Publication Ethics

Duties of Editors

• Publication Decision: Editors are responsible for ensuring that articles are well written and of suitable quality before publication. When selecting articles, editors should consider originality, clarity, consistency of materials, and conformance with journal policies. Articles that have already been published elsewhere, whether in print or digital form, should not be accepted.
• Fair Play: Editors must not reject an article simply because it arose from curiosity-driven research. Instead, they should verify that the article is properly supported by evidence, well-referenced, and clearly written. Editors are also responsible for ensuring that all submissions are checked for plagiarism using reliable detection software.
• Confidentiality: Editors must keep all information about authors and reviewers confidential throughout the review process and must not disclose it to any outside party.
• Disclosure and Conflicts of Interest: Editors must demonstrate full transparency and confirm that no conflicts of interest exist between themselves and the authors, reviewers, or publication management team.
• Involvement in Investigations: If a submission shows signs of plagiarism, editors must immediately halt the review process and contact the author(s) to request an explanation. Based on the response, the editor must make a final decision on whether to accept or reject the author's explanation and the article.

Duties of Authors

• Reporting Standards: Authors must accurately represent all information in their work, including sufficient data and properly cited sources.
• Data Access and Retention: Authors should make their data publicly accessible where possible and retain the underlying details as needed.
• Originality and Plagiarism: All submitted work must be original. If an author has used the words or ideas of others, these must be properly cited and referenced.
• Multiple, Redundant, or Concurrent Publication: Submitting the same manuscript to more than one journal at the same time is considered academic dishonesty and a breach of journal terms. If this behavior is discovered, the author may be blacklisted and future submissions may not be considered for publication.
• Acknowledgement of Sources: Authors must identify all funding sources that supported the research. Any use of information from private communications or confidential sources must include explicit permission from the original source.
• Authorship: Every person listed as an author must have genuinely contributed to the research. All co-authors must attest to this.
• Hazards and Use of Human or Animal Subjects: Authors must respect the dignity and rights of human participants and treat both humans and animals ethically in their research.
• Disclosure and Conflicts of Interest: Authors must declare any conflicts of interest, including financial relationships such as employment, honoraria, or other funding sources.
• Correcting Errors in Published Work: If an error is found in a published work, the responsible author must promptly inform the editor and cooperate in making corrections. If the editor becomes aware of an error through other means, the author is responsible for managing the retraction or correction and providing the accurate version to the editor.
• Copyright Agreement: Authors must confirm that submitted papers are their own original work and have not been published elsewhere.
• Use of AI-Generated Content: Authors who use generative AI or AI-assisted tools during the writing process must carefully review and edit all AI-generated output, as it may be incorrect, incomplete, or biased. Authors must explicitly acknowledge in their manuscript that AI tools were used. This disclosure will be included in the published work. Authors bear full responsibility and accountability for the content of their work.
• Repository Policy: Authors may deposit any version of their article (submitted, accepted, or published) in an institutional or other repository of their choice, with no embargo period.

Duties of Reviewers

• Contribution to Editorial Decisions: Reviewers assist editors in making publication decisions and may provide feedback that helps authors improve their work.
• Promptness: Reviewers should complete and submit their review on time. If they are unable to do so, they must notify the editor immediately so that an alternative arrangement can be made.
• Confidentiality: Reviewers must not share any part of the manuscript, in full or in part, with anyone not involved in the review process.
• Objectivity: Reviews must be based on evidence and conducted without personal bias.
• Knowledge and Competence: Reviewers should only accept assignments for which they have sufficient knowledge to provide an informed and unbiased evaluation.
• Disclosure and Conflicts of Interest: If a reviewer has a potential conflict of interest with an author, they must either withdraw from the review or report the situation to the editor.

Ethical Investigation Process

RAST is committed to maintaining the highest ethical standards. When complaints or suspicions of misconduct arise, the journal conducts a thorough and fair investigation in accordance with COPE guidelines. The process is as follows:

1. Appointment of Committee: An impartial committee with no conflicts of interest is formed to oversee a fair and transparent investigation.
2. Review and Analysis: The committee reviews complaints using plagiarism detection tools and examines suspicious content to identify any unethical conduct.
3. Evidence Assessment: All available evidence is assessed comprehensively to examine the allegations.
4. Author's Response: The accused author is given the opportunity to respond and clarify the allegations.
5. Confidentiality: Confidentiality is maintained throughout the process to ensure fairness for all parties.
6. Action on Misconduct: If misconduct is confirmed, appropriate actions are taken in line with COPE guidelines, which may include suspension or withdrawal of the publication.
7. Notification of Results: If allegations are not substantiated, all concerned parties are notified of the outcome.
8. Ongoing Monitoring: The journal monitors misconduct concerns throughout the entire submission-to-publication process. If further concerns arise, the editor will consult the editorial board for additional action.

This process ensures that ethical standards are upheld and that all parties are treated fairly and transparently.

Reporting an Ethical Concern

RAST encourages authors, readers, and other qualified individuals to report any ethical concerns or suspected misconduct. Reports can be submitted through the Ethical Concern Report Form, available on the RAST website under the "Ethical Concern Report" section. The form allows reporters to provide detailed information about the issue. All reports are treated with strict confidentiality, and the journal will conduct a thorough and professional investigation.

Community feedback is valued by the journal, as it helps uphold ethical standards and ensures that RAST remains a transparent and responsible research publication.