Publication Ethics

Ethical Guidelines for Environmental Reports

Environmental Reports adheres to the highest standards of publication ethics as outlined by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE). This statement encompasses guidelines for editors, reviewers, authors, and addresses misconduct, sanctions, and complaints.

Ethical Guidelines for Editors

Editors are tasked with making impartial editorial decisions based solely on the quality and intellectual merit of submitted manuscripts. They must adhere to COPE’s “Best Practice Guidelines for Journal Editors” and:

Maintain confidentiality of all submissions.
Ensure integrity in the peer review process.
Avoid conflicts of interest and ensure compliance with the journal’s policies.

Ethical Guidelines for Reviewers

Peer reviewers play a crucial role in upholding the scientific integrity of the journal. Reviewers are expected to:

Follow COPE guidelines for peer reviewers.
Maintain confidentiality and objectivity in their assessments.
Disclose any conflicts of interest prior to providing feedback.

Ethical Guidelines for Authors

Authors must align with the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE) definition of authorship. The following criteria should be met:

1. Substantial contributions to the conception, design, or data acquisition/analysis.
2. Drafting or revising the manuscript critically for important intellectual content.
3. Final approval of the version to be published.
4. Accountability for all aspects of the work.

Authors should ensure compliance with:

1. Plagiarism policy.
2. Conflicts of interest policy.
3. Ethical approvals, patient rights, and informed consent.
4. Corrections and retraction policy.

Duplicate Submission and Publication

Authors must not submit the same manuscript to multiple journals simultaneously. The journal monitors submissions to prevent duplicate publications and will reject any identified as such.

Acknowledgment and Funding Sources

Authors should acknowledge the contributions of others and declare any funding received for the research. Proper citations must be provided for influential works related to the manuscript.

Ethical Guidelines for the Publisher

The publisher is committed to protecting intellectual property and maintaining transparency in the publication process. We collaborate with editors and reviewers to uphold ethical standards.

Publishing Ethics Issues

Monitoring: The Editor-in-Chief (EIC) ensures mechanisms are in place for ethical compliance and handles complaints promptly.
Retraction & Corrections: Articles may be retracted if findings are unreliable, with a notice posted to maintain the scientific record. Corrections will be published as necessary.
Article Withdrawal: Authors may withdraw their articles at any stage before publication. Withdrawn articles will not be resubmitted.

Misconduct and Sanctions

Any suspected breaches of ethical policies will be investigated thoroughly. Authors may need to provide data or supplementary materials. Violations may result in rejection, retraction, or reporting to the author’s institution, with sanctions ranging from submission bans to removal from editorial roles.

Complaints and Appeals

Authors and readers can submit complaints or appeals via email to editor@researchfloor.org or through the contact form on our website. Each complaint will receive a unique number for tracking. If no response is received within 48 hours, please contact the Associate Editor at editor@researchfloor.org