Vexido Publications LLP is dedicated to upholding the highest ethical standards in academic publishing. Our Ethics Policy aligns with the guidelines of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and incorporates best practices to ensure integrity, transparency, and fairness in all aspects of the publishing process.

1. Principles of Ethical Publishing

We adhere to the following core principles:

• Integrity: Ensuring the accuracy and reliability of published work.
• Transparency: Clear communication of responsibilities and processes.
• Accountability: Upholding ethical standards throughout the publication process.
• Fairness: Treating all stakeholders—authors, reviewers, editors, and readers—impartially.

2. Responsibilities of Authors

Authors are expected to:

• Originality: Submit original work that has not been published elsewhere or under consideration in another journal.
• Accurate Reporting: Provide truthful and accurate representation of research findings and methods.
• Acknowledgment of Sources: Properly cite all sources and contributions to their work.
• Avoidance of Plagiarism: Ensure submitted work is free of plagiarism or inappropriate paraphrasing.
• Authorship Criteria: Include only those individuals who have made significant contributions to the research and manuscript preparation.
• Conflict of Interest Disclosure: Declare any financial or non-financial conflicts of interest.

3. Responsibilities of Reviewers

Reviewers are expected to:

• Confidentiality: Treat all manuscripts as confidential and not disclose or discuss content with unauthorized parties.
• Objectivity: Provide fair, constructive, and unbiased feedback based solely on the manuscript’s content.
• Timeliness: Complete the review process within the agreed-upon timeline.
• Ethical Conduct: Report any ethical concerns, such as plagiarism, data fabrication, or duplicate submissions, to the editorial team.

4. Responsibilities of Editors

Editors are responsible for:

• Impartial Decision-Making: Making unbiased decisions based on the manuscript’s academic merit, originality, and relevance.
• Confidentiality: Ensuring confidentiality throughout the editorial and review process.
• Conflict of Interest Management: Recusing themselves from handling manuscripts where conflicts of interest exist.
• Ethical Oversight: Monitoring and addressing ethical concerns, including research misconduct or policy violations.

5. Handling Ethical Misconduct

5.1 Identification of Misconduct

Ethical concerns may arise from:

• Allegations of plagiarism, duplicate submission, or data fabrication.
• Disputes over authorship or conflicts of interest.
• Breaches of ethical research standards.

5.2 Investigation Process

1. The editorial team will initiate a confidential investigation upon receiving a complaint or identifying potential misconduct.
2. Authors, reviewers, or editors involved will be given an opportunity to respond.
3. The editorial board may consult external experts or institutional bodies as needed.

5.3 Resolutions

• Minor Misconduct: Authors may be asked to correct or clarify issues.
• Severe Misconduct: Manuscripts may be rejected, and published articles retracted. Institutions or funding bodies may also be notified.

6. Research Involving Humans or Animals

Authors conducting research involving humans or animals must:

• Provide evidence of ethics committee approval or equivalent institutional oversight.
• Obtain informed consent from human participants.
• Ensure humane treatment of animals and adherence to ethical research guidelines.

7. Ethical Oversight in AI Usage

Refer to our Use of AI in Research Policy for guidance on ethical use of AI tools in research and publishing.

8. Appeals Process

Authors or reviewers may appeal editorial decisions or ethical investigations by:

• Submitting a written request to the Editor-in-Chief.
• Providing supporting evidence or arguments for reconsideration.

9. Training and Awareness

Vexido Publications LLP provides resources and workshops for authors, reviewers, and editors to promote awareness of ethical publishing practices.