At AIJANS, we are dedicated to maintaining the highest standards of ethics and integrity in scholarly publishing. Our publication ethics are grounded in the Core Practices of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), which guide our policies on authorship, peer review, conflicts of interest, and handling misconduct allegations. We are committed to ensuring that all stakeholders—authors, reviewers, editors, and readers—uphold these ethical principles.

Authorship and Contributorship

• Criteria for Authorship: All authors listed on a manuscript must have contributed significantly to the research, including study design, data collection, analysis, or interpretation. Authorship must not be granted to individuals who do not meet these criteria.
• Contributorship Statement: All submissions must include a contributorship statement clearly detailing each author's role in the research and manuscript preparation.

Originality and Plagiarism

• Original Work: All submitted manuscripts must be the original work of the authors and not previously published or under consideration elsewhere.
• Plagiarism Screening: AIJANS utilizes plagiarism detection software to screen all submissions. Any manuscripts found to contain plagiarism will be rejected, and appropriate actions will be taken under COPE guidelines.

Conflicts of Interest

• Declaration: Authors, reviewers, and editors must disclose any financial or non-financial conflicts of interest that could influence the research or decision-making process. Transparency in reporting conflicts ensures the integrity of the published research.
• Handling Conflicts: The editorial team will assess and, if necessary, take measures to resolve conflicts of interest. This may include excluding individuals from the review process or ensuring the decision-making is impartial.

Handling Allegations of Misconduct

• Research Misconduct: AIJANS takes allegations of research misconduct—such as fabrication, falsification, and plagiarism—seriously. All accusations will be investigated in accordance with COPE's Core Practices, and appropriate actions will be taken based on the findings.
• Ethical Investigations: In cases of proven misconduct, AIJANS will issue corrections, retractions, or expressions of concern as necessary, always following COPE guidelines.

Peer Review Integrity

• Unbiased Review: AIJANS follows a double-blind peer-review process to ensure that reviews are impartial and based solely on the scientific merit of the manuscript. Reviewers must disclose any conflicts of interest and provide constructive, unbiased feedback.
• Timely Communication: The journal ensures timely and transparent communication between authors, reviewers, and editors throughout the peer-review process.

Data and Reproducibility

• Data Transparency: Authors must ensure that the data supporting their findings are accurately presented in the manuscript. Authors should also be prepared to share the underlying data upon request to enable verification and reproduction of the research.
• Reproducibility: AIJANS encourages the submission of detailed methodologies to enhance the reproducibility of published research.

Corrections and Retractions

• Corrections: When significant errors or inaccuracies are identified in a published article, AIJANS will issue a correction notice to amend the record.
• Retractions: In cases of severe misconduct or flawed research, a retraction may be issued. AIJANS follows COPE’s guidance on when to issue corrections and retractions, ensuring transparency and accountability in the academic record.

Ethical Oversight

• Compliance with Ethical Guidelines: All submitted research involving human subjects, animals, or environmental samples must comply with ethical guidelines and obtain appropriate approvals from institutional review boards or ethics committees.
• Ethical Responsibility: The journal will take action if any ethical concerns are raised regarding research or publication practices, always adhering to COPE's core recommendations.

For more details on the ethical principles that guide AIJANS, we encourage authors, reviewers, and editors to consult the COPE Core Practices.