Publication Ethics and Publication Malpractice Statement (COPE)

COPE Compliance Statement

The International Journal of Business Integrity and Technology Advancements (IJBITA) is committed to maintaining the highest standards of publication ethics and follows the principles, Core Practices, and best practice guidelines established by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE). The journal expects editors, reviewers, authors, and the publisher to uphold integrity, transparency, accountability, fairness, and ethical conduct throughout every stage of the publication process.

Editorial Responsibilities

The Editor-in-Chief and Editorial Board evaluate submitted manuscripts solely on the basis of their academic merit, originality, scientific quality, methodological rigor, significance, and relevance to the journal's aims and scope. Editorial decisions are made without discrimination based on race, gender, nationality, ethnicity, religion, institutional affiliation, disability, sexual orientation, or political beliefs.

Editors are responsible for ensuring that the peer review process is fair, objective, confidential, and free from conflicts of interest.

Editors will:

  • Maintain the confidentiality of all submitted manuscripts.
  • Ensure impartial, timely, and rigorous peer review.
  • Select qualified reviewers based on expertise.
  • Prevent conflicts of interest in editorial decision-making.
  • Address allegations of research misconduct promptly and fairly.
  • Issue corrections, retractions, expressions of concern, or withdrawals when necessary to preserve the integrity of the scholarly record.

Author Responsibilities

Authors submitting manuscripts to IJBITA must ensure that:

  • Their work is original and has not been published or submitted simultaneously to another journal.
  • All sources, data, figures, and ideas from other authors are properly cited and acknowledged.
  • Research data are accurate, authentic, complete, and honestly reported.
  • Fabrication, falsification, plagiarism, duplicate publication, redundant publication, and data manipulation are strictly prohibited.
  • All listed authors have made substantial scholarly contributions to the research and approve the submitted version.
  • Funding sources, acknowledgements, and potential conflicts of interest are fully disclosed.
  • Ethical approval and informed consent have been obtained where research involves human participants, animals, or sensitive data.
  • Significant errors discovered after publication are immediately reported to the editorial office so appropriate corrections can be made.

Reviewer Responsibilities

Peer reviewers play an essential role in maintaining the scientific quality and credibility of the journal. Reviewers are expected to:

  • Review manuscripts objectively, fairly, constructively, and professionally.
  • Maintain strict confidentiality throughout the review process.
  • Identify relevant published work not cited by the authors.
  • Report suspected plagiarism, duplicate publication, ethical concerns, or research misconduct.
  • Decline review invitations whenever conflicts of interest exist.
  • Complete reviews within the agreed review period.

Reviewers must not use unpublished information obtained through peer review for personal, academic, or commercial advantage.

Publisher Responsibilities

The publisher supports editorial independence and ensures that editorial decisions remain free from commercial, institutional, or financial influence. The publisher collaborates with the editorial team to maintain high ethical publishing standards and addresses allegations of misconduct in accordance with COPE recommendations.

Research Misconduct

IJBITA maintains zero tolerance for research misconduct, including but not limited to:

  • Plagiarism
  • Self-plagiarism
  • Duplicate submission
  • Duplicate publication
  • Data fabrication
  • Data falsification
  • Image manipulation
  • Citation manipulation
  • Authorship manipulation
  • Peer review manipulation
  • Undisclosed conflicts of interest

All allegations of misconduct will be investigated in accordance with COPE guidelines. Depending on the findings, actions may include:

  • Immediate manuscript rejection
  • Publication of corrections
  • Expressions of concern
  • Article retraction
  • Notification of authors' institutions
  • Notification of funding agencies or other appropriate authorities

Plagiarism Policy

All submitted manuscripts are screened using recognized plagiarism detection software before entering the peer review process. Manuscripts containing unacceptable levels of similarity, plagiarism, or improperly attributed content will be rejected. Authors are responsible for ensuring that all referenced material is appropriately cited and acknowledged.

Conflict of Interest

Authors, reviewers, editors, and editorial board members must disclose any financial, professional, institutional, or personal relationships that could influence the research, peer review process, or editorial decisions. Appropriate measures will be taken whenever conflicts of interest are identified to safeguard the integrity and transparency of the publication process.

Data Integrity and Reproducibility

Authors should retain original research data for an appropriate period after publication and provide access to such data upon reasonable request to verify published findings. Whenever possible, authors are encouraged to deposit datasets in recognized public repositories to promote transparency, reproducibility, and future research.

Corrections, Retractions, and Expressions of Concern

IJBITA follows COPE guidance regarding post-publication updates. When significant errors or ethical concerns are identified after publication, the journal may issue:

  • Corrections (Errata or Corrigenda)
  • Expressions of Concern
  • Retractions
  • Editorial Notes

Such actions are undertaken to maintain the integrity, transparency, and reliability of the scholarly record.

Confidentiality

Editors, reviewers, editorial staff, and publishers shall treat all submitted manuscripts as confidential documents. Information obtained during peer review shall not be disclosed to unauthorized individuals or used for personal, academic, or commercial benefit.

Appeals and Complaints

Authors who disagree with an editorial decision may submit a formal appeal supported by appropriate evidence. Appeals are independently reviewed by the Editor-in-Chief or an appointed Editorial Committee. Complaints concerning editorial procedures, peer review, publication ethics, or journal management are handled fairly, transparently, and in accordance with COPE Core Practices.

Ethical Oversight

Research involving human participants, personal information, animals, biological materials, or other sensitive subjects must comply with internationally recognized ethical standards and institutional review requirements. Authors must provide evidence of ethical approval where applicable and confirm that informed consent has been obtained from participants or their legal representatives.

Commitment to Ethical Publishing

The International Journal of Business Integrity and Technology Advancements (IJBITA) is dedicated to promoting responsible research, scientific integrity, transparency, accountability, and ethical scholarly communication. By submitting a manuscript to IJBITA, authors acknowledge that they have read, understood, and agree to comply with this Publication Ethics and Publication Malpractice Statement and with the principles established by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).