Publication Ethics

Research Edge and Publication (REP)

Research Edge and Publication (REP) is committed to maintaining the highest standards of publication ethics and scholarly integrity. The publisher follows internationally accepted ethical guidelines to ensure transparency, credibility, and quality in all published works.

Plagiarism Policy

REP has a strict zero-tolerance policy toward plagiarism.

Definition

Plagiarism includes:

  • Copying text without proper citation
  • Self-plagiarism or duplicate publication
  • Unattributed use of figures, tables, or data
  • Paraphrasing another author's work without acknowledgment
  • Submitting previously published content as original work

Screening Process

All submissions undergo plagiarism screening using recognized plagiarism detection software before peer review and prior to final publication.

Editorial Action

If plagiarism is detected:

  • Minor plagiarism may require revision and proper citation.
  • Major plagiarism may result in immediate rejection.
  • Published works found to contain plagiarism may be retracted.
  • Authors may be prohibited from future submissions.

Authors are solely responsible for ensuring the originality of their work.

Retraction Policy

REP reserves the right to retract published content when significant ethical concerns arise.

Grounds for Retraction

A publication may be retracted if:

  • Plagiarism is discovered.
  • Fabricated or falsified data are identified.
  • Duplicate publication is confirmed.
  • Serious ethical violations are detected.
  • Unethical research practices are proven.
  • Significant errors invalidate the findings.

Retraction Procedure

  1. Investigation initiated by the Editorial Board.
  2. Authors are notified and allowed to respond.
  3. Evidence is reviewed by the Publication Ethics Committee.
  4. Final decision is made by the Editor-in-Chief.
  5. A formal retraction notice is published on the website.

Retracted articles will remain online to preserve the scholarly record but will be clearly marked as retracted.

Conflict of Interest Policy

REP requires transparency regarding any relationships that could influence research, review, or publication decisions.

Authors

Authors must disclose:

  • Financial support
  • Funding sources
  • Institutional affiliations
  • Personal or professional relationships
  • Commercial interests related to the research

Reviewers

Reviewers must decline assignments when:

  • Personal relationships exist with authors.
  • Financial conflicts exist.
  • Institutional conflicts may affect impartiality.

Editors

Editors must recuse themselves from handling submissions where conflicts of interest exist.

All disclosed conflicts will be managed according to established ethical guidelines.

Authorship Policy

Authorship should accurately reflect individual contributions to the research and publication.

Criteria for Authorship

Authors should have made substantial contributions to:

  • Research conception and design
  • Data collection or analysis
  • Interpretation of findings
  • Manuscript preparation or revision
  • Final approval of the submitted version

Responsibilities of Authors

All authors must:

  • Approve the final manuscript.
  • Accept responsibility for the integrity of the work.
  • Ensure the accuracy of submitted information.
  • Disclose conflicts of interest.

Unacceptable Authorship Practices

REP does not permit:

  • Gift authorship
  • Guest authorship
  • Ghost authorship
  • Unauthorized addition or removal of authors

Any authorship disputes must be resolved before publication.

Research Misconduct Policy

REP takes allegations of research misconduct seriously and investigates all credible concerns.

Research Misconduct Includes

  • Data fabrication
  • Data falsification
  • Plagiarism
  • Citation manipulation
  • Image manipulation
  • Duplicate publication
  • Ethical approval misrepresentation
  • Undisclosed conflicts of interest

Investigation Process

  1. Complaint or allegation received.
  2. Preliminary assessment by the Editorial Office.
  3. Detailed investigation by the Publication Ethics Committee.
  4. Opportunity provided for author response.
  5. Editorial decision based on evidence.

Possible Actions

Depending on the severity of misconduct, REP may:

  • Reject the manuscript.
  • Publish corrections.
  • Issue expressions of concern.
  • Retract published content.
  • Inform affiliated institutions.
  • Restrict future submissions.

Ethical Publishing Commitment

Research Edge and Publication (REP) is dedicated to:

  • Academic Integrity
  • Ethical Research Practices
  • Transparency in Publishing
  • Responsible Peer Review
  • Fair Editorial Decision-Making
  • Protection of Scholarly Records

REP follows recognized international publication ethics principles and strives to promote trustworthy, high-quality scholarly communication across all disciplines.