Publication Ethics & Malpractice Statement

Scopapers is a platform of international, multidisciplinary open-access journals operated by Next Labs LLC (United States). Every journal hosted on the platform is committed to the highest standards of publication ethics and follows the Core Practices of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE). This statement sets out the responsibilities of everyone involved in publishing with us and the procedures we follow when those standards are not met.

Responsibilities of editors

Editors are responsible for deciding which submitted manuscripts are published, and they base those decisions on the scholarly merit of the work, its importance to researchers and readers, and its fit with the journal's scope. Editors evaluate manuscripts without regard to the authors' race, gender, sexual orientation, religious belief, ethnic origin, citizenship, institution, or political outlook. They ensure that submissions receive fair and timely review, maintain the confidentiality of all material submitted, and manage any competing interests of their own by recusing themselves from handling manuscripts in which they have a conflict.

Responsibilities of reviewers

Reviewers assist editors in reaching decisions and help authors improve their manuscripts. They must treat every manuscript as a confidential document, conduct reviews objectively and constructively, support their assessments with clear reasoning, and identify relevant published work that the authors have not cited. Reviewers must not use unpublished material from a manuscript for their own research and must decline to review any manuscript in which they have a conflict of interest.

Responsibilities of authors

Authors must ensure that their work is original, that it has not been published elsewhere or submitted to another journal at the same time, and that any work or words of others are appropriately cited and quoted. Data must be accurate and, where applicable, available for editorial review. All those who made a significant contribution to the work must be listed as authors, and all authors must approve the final version submitted. Authors must disclose any financial or other conflicts of interest and any sources of funding. Fabrication, falsification, plagiarism, and redundant or duplicate publication are unacceptable.

Handling misconduct

Allegations of misconduct, whether raised before or after publication, are taken seriously and investigated in line with COPE guidance and flowcharts. We give the persons concerned an opportunity to respond, keep records of the process, and act on the evidence rather than on the seniority or identity of those involved. Depending on the findings, outcomes may include correction of the published record, retraction, notification of the authors' institutions, or a bar on future submissions. We apply the same standards to our own editors and staff as we do to authors and reviewers.

Complaints

Anyone who believes that our editorial or ethical standards have not been met may raise a complaint. Our procedure is described in the Complaints & Appeals policy, and concerns may be sent to [email protected].