Publication Ethics
Publication Ethics and Malpractice Statement
[World Competition journal ] is committed to upholding the highest standards of publication ethics and takes all possible measures against any publication malpractice. Our ethical policies are aligned with the principles and recommendations of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).and other relevant international standards. All parties involved in the publication process—authors, editors, and peer reviewers—are expected to agree to and comply with these ethical standards.
1. Authors' Responsibilities
1.1. Reporting Standards and Originality
Authors must present an accurate account of their original research, including an objective discussion of its significance. The manuscript must not have been published previously and must not be under consideration for publication elsewhere. Submitting the same manuscript to more than one journal concurrently is unethical and unacceptable. Data should be presented accurately, and the manuscript should contain sufficient detail to permit the work to be replicated.
1.2. Authorship and Contributorship
Authorship should be limited to those who have made a significant contribution to the conception, design, execution, or interpretation of the reported study-2. We adhere to the ICMJE definition of authorship, which requires all authors to meet four criteria: substantial contributions to the work; drafting or revising it critically; final approval of the version to be published; and agreement to be accountable for all aspects of the work. All individuals who have made significant contributions must be listed as co-authors, while others (e.g., those who provided technical help or writing assistance) should be acknowledged in the acknowledgments section. The use of "gift," "guest," or "ghost" authors is strictly prohibited. The corresponding author is responsible for ensuring all co-authors have reviewed and approved the final version of the manuscript.
1.3. Conflicts of Interest
All authors must disclose any financial or personal relationships that might be perceived to bias their work. This includes, but is not limited to, funding sources, employment, consultancies, stock ownership, and honoraria. A conflict of interest statement must be included at the time of submission and will be published alongside the article If there are no conflicts to declare, this should also be stated
1.4. Acknowledgment of Sources
Proper acknowledgment of the work of others must always be given. Authors must cite publications that have influenced the reported work.The journal will screen all submissions for plagiarism using appropriate software to prevent plagiarism, including self-plagiarism.
1.5. Data Access and Retention
Authors are expected to retain the raw data related to their manuscript for a reasonable period after publication, as they may be asked to provide it for editorial review.
1.6. Fundamental Errors in Published Works
If an author discovers a significant error or inaccuracy in their published work, they are obliged to promptly notify the journal’s editorial board or publisher and cooperate with them to retract or correct the paper.
2. Editors' Responsibilities
2.1. Publication Decisions
The Editor-in-Chief has the final responsibility for deciding which submitted articles are suitable for publication. This decision is based on the work's importance, originality, clarity, and relevance to the journal's scope, and it is guided by the journal's editorial policies and legal requirements regarding libel, copyright infringement, and plagiarism.
2.2. Fairness and Confidentiality
Editors must evaluate manuscripts solely on their academic merit and fairness, without regard to the authors' race, gender, sexual orientation, religious belief, ethnicity, nationality, or political views. They must not disclose any information about a submitted manuscript to anyone other than the corresponding author, reviewers, and other editorial board members.
2.3. Conflicts of Interest and Investigations
Editors must recuse themselves from handling manuscripts where they have any conflicts of interest. They are also responsible for investigating and responding to allegations of unethical publishing behavior, even if discovered years after publication. They will cooperate with institutions in investigating such allegations and are willing to publish corrections, clarifications, and retractions as needed.
3. Reviewers' Responsibilities
3.1. Contribution to Editorial Decisions and Promptness
Peer review is an essential step in the publication process, and reviewers assist the Editor-in-Chief in making editorial decisions and can help authors improve their manuscripts. If a reviewer feels unqualified to review a manuscript or cannot meet the deadline, they should immediately notify the editor and decline the invitation.
3.2. Standards of Objectivity and Confidentiality
Reviews must be conducted objectively. Personal criticism of the author is inappropriate, and reviewers should express their views clearly with supporting arguments. Any manuscript received for review must be treated as a confidential document. It must not be shared or discussed with others except with the permission of the editor.
3.3. Conflict of Interest and Acknowledgment of Sources
Reviewers should not review manuscripts in which they have conflicts of interest arising from competitive, collaborative, or other relationships with the authors. If in doubt, they should decline the review promptly. Reviewers should also identify relevant published work that has not been cited by the authors and notify the editor of any substantial similarity or overlap between the manuscript under review and other published works.
