Ethics and Malpractice Statement

Asian Online Journals (AOJ) is committed to maintaining the highest standards of ethical conduct and academic integrity in scholarly publishing. All journals published by AOJ adhere to established best practices in research ethics and publication ethics, ensuring transparency, fairness, and accountability throughout the publication process.
This statement applies to all journals published by Asian Online Journals, unless otherwise stated on individual journal websites.

Ethical Framework

Asian Online Journals follows ethical principles and best practices aligned with the guidelines and recommendations of Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE). These principles guide editors, reviewers, authors, and the publisher in maintaining integrity in scholarly communication.

Responsibilities of Authors

Authors submitting manuscripts to AOJ journals are expected to:

  • Submit original work that has not been published previously and is not under consideration elsewhere.
  • Properly acknowledge and cite the work of others.
  • Ensure that all listed authors have made significant scholarly contributions to the work.
  • Obtain any required ethical approvals (e.g., for human or animal studies) prior to submission.
  • Disclose any conflicts of interest that may influence the interpretation of the research.
  • Avoid plagiarism, data fabrication, data falsification, and inappropriate image manipulation.

Plagiarism and Originality

All submitted manuscripts are subject to plagiarism screening using similarity detection tools. Manuscripts found to contain plagiarism, including self-plagiarism or excessive similarity to previously published work, may be rejected or returned to authors for clarification or correction.

Duplicate and Redundant Publication

Authors must not submit the same manuscript or substantially similar content to more than one journal simultaneously. Redundant or duplicate publication is considered unethical and may result in rejection or retraction of the article.

Responsibilities of Editors

Editors of AOJ journals are responsible for:

  • Making editorial decisions based solely on scholarly merit, originality, and relevance to the journal’s scope.
  • Ensuring a fair, unbiased, and confidential peer-review process.
  • Maintaining editorial independence from commercial or personal interests.
  • Addressing ethical concerns promptly and transparently.
  • Taking appropriate action in cases of suspected misconduct, including issuing corrections or retractions when necessary.

Responsibilities of Reviewers

Reviewers are expected to:

  • Conduct reviews objectively, fairly, and confidentially.
  • Provide constructive and timely feedback to authors.
  • Declare any conflicts of interest and decline review when appropriate.
  • Not use unpublished material disclosed in a manuscript for personal advantage.

Peer Review Integrity

All AOJ journals employ a peer-review process appropriate to their discipline, typically following a double-blind peer-review model. The identities of authors and reviewers are concealed to ensure impartial evaluation.

Conflicts of Interest

All participants in the publication process (authors, reviewers, and editors) are required to disclose any financial, professional, or personal relationships that could be perceived as influencing their work. Identified conflicts of interest are managed in accordance with journal policies.

Corrections, Retractions, and Expressions of Concern

Asian Online Journals is committed to maintaining the integrity of the scholarly record. When errors or ethical issues are identified after publication, the journal may issue:

  • Corrections (for honest errors that do not invalidate the work)
  • Retractions (for serious ethical breaches or unreliable findings)
  • Expressions of Concern (when investigations are ongoing)

Such actions are taken in accordance with established publication ethics guidelines.

Data Integrity and Reproducibility

Authors are encouraged to retain original data and provide access to data where appropriate, in line with disciplinary norms. Any concerns regarding data integrity or reproducibility may be investigated by the editorial office.

Complaints and Appeals

Authors who wish to appeal editorial decisions or raise complaints regarding ethical matters may contact the editorial office of the relevant journal. All complaints and appeals are handled fairly, transparently, and confidentially.

Publisher Commitment

Asian Online Journals is committed to:

  • Promoting ethical research and responsible publishing practices
  • Supporting transparency and accountability in scholarly communication
  • Continuously improving editorial policies in line with international standards

Contact

For questions or concerns related to publication ethics, please contact:
[email protected]

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