Publication Ethics

At QTanalytics, we are dedicated to maintaining the highest standards of ethical behavior throughout the publication process. We adhere to the best practices set forth by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) to ensure the integrity and quality of our published works. Our publication ethics extend across book and chapter authors, editors, and reviewers to promote fairness, transparency, and accountability.

Publication Ethics for Authors

As an author, it is essential to ensure that your work meets the following ethical standards:

  • Originality: All submitted manuscripts must be original, with the author(s) owning the copyright. Proper citation is required for any content sourced from external works to avoid plagiarism.

  • Libel and Intellectual Property: Ensure that your book or chapter does not contain libellous content, infringe copyright or any intellectual property rights, or violate third-party rights.

  • Authorship: Authorship should accurately reflect those who contributed to the research and writing of the work. In the case of multiple authors, the order of authorship must be mutually agreed upon.

  • Publication Exclusivity: Submitted works should not be under review or accepted for publication elsewhere. If sections overlap with other published or submitted work, this must be cited.

  • Third-Party Permissions: Authors are responsible for obtaining permission to reproduce any text, images, or other content from third-party sources.

  • Funding Acknowledgment: Any funding sources, including those for Open Access, should be clearly disclosed in the manuscript, typically in an acknowledgment section.

Publication Ethics for Editors

Editors are accountable for all content published under their supervision. Their responsibilities include ensuring the quality and appropriateness of the materials they accept for publication.

  • Fair and Balanced Judgment: Editors must handle submissions impartially, without discrimination based on gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, religious beliefs, or political views.

  • Confidentiality: Editors must treat all submitted material as confidential and only distribute it for the purpose of peer review.

  • Timeliness: Editors must process submissions in a timely manner and provide authors with clear guidance on expectations.

  • Quality Control: Decisions on publication should be based solely on the quality and suitability of the submission.

Peer Review Process

Editors are responsible for ensuring transparency in the peer review process:

  • Process Transparency: A clear description of the peer review process should be made available, and any deviations should be justifiable.

  • Anonymity: Unless using an open review system, the identities of reviewers must remain protected.

  • Misconduct: In cases of suspected plagiarism or disputed authorship, editors should follow the COPE flowcharts and guidelines.

Responsibilities of the Editorial Board

  • Clear Guidance: Series editors must provide new editorial board members with clear guidelines and keep existing members informed of new policies and updates.

  • Conflict Management: Editors must have systems in place to manage potential conflicts of interest, both for themselves and the editorial board members.

Publication Ethics for Reviewers

Reviewers play a crucial role in maintaining the quality of QTanalytics publications. Their responsibilities include:

  • Improving Quality: Reviewers should provide objective and considerate feedback to improve the quality of the submitted manuscript.

  • Timeliness: Reviews must be completed in a timely manner.

  • Conflict of Interest: Reviewers should disclose any conflicts of interest that may influence their evaluation of the manuscript.

  • Confidentiality: All materials reviewed are confidential and should not be shared or discussed outside the review process.

At QTanalytics, we remain committed to ethical publishing practices that uphold the integrity of academic research. Our policies ensure that all contributors—authors, editors, and reviewers—follow a clear and consistent ethical framework, maintaining the quality of our book publications.

For more detailed guidelines on our publication ethics, we encourage contributors to refer to the COPE Best Practice Guidelines.