Integrity in research publication has become a major issue of debate over the past years. The editors of Scientific Papers of the Silesian University of Technology – Organization and Management Series are seriously concerned about the increase of plagiarism and other forms of fraud and misconduct in academic publishing.
Our Journal is published in accordance with COPE’s (Committee on Publication Ethics) ethical principles.
We consider it an essential part of our ethical responsibilities as editors to be aware of and to meet these challenges and to develop strategies for coping with them. We expect the same awareness of our journal’s peer reviewers.
Likewise, Scientific Papers of the Silesian University of Technology – Organization and Management Series Journal is committed to ethical standards in its own editorial policy. The editors of Scientific Papers of the Silesian University of Technology – Organization and Management Series Journal do their best to ensure fair, unbiased and transparent peer review processes and editorial decisions.
Any detected cases of misconduct, whether on the part of the authors, reviewers or editors, will be vigorously pursued.
Ethical expectations
Editor’s responsibilities
- To act in a balanced, objective and fair way while carrying out their expected duties, without discrimination on any grounds.
- To strive to meet the needs of readers and authors.
- To constantly improve the quality of the journal.
- To consider and accept articles only on the basis of their academic and scientific value, without commercial influence.
- To give authors a reasonable opportunity to respond to any complaints. All complaints should be investigated regardless of when the original publication was approved. Documentation associated with any such complaint should be retained.
- To provide that the editors decisions to accept or reject a paper for publication should be based only on the paper’s importance, originality, clarity and the study’s relevance to the remit of the journal.
- To publish a description of peer review processes
- To publish guidance to reviewers on everything that is expected of them.
- To provide double-blind peer review process and preserve anonymity of reviewers.
- To provide a monitoring process of any violation of ethical issues.
- To correct the paper when any errors are found in the paper.
Reviewers’ responsibilities
- To maintain the confidentiality of any information supplied by the editor or author. To not retain or copy the manuscript.
- The judgments of reviewers should be objective, and reviewers should have no conflict of interest (financial, institutional, collaborative or other relationships between the reviewer and the author) with the researcher and/or research funders. They should alert the editor to these, withdrawing from their services for that manuscript, if necessary.
- To alert the editor to any published or submitted content that is substantially similar to that under review.
- Reviewers should point out relevant published work, in the field of the study, which is not yet cited, to adjust the quality of papers published in the journal.
Authors’ responsibilities
- All our authors are obliged to participate in the peer review process.
- It is forbidden to publish the same research in more than one journal. It is also forbidden to use fraudulent data or plagiarism. All data described in the paper should be real and authentic.
- Authors should maintain accurate records of data associated with their submitted manuscript, and to supply or provide access to these data, on reasonable request.
- Authors should confirm the originality of the content of their manuscript. When they use material from other sources, they should obtain permission to reproduce it.
- All authors mentioned in the research papers sent to the journal should have a significant contribution in the research.
- They should confirm / assert that the manuscript sent to the editor is not under consideration or accepted for publication elsewhere. Additionally, they should provide the editor with a copy of any submitted manuscript, that might contain overlapping or closely related content.
- Authors should declare any potential conflict of interest that could be considered as undue influence, considered or viewed as exerting an undue influence on their duties at any stage during the publication process.
- To promptly notify the journal editor or publisher if a significant error in their publication is identified.
Dealing with unethical behavior
- Misconduct and unethical behaviour may be identified and brought to the attention of the editor and publisher at any time, by anyone.
- Whoever informs the editor or publisher of such conduct will provide sufficient information and evidence in order for an investigation to be initiated.
- Minor misconduct might be dealt with without the need to consult more widely. In any event, the author should be given the opportunity to respond to any allegations.
- Serious misconduct might require for the employers of the accused to be notified. The editor, in consultation with the publisher, should make the decision on whether or not to involve the employers.
Open Access Statement
All texts published in our Journal are full Open Access since 2011.
Our Journal offers access to its content on an Open Access basis, under the terms of the Creative Commons license Attribution 4.0 International.