Publication Ethics

Publication Ethics and Research Misconduct

Palestine Technical College Journal of Research and Studies is committed to maintaining high standards of publication ethics, academic integrity, transparency, and responsible scholarly publishing. The journal follows internationally recognized principles and best practices in publication ethics, including the guidelines and recommendations of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).

1. Authors’ Responsibilities

Authors are expected to:

  • Submit original work that has not been previously published or submitted elsewhere.
  • Ensure that all data, results, and information presented are accurate and honestly reported.
  • Properly acknowledge and cite all sources used in the research.
  • Ensure that authorship is limited to individuals who have made substantial intellectual or scientific contributions.
  • Obtain the approval of all co-authors before submission and ensure that all authors approve the final manuscript.
  • Disclose relevant funding sources and potential conflicts of interest.
  • Cooperate with the editorial office regarding questions concerning the research, data, methodology, or originality of the manuscript.
  • Notify the journal promptly if a significant error is discovered in a published article.

2. Responsibilities of the Editorial Board

The Editor-in-Chief and Editorial Board shall:

  • Evaluate manuscripts fairly and objectively based on their academic and scientific merit.
  • Maintain confidentiality throughout the editorial and peer-review process.
  • Select qualified reviewers with appropriate expertise.
  • Manage potential conflicts of interest appropriately.
  • Protect unpublished information contained in submitted manuscripts.
  • Take appropriate action when ethical concerns or suspected research misconduct arise.

3. Reviewers’ Responsibilities

Reviewers are expected to:

  • Treat submitted manuscripts as confidential documents.
  • Conduct reviews objectively, fairly, and professionally.
  • Provide constructive and academically relevant comments.
  • Disclose any potential conflict of interest.
  • Decline a review when they lack the necessary expertise or when their impartiality may be compromised.
  • Not use unpublished information obtained through peer review for personal or research purposes.

4. Plagiarism and Originality

The journal has a strict policy against plagiarism and other forms of academic misconduct.

Manuscripts may be screened using appropriate plagiarism-detection or similarity-checking tools. Authors are responsible for ensuring that all material derived from other sources is appropriately acknowledged and cited.

Cases of plagiarism, substantial unattributed copying, or other forms of academic misconduct will be investigated and handled according to the seriousness of the case and recognized publication-ethics practices.

5. Research Misconduct

Research misconduct includes, but is not limited to:

  • Fabrication of research data.
  • Falsification or manipulation of data or results.
  • Plagiarism.
  • Inappropriate manipulation of images or research materials.
  • Duplicate or redundant publication.
  • Simultaneous submission to multiple journals.
  • Improper authorship practices.
  • Failure to disclose relevant conflicts of interest.

When credible concerns arise, the journal may investigate the matter and, where appropriate, contact the authors’ affiliated institution or other relevant bodies.

6. Conflict of Interest

Authors, reviewers, and editorial team members must disclose any financial, professional, institutional, or personal relationships that could influence the objectivity of the research, peer review, or editorial decision.

The journal will take appropriate measures to ensure that conflicts of interest do not compromise the integrity of the publication process.

7. Research Involving Human Participants

Research involving human participants, personal data, or sensitive information must comply with applicable ethical, institutional, and legal requirements.

Where applicable, authors must obtain approval from an appropriate research ethics committee or institutional review board and obtain informed consent from participants when required.

8. Funding Disclosure

Authors must disclose all sources of financial or institutional support for the research.

Where relevant, authors should also disclose the role of the funding organization in the study design, data collection, analysis, interpretation, or decision to publish.

9. Use of Artificial Intelligence

Authors may use generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools for appropriate purposes, such as language improvement or editorial assistance, provided that such use does not replace the authors’ intellectual and scientific responsibility.

AI tools and systems cannot be listed as authors.

When the use of generative AI has made a substantive contribution to the preparation or content of a manuscript, authors should disclose such use in accordance with the journal’s policy.

Authors remain fully responsible for the accuracy, originality, integrity, and academic validity of their manuscripts, including content generated or modified with the assistance of AI tools.

10. Corrections and Retractions

If an error is identified in a published article that affects its accuracy or interpretation, the journal may publish an appropriate correction.

If a published article is found to contain serious errors, plagiarism, fabricated or falsified data, or other significant violations of publication ethics, the journal may retract the article.

Corrections and retractions will be handled in accordance with recognized international publication-ethics practices in order to preserve the integrity of the scholarly record.

11. Complaints and Appeals

The journal welcomes legitimate complaints and appeals concerning editorial decisions, peer review, authorship, publication ethics, or other aspects of the publication process.

Complaints and appeals should be submitted to the editorial office with sufficient information and justification. They will be handled fairly, objectively, confidentially, and as promptly as reasonably possible.

12. Confidentiality

The journal maintains the confidentiality of manuscripts and information obtained during the submission, review, and editorial processes.

Unpublished information contained in submitted manuscripts must not be disclosed or used for personal or research purposes without appropriate authorization.

13. Commitment to COPE

Palestine Technical College Journal of Research and Studies is committed to following the principles and best practices of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) in addressing publication-ethics issues and suspected research misconduct.

The journal seeks to maintain the integrity of the scholarly record and to ensure that published research meets appropriate standards of academic quality, transparency, and ethical conduct.