elsewhere.
2. The manuscript accurately represents their research and analysis.
3. All authors meet the journal's authorship criteria and have approved the final version.
4. All relevant funding sources and potential conflicts of interest are disclosed.
5. Necessary research ethics approvals and informed consent have been obtained.
6. Any use of generative AI tools is transparently disclosed in accordance with the journal's policy.
7. They will cooperate fully with editorial inquiries regarding the integrity of their work and promptly notify the journal of any material errors.
4. Authorship and Contributorship
Authorship is limited to those who have made a substantial contribution to the conception, design, execution, or interpretation of the study, and who have approved the final version and agree to be accountable for the work. Gift, guest, and ghost authorship are strictly prohibited. All other contributors should be acknowledged. Changes to authorship after submission require a reasoned explanation and written agreement from all authors.
5. Responsibilities of Reviewers
Reviewers are expected to:
- Provide objective, constructive, and timely assessments.
- Maintain the strict confidentiality of the manuscript and review process.
- Identify relevant published work not cited by the authors.
- Disclose any potential conflicts of interest and decline assignments where impartiality is compromised.
- Refrain from using unpublished information for personal advantage.
- Report suspected misconduct (e.g., plagiarism, data fabrication) to the editor.
6. Responsibilities of Editors
Editors are responsible for fair, timely, and confidential editorial decisions. They must:
- Evaluate manuscripts based on scholarly merit, originality, and methodological soundness.
- Ensure a fair and double-blind peer review process.
- Protect the confidentiality of authors and reviewers.
- Avoid decisions influenced by commercial interests, personal relationships, or external pressure.
- Handle complaints, appeals, and misconduct allegations in a transparent and fair manner.
- Recuse themselves from handling manuscripts where a conflict of interest exists.
- Consider corrections, retractions, or expressions of concern when warranted.
7. Peer Review Process
Thoughts Review employs a double-blind peer review process. Manuscripts that pass the initial editorial screening are sent to at least two independent expert reviewers. The identities of authors and reviewers are kept confidential. The final decision regarding acceptance, revision, or rejection rests with the responsible editor based on the reviewers' assessments. The journal does not guarantee acceptance based on payment, personal relationships, or institutional affiliation.
8. Research Misconduct
Research and publication misconduct includes, but is not limited to:
- Plagiarism, including inappropriate reuse of text or ideas.
- Fabrication or falsification of data, images, or results.
- Duplicate or redundant publication.
- Improper authorship attribution.
- Citation manipulation.
- Undisclosed conflicts of interest.
- Manipulation of the peer review process.
- Unethical treatment of human or animal subjects.
- Misrepresentation of AI-generated content.
A similarity score alone does not constitute plagiarism; context and extent of overlap will be assessed.
9. Handling Allegations of Misconduct
The journal will assess all credible allegations of misconduct, whether before or after publication. The process may include:
1. A preliminary assessment of the allegation.
2. Requesting clarification or documentation from the involved parties.
3. Consultation with independent experts or the authors' institutions.
4. A reasoned editorial decision and proportionate action.
Possible actions include requesting a correction, rejecting a manuscript, issuing an expression of concern, or retracting a published article. Confidentiality will be maintained throughout the investigation.
10. Conflicts of Interest
Authors, reviewers, editors, and board members must disclose any financial, professional, or personal relationships that could be perceived to influence their work or judgments. Reviewers and editors must recuse themselves from handling manuscripts where a conflict exists. A disclosed conflict does not automatically constitute misconduct.
11. Ethical Oversight
Research involving human participants, identifiable personal data, or animals must comply with all applicable laws and institutional requirements. Authors must obtain approval from an appropriate research ethics committee before conducting the research and provide the approval reference in the manuscript. Informed consent must be obtained where required, and participants' privacy and confidentiality must be protected. Where formal ethical approval is not required, authors should explain the circumstances.
12. Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Automated Tools
Generative AI tools cannot be listed as authors. Authors are fully responsible for the accuracy, originality, and integrity of any content prepared with AI assistance. Any use of AI must be transparently disclosed. AI tools must not be used to fabricate data, manipulate images, or conceal plagiarism. Editors and reviewers must not upload confidential manuscript content to external AI systems.
13. Data Availability and Reproducibility
Authors should describe their methods sufficiently to permit evaluation and, where possible, replication. A data availability statement is encouraged, explaining whether supporting data are available and how they can be accessed, while respecting participant confidentiality and legal restrictions.
14. Intellectual Property, Copyright, and Licensing
Authors must ensure their work does not infringe on the intellectual property rights of others. Permissions must be obtained for any third-party copyrighted material. Copyright ownership and open-access licensing terms are governed by the journal's separate Copyright and Licensing Policy, which is available on the journal website.
15. Complaints and Appeals
Authors may appeal an editorial decision by submitting a reasoned written explanation to the editorial office. Complaints regarding editorial conduct or the journal's procedures will be acknowledged and assessed fairly. An independent editor may handle appeals concerning the editor responsible for the original decision. An appeal does not guarantee a reversal of the original decision.
16. Corrections, Retractions, and Expressions of Concern
Thoughts Review is committed to preserving the integrity of the scholarly record.
- Corrections may be published for material errors that do not warrant retraction.
- Retractions may be issued when findings are unreliable due to misconduct or honest error, or if the work is plagiarized or unethical.
- Expressions of Concern may be issued when serious questions have arisen but an investigation is ongoing.
All notices will be clearly linked to the original article and remain accessible.
17. Post-Publication Discussion
The journal welcomes substantiated scholarly criticism and comments on published work. Readers may submit comments through the official contact channels. The editorial team will assess whether the matter requires a correction, an expression of concern, a retraction, or another appropriate response. Post-publication debates are encouraged to ensure the ongoing accuracy of the scholarly record.
18. Editorial Independence and Journal Management
Editorial decisions are independent of the publisher's commercial interests. The payment of any publication fee does not guarantee acceptance. The journal's business model, including any author fees, is clearly stated on the website. The editorial team is responsible for the efficient management of the journal and the consistent implementation of its policies.
19. Confidentiality and Data Protection
Unpublished manuscripts, reviewer reports, and personal information are handled with strict confidentiality. Information is disclosed only when authorized, necessary for an investigation, or required by law. The journal takes reasonable steps to protect personal data in accordance with its Privacy Statement.
20. Ethical Framework and Policy Implementation
This policy is informed by the COPE Core Practices and the Principles of Transparency and Best Practice in Scholarly Publishing. References to these organizations indicate alignment with their principles and do not imply formal membership or endorsement. The journal will periodically review and revise this policy to align with evolving international standards.
Contact
Questions, complaints, or concerns regarding publication ethics should be directed to the Thoughts Review editorial office using the official contact details published on the journal website.
