Publication Ethics

Publication Ethics

The Gandhara Journal of Natural Sciences (GJNS) is committed to upholding the highest standards of integrity, transparency, and ethical conduct in scholarly publishing. This policy provides a framework for ethical behavior for all stakeholders—authors, reviewers, editors, and the journal staff.

Aligned with the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE), and World Association of Medical Editors (WAME), this policy reflects international best practices while honoring Afghan cultural norms and Islamic ethical principles.

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Phase 1: Responsibilities of Authors

1.1 Originality and Plagiarism

• Authors must submit only original work and properly cite or quote others’ work.
• Plagiarism in any form (copying text, data, images, or ideas without acknowledgment) is unacceptable.
• All submissions are screened using Turnitin. Manuscripts with a similarity index >15% may be rejected or returned for revision.

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1.2 Multiple, Redundant, or Concurrent Publication

• Authors must not submit the same manuscript to multiple journals simultaneously.
• Republishing substantially similar content is prohibited unless explicitly agreed upon.

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1.3 Authorship and Acknowledgment

• Authorship should be limited to those who significantly contributed to the research.
• Others who contributed to technical support or writing should be acknowledged.
• The corresponding author must confirm that all co-authors approve the final version and agree to its submission.

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1.4 Disclosure of Conflicts of Interest

• Authors must disclose financial or other relationships that could influence their work.
• All funding sources must be acknowledged transparently.

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1.5 Data Access and Retention

• Authors may be asked to provide raw data for editorial review and should be ready to make it publicly available where appropriate.
• Fabrication or falsification of data is considered severe misconduct.

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Phase 2: Responsibilities of Reviewers

2.1 Confidentiality

• Reviewers must treat manuscripts as confidential documents and not share them without editor authorization.

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2.2 Objectivity and Constructive Feedback

• Reviews should focus on the content, not the authors personally.
• Constructive and evidence-based criticism is encouraged.

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2.3 Disclosure and Conflicts of Interest

• Reviewers must declare conflicts of interest and decline to review if such conflicts exist.
• They must avoid using information gained through peer review for personal advantage.

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Phase 3: Responsibilities of Editors

3.1 Fairness and Impartiality

• Editorial decisions are based solely on academic merit and relevance, regardless of authors’ background.

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3.2 Confidentiality

• Editors must protect the confidentiality of submitted manuscripts.

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3.3 Conflicts of Interest

• Editors should recuse themselves from decisions where there is a conflict of interest.

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3.4 Decision on Publication

• Editors have the final responsibility for deciding which manuscripts to publish, guided by journal policies and ethical considerations.

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Phase 4: Misconduct and Policy Enforcement

4.1 Handling Allegations of Misconduct

• GJNS investigates suspected misconduct following COPE flowcharts and best practices, including:
• Plagiarism
• Data fabrication or falsification
• Undisclosed conflicts of interest
• Authorship disputes

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4.2 Retractions and Corrections

• Retractions are issued for proven misconduct or errors invalidating the findings.
• Corrections are published for minor errors that do not affect the main conclusions.

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Phase 5: Cultural and Ethical Sensitivity

GJNS ensures all editorial practices respect Afghan cultural values and Islamic principles. Content that violates these norms or local laws will not be considered for publication.

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Periodic Review of Ethics Policy

This policy is reviewed annually and updated as necessary to reflect evolving international ethical standards and local academic practices.

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Contact for Ethical Concerns

For inquiries or to report ethical concerns, please contact:

Email: [Insert official GJNS editorial email]
CC: rpashtoon@hotmail.com
Editorial Office – Gandhara Journal of Natural Sciences, Kandahar University

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Value Additions for GJNS Publication Ethics

✅ Ethics Training Modules – For authors, reviewers, and editors.
✅ Transparent Misconduct Reporting Form – On the GJNS website.
✅ Annual Ethics Report – Summarizing reported cases and resolutions for transparency.
✅ CrossMark and ORCID Integration – To strengthen ethical and publishing integrity.