Publication Ethics
Publication Ethics
Wallacea Plant Protection Journal (WPPJ) is committed to upholding the highest standards of publication ethics and preventing any form of publication malpractice. To achieve this, WPPJ follows the guidelines of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).
Duties of Authors
Authors are expected to uphold the integrity of their research and submissions by adhering to the following:
1. Reporting Standards
Authors should present an accurate account of the original research performed as well as an objective discussion of its significance. Research results must be reported honestly, without fabrication, falsification, or inappropriate data manipulation. A manuscript should contain sufficient detail and references to allow others to replicate the work. Fraudulent or knowingly inaccurate statements constitute unethical behavior and are unacceptable.
2. Data Access, Retention, and Reproducibility
Authors are required to provide the raw data in connection with a paper for editorial review if requested, and should be prepared to make such data publicly available where practicable. Even if data cannot be openly shared, authors should ensure that it is retained for a reasonable period after publication. Authors bear full responsibility for ensuring that their work is reproducible and verifiable.
3. Originality and Plagiarism
Authors must guarantee that they have written entirely original works. If the work or words of others are included, proper citation and quotation must be provided. Submitting a manuscript that copies or closely paraphrases previously published material without acknowledgment constitutes plagiarism and is strictly prohibited. Authors must also ensure that they do not submit work that has been previously published, except where explicitly agreed by the editors in the case of secondary publication.
4. Multiple, Redundant, or Concurrent Publication
Authors should not submit the same manuscript to more than one journal concurrently, as this constitutes unethical publishing behavior. It is also expected that authors will not publish redundant manuscripts or multiple papers describing essentially the same research in more than one journal. If multiple publications arise from a single research project, they should be clearly identified as such, and the primary publication must be appropriately cited.
5. Acknowledgment of Sources
Proper acknowledgment of the work of others must always be given. Authors should cite all publications and data sources that have influenced the research or helped determine its nature. Information obtained privately, such as in conversations or correspondence, must not be used without explicit permission from the source.
6. Authorship and Contributorship of the Paper
Authorship should be limited to those individuals who have made a significant contribution to the conception, design, execution, or interpretation of the study. All those who have made significant contributions should be listed as co-authors, while others who participated in a more limited capacity (such as technical assistance or general support) should be acknowledged appropriately. The corresponding author has the responsibility of ensuring that all co-authors have seen and approved the final version of the manuscript and agreed to its submission for publication.
7. Disclosure and Conflicts of Interest
All authors must disclose any financial or personal relationships that could inappropriately influence (or be perceived to influence) their work. Potential conflicts of interest may include employment, consultancies, stock ownership, honoraria, paid expert testimony, patent applications, or grants. Such disclosures should be made at the earliest possible stage.
8. Ethical Considerations
When the research involves human subjects, animals, or sensitive data, authors must ensure that the study complies with institutional, national, and international guidelines and has received approval from the appropriate ethics committee. Manuscripts should include a clear statement confirming that ethical approval has been obtained, where relevant.
Duties of Editors
1. Fair Play and Impartiality
Editors must evaluate manuscripts solely on the basis of their academic merit, relevance to the journal’s scope, and scholarly contribution, without discrimination based on the authors’ race, gender, sexual orientation, religious belief, ethnic origin, citizenship, or political philosophy. Decisions should not be influenced by commercial considerations or personal relationships.
2. Confidentiality
Editors and editorial staff must treat all submitted manuscripts as confidential documents. They must not disclose any information about a manuscript to anyone other than the corresponding author, reviewers, potential reviewers, other editorial board members, or the publisher, as appropriate.
3. Publication Decisions
Editors are responsible for deciding which submitted manuscripts should be published. This decision must always be guided by the validity of the work in question, its importance to researchers and readers, and the reviewers’ recommendations. Editors must also ensure that accepted manuscripts comply with the journal’s ethical and legal requirements.
4. Peer Review Integrity
Editors are required to ensure that the peer review process is fair, unbiased, and timely. They should select reviewers with relevant expertise and avoid assigning reviewers with conflicts of interest. Editors must also provide guidance to reviewers on what is expected of them to ensure consistent and constructive evaluations.
6. Ethical Oversight
Editors have a duty to take active steps to identify and prevent the publication of papers where research misconduct has occurred, including plagiarism, citation manipulation, and data falsification. In cases where ethical concerns are raised about a manuscript or published paper, editors must follow COPE guidelines, which may include issuing corrections, retractions, or expressions of concern as necessary.
7. Use of Unpublished Materials
Editors must not use unpublished information from submitted manuscripts in their own research without the explicit written consent of the author. Privileged information or ideas obtained through peer review must be kept confidential and not exploited for personal gain.
Duties of Reviewers
1. Contribution to Editorial Decisions
Reviewers assist the editors in making editorial decisions and may also help authors improve their manuscripts. Their feedback plays a vital role in ensuring the quality and integrity of published research.
2. Confidentiality
Manuscripts received for review must be treated as confidential documents. They should not be shared with or discussed with others without prior authorization from the editor. Reviewers must not use information obtained during the peer review process for personal advantage.
3. Objectivity and Constructive Feedback
Reviews should be conducted objectively and focused on the scholarly merits of the work. Criticism should be professional and never directed at the author personally. Reviewers should provide clear, evidence-based comments that help authors improve their manuscripts.
4. Acknowledgment of Sources
Reviewers should identify any relevant published work that has not been cited by the authors. They should also alert the editor to any substantial similarity or overlap between the manuscript under review and other published articles.
5. Conflict of Interest
Reviewers must decline to review manuscripts where they have conflicts of interest resulting from competitive, collaborative, or other relationships with the authors, companies, or institutions involved in the work. If unsure, reviewers should immediately inform the editor.
6. Timeliness
Reviewers who feel unqualified to evaluate the manuscript, or who know that they cannot complete the review within the agreed time frame, should promptly notify the editor and decline the invitation to review. Timely reviews are essential to maintain the efficiency of the publication process.
