PUBLICATION ETHICS & MALPRACTICE STATEMENTS

Publication Ethics & Malpractice Statement  

Tresearch Journals are committed to maintaining the highest standards of academic integrity, transparency, and ethical publishing practices. This Publication Ethics & Malpractice Statement follows the principles and best practices recommended by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and applies to all parties involved in the publishing process, including authors, editors, reviewers, and the publisher. 

  1. Duties of Authors

Authors submitting manuscripts to Tresearch Journals must ensure that: 

  • The submitted work is original and has not been published or submitted elsewhere 
  • Proper acknowledgment is given to all sources, data, and references used 
  • All listed authors meet the authorship criteria and have approved the final manuscript 
  • Data presented in the manuscript are accurate, verifiable, and ethically obtained 
  • Any conflicts of interest are fully disclosed at the time of submission 

Plagiarism and Duplicate Publication 

Plagiarism in any form, including self-plagiarism, redundant publication, or data fabrication, is strictly prohibited. All manuscripts are screened using plagiarism detection tools. Manuscripts found to violate originality standards will be rejected or retracted. 

Use of Artificial Intelligence Tools 

The journal recognizes the growing use of artificial intelligence (AI) and generative tools in scholarly research and writing and sets clear guidelines to ensure transparency and accountability. 

  • Authorship: 
    Artificial intelligence tools, including generative text or image tools, cannot be listed as authors. Authorship is limited to individuals who meet established authorship criteria. 
  • Disclosure Requirement: 
    Authors must clearly disclose the use of AI tools in manuscript preparation, including writing assistance, data analysis, image generation, or any other research-related activity. Such disclosures should be included in the manuscript (e.g., in the Methods or Acknowledgements section). 
  • Author Responsibility: 
    Authors remain fully responsible for the accuracy, originality, ethical compliance, and integrity of all content submitted for publication, regardless of any AI assistance used. 

This policy promotes responsible, ethical, and transparent use of AI technologies in scholarly publishing. 

  1. Duties of Editors

Editors of Tresearch Journals are responsible for: 

  • Making fair, unbiased, and timely editorial decisions based solely on academic merit 
  • Ensuring confidentiality of submitted manuscripts and reviewer identities 
  • Selecting qualified and independent reviewers with relevant expertise 
  • Managing conflicts of interest and withdrawing from handling manuscripts when required 
  • Taking appropriate action in cases of suspected ethical misconduct, following COPE guidance 

Editorial decisions are independent of commercial considerations, author nationality, institutional affiliation, or funding sources. 

  1. Duties of Reviewers

Reviewers play a vital role in maintaining publication quality and must: 

  • Conduct reviews objectively, constructively, and within the agreed timeline 
  • Treat all manuscripts as confidential documents 
  • Identify relevant published work that has not been cited by the authors 
  • Declare any potential conflicts of interest and decline review if necessary 
  • Refrain from using unpublished material for personal research 
  1. Peer Review Integrity

Tresearch Journals operate a transparent and independent peer review system. All submitted manuscripts undergo an initial editorial screening followed by a rigorous peer review process. Any attempt to manipulate the review process, including fake reviewer identities or coercive citation practices, is considered unethical and will result in rejection or further action. 

  1. Ethical Oversight and Research Integrity

Research involving human participants, animals, or sensitive data must comply with recognized ethical standards and approvals. Authors must clearly state ethical clearance details where applicable. 

Suspected cases of misconduct, including data falsification, image manipulation, plagiarism, or unethical research practices, are investigated following COPE procedures. 

  1. Corrections, Retractions, and Expressions of Concern

Tresearch Journals are committed to maintaining the integrity of the scholarly record. When errors or ethical concerns are identified: 

  • Corrections are issued for honest errors that do not invalidate the findings 
  • Retractions are published for serious ethical violations or unreliable research 
  • Expressions of Concern may be issued while investigations are ongoing 

All corrective actions are transparent and linked to the original article. 

  1. Conflicts of Interest

All participants in the publication process—authors, editors, and reviewers—must disclose any financial, personal, or professional relationships that could influence their work. Failure to disclose conflicts may result in manuscript rejection or retraction. 

  1. Complaints and Appeals

Tresearch Journals take all complaints seriously and handle them fairly and confidentially. Authors may submit appeals or complaints related to editorial decisions or ethical concerns. All cases are reviewed in accordance with COPE guidelines. 

  1. Editorial Independence Policy

The journal ensures full editorial independence in all publication decisions. 

  • Editors have complete authority over the acceptance or rejection of manuscripts based solely on scholarly merit and peer-review outcomes. 
  • Financial considerations, including APCs or memberships, do not influence editorial decisions. 
  • The publisher does not interfere with or override editorial decisions under any circumstances. 

This policy safeguards the integrity, transparency, and credibility of the editorial process. 

  1. Publisher’s Responsibility

The publisher of Tresearch Journals ensures that: 

  • Ethical standards are consistently applied 
  • Editorial independence is respected 
  • Commercial interests do not influence editorial decisions 

The publisher supports editors in handling ethical cases and implementing COPE-compliant resolutions. 

  1. Continuous Ethical Commitment

Tresearch Journals regularly review and update their ethical policies to align with evolving best practices in scholarly publishing and COPE recommendations. 

  1. Misconduct Reporting Channel

Allegations of research misconduct, publication malpractice, or ethical concerns may be reported confidentially to the Editorial Office at editor@tresearch.ee. All cases are handled in accordance with COPE guidelines and treated with strict confidentiality.