The independence of editors, the publication of peer-reviewed articles, and the structural consistency of published articles are essential principles for Islamic Azad University of Zanjan journals, including IMPCS. As emphasized, it is necessary to establish agreed-upon standards of ethical behavior for all parties involved in publishing: authors, journal editors, peer reviewers, and the publisher. IMPCS adheres to the Islamic Azad University of Zanjan Publication Ethics and Malpractice Statement, which aligns with COPE’s Best Practice Guidelines for Journal Editors.
Duties of the Publisher
- All editors of the IMPCS journal are independent and may make editorial decisions freely, without external pressure.
- All articles undergo peer review prior to publication, and the publisher refrains from influencing the scientific staff’s acceptance or rejection decisions.
- IMPCS ensures the structural consistency of published articles by editing and processing them according to the journal’s exclusive format.
- IMPCS provides a similarity check report (using tools such as Turnitin/iThenticate) for each article to assist editors and reviewers.
- IMPCS is responsible for the accuracy of published material. If authors, editors, or readers report an error post-publication, corrections or retractions will be made under the editor-in-chief’s direction.
- IMPCS monitors potential violations by authors, reviewers, and editors to uphold the journal’s best practices.
Duties of Editors
Publication Decisions
- The editor-in-chief determines which submitted articles are published.
- Editors follow editorial board policies and legal standards (e.g., libel, copyright, plagiarism) and may consult reviewers or other editors during decision-making.
Fair Play
- Manuscripts are evaluated solely based on intellectual content, without regard to authors’ race, gender, religion, ethnicity, citizenship, or political philosophy.
Confidentiality
- Editors and editorial staff must not disclose manuscript details to anyone except the corresponding author, reviewers, or relevant editorial advisors.
Disclosure and Conflicts of Interest
- Unpublished materials from submitted manuscripts may not be used in an editor’s research without the author’s explicit written consent.
Duties of Reviewers
Contribution to Editorial Decisions
- Peer review supports editorial decisions and helps authors improve their work through constructive feedback.
Promptness
- Reviewers unable to assess a manuscript or complete timely reviews must notify the editor and withdraw.
Confidentiality
- Manuscripts under review are confidential and may not be shared or discussed without editorial authorization.
Standards of Objectivity
- Reviews must be objective, avoiding personal criticism. Feedback should be clear and supported by evidence.
Acknowledgment of Sources
- Reviewers should identify uncited relevant work and alert editors to any overlap with existing publications.
Disclosure and Conflict of Interest
- Privileged information from peer review must remain confidential. Reviewers with conflicts of interest (e.g., competitive, collaborative ties) must decline participation.
Duties of Authors
Reporting Standards
- Research reports must accurately present original work, include objective analysis, and provide sufficient data for replication. Fraudulent statements are unethical.
Data Access and Retention
- Authors must provide raw data for editorial review and retain data post-publication, adhering to the ALPSP-STM Statement on Data and Databases.
Originality and Plagiarism
- Authors must ensure originality and properly cite or quote others’ work.
Multiple, Redundant, or Concurrent Publication
- Submitting the same research to multiple journals concurrently is unethical and unacceptable.
Acknowledgment of Sources
- Authors must acknowledge all influential works in their research.
Authorship of the Paper
- Authorship is limited to those who significantly contributed to the research. Significant contributors must be listed as co-authors; others may be acknowledged.
- The corresponding author confirms all co-authors’ inclusion, approval, and consent to submission.
Disclosure and Conflicts of Interest
- Authors must disclose financial or substantive conflicts of interest and all funding sources in their manuscript.