Publication Ethics

The Journal of Research in Artificial Intelligence for Systems and Applications (RAISA) is committed to maintaining the highest ethical standards in the publication of research articles. As a scholarly journal, RAISA adheres to a set of clear and transparent ethical guidelines to ensure the integrity of the academic publishing process. This document outlines the ethical expectations for authors, reviewers, and editors involved in the journal.

1. Ethical Responsibilities of Authors

Authors submitting articles to RAISA are expected to uphold the following ethical principles:

  • Originality and Plagiarism: Authors must submit original work. Any form of plagiarism, including self-plagiarism, is strictly prohibited. All sources used must be appropriately cited and referenced. Manuscripts found to involve plagiarism will be rejected, and the authors may face sanctions.

  • Authorship: All authors listed on the paper must have made a substantial contribution to the research and writing process. The corresponding author is responsible for ensuring that all co-authors have agreed to the final version of the manuscript and are aware of the submission.

  • Conflict of Interest: Authors must disclose any potential conflicts of interest that could influence their work, whether financial, personal, or professional. Failure to disclose conflicts of interest will result in the manuscript being rejected.

  • Data Integrity and Accuracy: Authors must ensure that the data presented in the manuscript is accurate, reliable, and consistent. Manipulation of research data or findings is strictly forbidden. If errors are identified after publication, authors must promptly correct them.

  • Ethical Compliance in Research: Authors should ensure that their research complies with ethical guidelines concerning human subjects, animals, or any other ethical considerations. The manuscript should include statements confirming that relevant ethical approvals were obtained, where applicable.

  • Duplicate or Concurrent Submissions: Authors are not permitted to submit the same manuscript to multiple journals concurrently. Once a manuscript has been submitted to RAISA, it must not be under consideration elsewhere.

2. Ethical Responsibilities of Reviewers

Reviewers play a vital role in the peer review process and are expected to:

  • Confidentiality: Reviewers must treat the manuscript and any associated materials as confidential. They should not disclose or discuss the manuscript with others outside of the review process.

  • Objectivity: Reviews should be based on the content and quality of the manuscript, not on personal views or biases. Reviewers are expected to provide constructive and impartial feedback, which contributes to the improvement of the manuscript.

  • Conflict of Interest: Reviewers should recuse themselves from reviewing a manuscript if they have any personal, professional, or financial conflicts of interest with the authors or the research presented.

  • Timeliness: Reviewers should complete their reviews in a timely manner and inform the editor immediately if they are unable to review the manuscript for any reason.

  • Plagiarism Detection: Reviewers should notify the editor of any suspicion of plagiarism, duplicate publication, or any ethical concerns related to the manuscript.

3. Ethical Responsibilities of Editors

The editorial team is responsible for upholding the quality and integrity of the journal. Editors must:

  • Fairness and Impartiality: Editors are responsible for making decisions on the acceptance or rejection of manuscripts based on the quality of the research, without any bias or prejudice. The editorial process should be impartial, and no discrimination based on nationality, gender, or institutional affiliation should occur.

  • Confidentiality: Editors must maintain the confidentiality of manuscripts during the submission, review, and publication process. Only authorized individuals should have access to the manuscripts.

  • Conflict of Interest: Editors must declare any conflicts of interest and refrain from handling manuscripts where they have a personal or professional interest. If an editor has a conflict, the manuscript will be reassigned to another editor.

  • Promotion of Research Integrity: Editors should take appropriate action in cases of suspected research misconduct, including plagiarism, data fabrication, or falsification. They are responsible for ensuring that authors and reviewers comply with the journal's ethical standards.

  • Transparency in Decision-Making: Editors are expected to make editorial decisions based on the manuscript's scientific merit, relevance to the journal’s scope, and the quality of the peer review. They should provide clear and constructive feedback to authors when rejecting or requesting revisions.

  • Ensuring the Correction of Errors: If any errors are discovered after publication, editors are responsible for ensuring that corrections, retractions, or clarifications are made promptly and transparently.

4. Ethical Responsibilities of the Publisher

The publisher plays a crucial role in maintaining the integrity and ethical standards of the journal. The publisher is responsible for:

  • Adherence to Ethical Guidelines: The publisher ensures that the journal operates in full compliance with ethical guidelines set forth by RAISA and relevant ethical committees and organizations.

  • Ensuring Transparency: The publisher supports transparency in the editorial and peer review process. This includes providing clear information about editorial procedures, conflict of interest policies, and publication fees.

  • Handling Complaints and Appeals: The publisher is responsible for managing any ethical complaints, such as allegations of research misconduct, in a fair and transparent manner. The publisher should ensure that appropriate investigations are conducted and that authors, reviewers, and editors follow proper protocols.

5. Plagiarism and Misconduct

RAISA adheres to a zero-tolerance policy toward plagiarism, data fabrication, and other forms of academic misconduct. The journal uses plagiarism detection tools to identify unethical practices. If a case of misconduct is detected during the review or publication process, the manuscript will be rejected, and further actions may be taken depending on the severity of the violation.

6. Retractions and Corrections

In cases of significant errors or misconduct discovered after publication, RAISA is committed to maintaining the accuracy and integrity of its publications. Authors, editors, and the publisher will work together to issue retractions or corrections as needed, ensuring the public record remains truthful and transparent.

7. Ethical Guidelines Review

These publication ethics are subject to review and revision. The journal aims to ensure that its policies remain up-to-date with best practices in scholarly publishing, ethical standards, and international guidelines.