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Upholding the Highest Standards of Research Ethics and Scholarly Conduct
SOLAV Journal is committed to promoting responsible research practices, ethical conduct, and transparency in scholarly publishing.
This policy outlines the principles of research integrity and the procedures for addressing misconduct, adhering to the guidelines of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and internationally recognized standards of responsible research.
All authors, reviewers, and editors are expected to uphold the highest ethical standards throughout the research and publication process.
Core Principles
- Honesty in research design and reporting
- Accuracy in methods and results representation
- Transparency in data, funding, and conflicts
- Respect for intellectual property
- Accountability for published work
- Compliance with ethical standards
Major Misconduct Types
- Fabrication of data or results
- Falsification of research materials
- Plagiarism and improper attribution
- Misrepresentation of authorship
- Redundant publication
- Unethical research practices
Data Integrity
- Retain original data for minimum 5 years
- Provide raw data for verification upon request
- Maintain accurate research records
- Ensure data security and confidentiality
- Follow FAIR data principles where applicable
Author Responsibilities
Authors must ensure ethical research conduct, accurate reporting, proper acknowledgment, full disclosure of conflicts, and cooperation with integrity investigations. All listed authors must make substantial contributions and accept responsibility.
Whistleblower Protection
SOLAV Journal protects individuals who report concerns in good faith from retaliation. Reports can be submitted confidentially to [email protected]. Malicious or knowingly false allegations may result in corrective measures.
Principles of Research Integrity
These core principles guide all research activities associated with SOLAV Journal.
Honesty
Truthfulness in research design, data collection, analysis, and reporting. No fabrication, falsification, or selective reporting of results.
Accuracy
Precision in representing methods, results, and conclusions. Careful data collection, analysis, and error reporting.
Transparency
Openness about data, methods, funding, and conflicts of interest. Clear documentation and accessibility of research materials.
Respect
For intellectual property, research participants, animals, and the environment. Proper acknowledgment of contributions and sources.
Accountability
Taking responsibility for research quality and outcomes. Standing behind published work and correcting errors when identified.
Compliance
Adherence to ethical standards, legal requirements, institutional policies, and professional guidelines governing research.
Detailed Policy Sections
Research misconduct includes serious deviations from accepted ethical and professional standards that compromise research integrity.
Major Categories of Misconduct:
Fabrication
Making up data, results, or research records that never existed. This includes inventing participants, experiments, or outcomes.
Falsification
Manipulating research materials, processes, equipment, or data to misrepresent results. Includes selective data exclusion or improper modification.
Plagiarism
Using others' work, ideas, data, or words without proper attribution. Includes verbatim copying, paraphrasing without citation, and translation plagiarism.
Misrepresentation
Providing false information about authorship, affiliations, funding, ethical approvals, or research credentials.
Additional Serious Violations:
- Redundant Publication: Publishing substantially similar work without disclosure or justification (self-plagiarism)
- Unethical Research: Conducting research without appropriate ethical approval or informed consent
- Authorship Abuse: Honorary, ghost, or gift authorship without substantive contribution
- Peer Review Abuse: Stealing ideas or data from manuscripts under review
- Funding Misuse: Misrepresenting how research funds were used
- Selective Reporting: Hiding negative results or contradictory data
Distinction from Honest Error
Research misconduct requires intent, knowledge, or recklessness. Honest errors, differences in interpretation, or unintentional oversight do not constitute misconduct. Investigations distinguish between deliberate deception and good faith mistakes.
Maintaining accurate, complete, and accessible research data is fundamental to research integrity.
Data Retention Requirements:
- Minimum Retention Period: Original data must be retained for a minimum of five years after publication
- Longer Requirements: Some data types (clinical trials, endangered species) may require longer retention
- Institutional Policies: Authors must follow institutional or funding agency requirements if longer
- Data Formats: Data should be preserved in accessible, non-proprietary formats when possible
- Security: Confidential or sensitive data must be stored securely with appropriate access controls
Data Verification Rights:
SOLAV Journal reserves the right to request original data for verification purposes:
- During Review: Editors or reviewers may request specific data to verify analysis
- Post-Publication: Readers or other researchers may request data through editorial office
- Investigation: During misconduct investigations, full data access may be required
- Timeframe: Authors must provide requested data within 30 business days of request
Data Management Best Practices:
- Documentation: Maintain clear records of data collection and processing
- Backup: Regular backups in multiple secure locations
- Metadata: Include comprehensive metadata for future understanding
- Version Control: Track changes and iterations in data analysis
- Sharing: Consider depositing data in recognized repositories
- FAIR Principles: Make data Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable
- Ethical Considerations: Protect participant confidentiality and privacy
- Disposal: Secure destruction when retention period ends
Consequences of Non-Compliance
Failure to retain data or provide requested data for verification may result in manuscript rejection, article retraction, or other sanctions. Inability to produce original data raises serious questions about research integrity.
Research involving humans, animals, or sensitive materials must comply with ethical standards and regulations.
Human Subjects Research Requirements:
- IRB/ERB Approval: Approval from an Institutional Review Board or Ethics Review Board
- Approval Number: Provide approval reference number in manuscript
- Informed Consent: Obtained from all participants or their legal representatives
- Consent Documentation: Maintain signed consent forms (minimum 5 years)
- Vulnerable Populations: Additional protections for children, prisoners, disabled individuals
- Confidentiality: Protect participant identity and personal information
- Data Protection: Comply with GDPR, HIPAA, or other relevant regulations
Animal Research Requirements:
- IACUC Approval: Approval from Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee
- 3Rs Principles: Replacement, Reduction, Refinement in animal use
- Species-Specific Guidelines: Follow relevant national/international guidelines
- Veterinary Care: Appropriate veterinary supervision and care
- Euthanasia: Humane methods following established guidelines
- ARRIVE Guidelines: Follow Animal Research: Reporting of In Vivo Experiments guidelines
Clinical Trial Requirements:
- Registration: Register in recognized public registry before enrollment
- Registry Number: Include trial registration number in manuscript
- CONSORT: Follow CONSORT guidelines for reporting
- Protocol: Make study protocol available
- Data Sharing: Consider sharing individual participant data
- Safety Reporting: Report adverse events appropriately
- Conflict Management: Disclose financial conflicts in trials
- Post-Trial Access: Consider access to interventions after trial
Exemptions and Waivers:
Some research may qualify for exemption or waiver of consent:
- Exemption Criteria: Minimal risk, anonymous data, public observation
- Waiver Conditions: Impractical to obtain consent, minimal risk, no adverse effect
- Documentation: Formal exemption/waiver approval from ethics board required
- Justification: Clear explanation in manuscript methods section
Serious Ethical Violations
Research conducted without proper ethical approval or informed consent constitutes serious misconduct. Such violations typically result in immediate rejection or retraction, institutional notification, and potential reporting to regulatory authorities.
All allegations of research misconduct are investigated following COPE procedures to ensure fairness and consistency.
Investigation Process:
- Initial Assessment: Evaluate seriousness, evidence, and jurisdiction (7 business days)
- Confidentiality: Maintain confidentiality to protect all parties
- Author Notification: Inform authors of allegations and provide evidence (14-day response)
- Evidence Collection: Gather relevant documentation, data, and correspondence
- Expert Consultation: Seek independent expert assessment when needed
- Institutional Coordination: Contact authors' institutions for serious cases
- Determination: Make finding based on evidence and standards
- Communication: Inform all parties of outcome and rationale
- Implementation: Apply appropriate sanctions or corrective actions
- Documentation: Maintain complete investigation records
Possible Sanctions:
| Violation Severity | Typical Sanctions | Additional Measures |
|---|---|---|
| Minor / Unintentional | Correction, author education | Warning notice, revision requirement |
| Moderate / Negligent | Manuscript rejection, 1-year submission ban | Institutional notification, retraction |
| Major / Deliberate | Immediate retraction, 3-year submission ban | COPE registration, funding agency notification |
| Severe / Systematic | Permanent submission ban, all articles reviewed | Public notice, all institutions notified |
| Criminal / Legal | Legal authorities notified, complete embargo | Regulatory body notification, public database entry |
Whistleblower Protection:
SOLAV Journal provides strong protections for individuals reporting concerns in good faith:
- Confidentiality: Identity protected unless required by law
- Non-Retaliation: Protection from adverse consequences
- Support: Guidance through reporting process
- Feedback: Information about investigation outcome when appropriate
- False Reports: Malicious or knowingly false allegations may result in sanctions against reporter
Appeal Process:
Authors may appeal misconduct determinations:
- Grounds: New evidence, procedural error, or bias
- Timeframe: Within 30 business days of decision notification
- Process: Reviewed by independent panel not involved in original investigation
- Outcome: Final and binding decision
COPE Compliance
All investigations follow COPE flowcharts and guidelines. SOLAV Journal is committed to fair, transparent, and timely resolution of integrity concerns while protecting the rights of all parties involved.
Education and Prevention
SOLAV Journal promotes research integrity through proactive education and prevention initiatives.
Educational Resources:
- Author Guidelines: Comprehensive ethical requirements
- Checklists: Pre-submission integrity checklists
- Tutorials: Online tutorials on responsible research practices
- Case Studies: Examples of ethical dilemmas and resolutions
- Webinars: Regular training sessions on research integrity
- FAQs: Common questions about ethical requirements
- Toolkits: Practical tools for data management and documentation
- References: Links to international guidelines and standards
Prevention Strategies:
- Clear Expectations: Transparent policies and procedures
- Early Intervention: Addressing concerns before they become misconduct
- Culture Building: Promoting ethical research environments
- Mentorship: Supporting early career researchers
- Recognition: Acknowledging exemplary ethical practices
Continuous Learning
Research integrity is an ongoing commitment. SOLAV Journal provides resources to help researchers maintain the highest ethical standards throughout their careers.
Proactive Approach
SOLAV Journal emphasizes prevention and education alongside detection and sanction. We believe most researchers want to conduct ethical work and benefit from clear guidance and support. Our goal is to foster a culture of integrity that makes misconduct the exception rather than the norm.
Related Policies & Resources
For complete details on ethical standards and procedures, consult our related policy pages:
Report Research Integrity Concerns
All reports are handled confidentially following COPE procedures with whistleblower protection.
[email protected]Questions About Research Ethics?
Contact our Ethics Committee for guidance on ethical requirements or clarification of standards.
View Guidelines
