Ethical Principles and Publication Policy

The International Journal of Interdisciplinary Medicine and Applied Sciences (IJIMAS) is dedicated to upholding the highest standards of publication ethics. We strive to ensure transparency, integrity, and fairness throughout the publication process. These principles serve as the foundation for our commitment to publishing scientifically sound and ethically responsible research.

Publication Ethics Principles

Publication ethics are essential for maintaining the credibility of scientific publishing. All parties involved in the publication process (authors, reviewers, editors, and publishers) are expected to adhere to ethical standards to ensure the integrity of scholarly work.

Core Principles:

  • Plagiarism Prevention: Authors must ensure their work is original and appropriately cite all sources. Plagiarism, including self-plagiarism, is strictly prohibited.
  • Honest and Accurate Representation: Authors must accurately present research findings without fabrication, falsification, or selective reporting.
  • Transparency in Conflicts of Interest: All potential conflicts of interest must be disclosed by authors, reviewers, and editors.
  • Respect for Research Integrity: Authors must follow ethical guidelines for conducting and reporting research, including obtaining necessary approvals and consents.
  • Confidentiality: The editorial team treats all manuscripts as confidential and ensures information is not disclosed to unauthorized parties.

Peer Review Process

IJIMAS employs a double-blind peer-review system to ensure impartial evaluation of all submissions.

  • Manuscripts are reviewed by at least two independent experts in the relevant field.
  • Reviewers are expected to provide constructive feedback, identify ethical concerns, and maintain confidentiality.
  • The final decision on publication rests with the Editor-in-Chief.

Plagiarism Detection

All submissions are screened for plagiarism. Any manuscript with a similarity index exceeding acceptable thresholds will be returned to the author for revision or rejected outright.

Ethical Research Standards

Authors must ensure their research complies with established ethical guidelines:

  • Human and Animal Studies: Studies involving human participants or animals must have received prior ethical approval. The approval should be documented in the manuscript.
  • Informed Consent: In studies involving human participants, informed consent must be obtained and stated in the article.

Handling Allegations of Misconduct

IJIMAS follows the guidelines provided by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) for addressing allegations of research misconduct.

  • Plagiarism, Data Manipulation, or Fabrication: Allegations will be investigated thoroughly, and appropriate actions will be taken, including retraction if necessary.
  • Simultaneous Submissions: Submitting the same manuscript to multiple journals is unethical and will result in rejection.

Corrections, Retractions, and Expressions of Concern

IJIMAS is committed to correcting errors in published work:

  • Minor Errors: A correction notice will be issued for minor errors that do not affect the findings.
  • Significant Errors or Misconduct: Articles may be retracted or an expression of concern published if major ethical violations or inaccuracies are detected.

Author Contributions

Authors are encouraged to provide a clear statement of their individual contributions to the research and writing process. The journal does not yet require standardized author contribution statements but encourages transparency.

Conflicts of Interest

Authors must disclose any potential conflicts of interest that may influence the research or its interpretation. If no conflicts exist, authors should include a statement declaring this in the manuscript.

Complaint and Appeal Process

We welcome constructive feedback and complaints regarding the editorial process or published content.

  • Complaints should be submitted to the editorial office via email.
  • Appeals for rejected manuscripts must be made with a detailed justification for reconsideration.

Acknowledgments

Authors may include acknowledgments for individuals, institutions, or organizations that contributed to the research but do not qualify for authorship.

Special Issue Policy

IJIMAS may publish special issues upon approval by the Editorial Board. Articles submitted for special issues undergo the same rigorous review process as regular submissions.

Ethical Declaration by Authors

Authors submitting to IJIMAS are required to confirm:

  • The work is original and has not been published elsewhere.
  • The study complies with ethical standards for research and publication.
  • All co-authors have agreed to the submission.

This policy ensures that IJIMAS adheres to the principles of ethical publishing, fostering trust and credibility within the academic community.