Ethical Policy

Ethical Policy

The Gandhara Journal of Natural Sciences (GJNS) is committed to maintaining the highest standards of ethics in scholarly publishing. This policy establishes guidelines for ethical conduct by authors, reviewers, editors, and journal staff, ensuring fairness, integrity, transparency, and accountability at every stage of the publishing process.

This policy aligns with international standards from the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE), and World Association of Medical Editors (WAME), while respecting Islamic ethical values and Afghan cultural norms.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1. Ethical Responsibilities of Authors

1.1 Originality and Plagiarism

  • Authors must submit original and unpublished manuscripts.
  • All sources must be properly cited.
  • Plagiarism in any form—including self-plagiarism—is strictly prohibited.
  • All submissions are screened using Turnitin plagiarism detection software. Manuscripts with a similarity index exceeding 15% may be rejected or sent back for revision.

1.2 Authorship and Contributions

  • Authorship is limited to individuals who made substantial contributions to:
    ✅ Conception or design of the work
    ✅ Data collection, analysis, or interpretation
    ✅ Drafting or critical revision of the manuscript
    ✅ Approval of the final version
  • Non-author contributors should be acknowledged appropriately.

1.3 Conflicts of Interest

  • Authors must disclose any financial or personal relationships that could bias their work.
  • Funding sources and institutional affiliations must be declared.

1.4 Data Integrity and Availability

  • Authors must ensure accuracy and be prepared to provide raw data for editorial review upon request.
  • Fabrication or falsification of data is considered serious misconduct.
  • Data sharing in recognized repositories is encouraged to promote transparency.

1.5 Responsible Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)

  • Any use of AI tools (e.g., for writing assistance, data analysis) must be clearly disclosed.
  • AI-generated content must be critically reviewed and verified by the authors.

1.6 Image Integrity

  • Authors must not manipulate images or figures in ways that mislead readers.
  • Adjustments (brightness, contrast) are allowed only if applied to the entire image and do not obscure data.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

2. Ethical Responsibilities of Reviewers

2.1 Confidentiality

  • Manuscripts must be treated as confidential documents and not shared without permission.

2.2 Objectivity and Constructive Feedback

  • Reviews should be evidence-based, impartial, and focused on improving the manuscript.

2.3 Disclosure of Conflicts

  • Reviewers must declare any COIs and decline assignments where conflicts exist.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

3. Ethical Responsibilities of Editors

3.1 Fairness in Decision-Making

  • Editorial decisions are based on scientific merit, originality, and relevance to GJNS’s scope, free from discrimination.

3.2 Confidentiality

  • Editors and staff must not disclose information about submitted manuscripts to unauthorized parties.

3.3 Handling Ethical Concerns

  • Suspected breaches (e.g., plagiarism, data manipulation) are investigated following COPE guidelines.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

4. Handling Ethical Breaches

4.1 Types of Misconduct

  • Plagiarism (detected through Turnitin)
  • Data fabrication or falsification
  • Redundant publication
  • Authorship disputes
  • Undisclosed COIs

4.2 Investigation Process

Action

Timeline

Acknowledge complaint

5 working days

Complete investigation

2–6 weeks

Communicate decision

Within 7 days post-investigation

Outcomes

✅ Minor Errors: Issue corrections or errata.
✅ Major Breaches: Retract the article with a notice.
✅ Severe Misconduct: Notify the author’s institution or funding body.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

5. Whistleblower Protection

Individuals reporting ethical concerns will remain confidential and protected from retaliation.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

6. Cultural and Ethical Alignment

GJNS adheres to ethical practices that respect Afghan cultural values and Islamic principles. Submissions contrary to these norms will not be considered.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

7. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Commitment

GJNS encourages submissions that contribute to the UN Sustainable Development Goals, particularly in natural sciences areas addressing environmental sustainability, health, and innovation.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Periodic Review

This policy is reviewed annually and updated as necessary to reflect emerging best practices in academic publishing.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Contact for Ethical Queries

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

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1. Turnitin Screening Workflow Chart

This chart illustrates how Turnitin plagiarism screening is integrated into the GJNS editorial workflow to ensure originality and ethical compliance:

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Step 1: Manuscript Submission
       Author submits manuscript via the GJNS submission system.

Step 2: Initial Editorial Screening
      1. Editors check for adherence to GJNS formatting and scope.
      2. Manuscript sent for Turnitin similarity check.

Step 3: Turnitin Report Review

  • ✅ Similarity ≤ 15% → Proceed to peer review.
  • ⚠️ Similarity 16–30% → Manuscript returned to author for revision.
  • ❌ Similarity > 30% → Manuscript rejected for excessive overlap/plagiarism.

Step 4: Revised Submission (if needed)
     1. Author revises manuscript to reduce similarity index.
     2. Re-screened using Turnitin before peer review.

Step 5: Double-Blind Peer Review
        Manuscript passes similarity check and enters review process.

Step 6: Final Decision
        Accepted / Minor Revisions / Major Revisions / Rejected

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

This process ensures all manuscripts meet GJNS’s ethical standards before entering peer review.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

2. Publication Ethics & Malpractice Statement (For DOAJ/Scopus Submission)

This statement consolidates Ethical Policy, Conflict of Interest, Complaints & Misconduct, Corrections & Retractions into one unified document for compliance with DOAJ and Scopus requirements:

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Publication Ethics & Malpractice Statement

The Gandhara Journal of Natural Sciences (GJNS) is committed to upholding the highest standards of publication ethics and ensuring the integrity of the scholarly record. This statement outlines the ethical responsibilities of authors, reviewers, editors, and publishers, aligning with COPE Core Practices, ICMJE Recommendations, and WAME Principles.

 

1. Responsibilities of Authors

  • Submit original, unpublished work free of plagiarism (screened via Turnitin).
  • Properly cite all sources.
  • Declare all funding sources and conflicts of interest.
  • Ensure data accuracy and provide raw data if requested.
  • Follow authorship guidelines: only contributors meeting authorship criteria are listed.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

2. Responsibilities of Reviewers

  • Maintain confidentiality of manuscripts.
  • Provide objective, constructive, and timely reviews.
  • Disclose any conflicts of interest.
  • Decline reviews where bias may exist.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

3. Responsibilities of Editors

  • Make impartial decisions based solely on scientific merit.
  • Maintain confidentiality throughout the editorial process.
  • Investigate suspected ethical breaches following COPE flowcharts.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 4. Plagiarism & Screening Policy

All manuscripts are checked with Turnitin before peer review.

  • Similarity ≤ 15% → Acceptable
  • 16–30% → Requires revision
  • 30% → Rejected

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

5. Handling Misconduct

GJNS investigates complaints of ethical breaches (e.g., plagiarism, data fabrication, authorship disputes).

  • Minor issues: Publish corrections.
  • Major misconduct: Retract the article with a public notice.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

6. Corrections, Retractions, and Expressions of Concern

GJNS issues:

  • Corrections (Errata): For minor errors not affecting findings.
  • Retractions: For serious errors or misconduct.
  • Expressions of Concern: When investigations are inconclusive or ongoing.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

7. Complaints & Appeals

Authors, reviewers, or readers may submit complaints about editorial decisions or ethical concerns to:
[Insert official GJNS email]

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

8. Cultural and Ethical Alignment

All processes respect Afghan cultural values and Islamic principles.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

9. Annual Review

This statement is reviewed annually to ensure compliance with evolving international standards.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Contact for Ethical Queries

Email: [Insert official GJNS editorial email]
CC: rpashtoon@hotmail.com