Last Updated: [01.01.2025]
As an anchor for the dissemination of ethical research for academic integrity and ethical data management in the International Center for Promoting Knowledge (ICPK) and its journal, the International Journal of Business and Educational Development (IJBED), this paper lays out the principles according to which we conduct research in order to comply with international norms of research ethics, digital data protection, and the principle of fundamental open communicative scholarship. Upon engaging in ICPK or consenting to IJBED, you agree to the policy terms and procedures listed below. This paper outlines detailed guidelines for all critical issues of academic publishing related to data collection, data processing, publication ethics, use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools, authorship, peer review, and more.
1. Commitment to Ethical Research Practices
ICPK takes ethical research practices and publication standards seriously. Our regulations are in consonance with international norms as set forth by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), ensuring the accuracy and authenticity of all content on our platform.
1.1 Principles of Ethical Research
- Originality: Originality and plagiarism must be strictly avoided by authors. Source attribution must be followed verbatim, and any work of another person must be properly cited.
- Honesty: Data, results, and findings must be reported honestly. Fabrication, falsification, or selective reporting of results is strictly prohibited.
- Respect for Participants: Safety, respect, and welfare must be maintained in human and animal studies.
- Transparency: Researchers should provide as much detail as possible regarding materials and data so that they can be reproduced and verified.
1.2 Ethical Approval and Consent
For human participant studies, authors must obtain ethical review from an accredited institutional review board (IRB) or ethics committee. Informed consent of the subjects, with a sufficiently high level of understanding of the study’s nature and rationale, must be obtained. Strict compliance with international guidelines, such as the Three Rs Principle (Substitution, Reduction, and Refinement), should be followed in animal research.
2. Data Collection and Usage
ICPK is committed to protecting the privacy of individuals and organizations. The information we collect is restricted to that required for the peer review, editorial, and publication process.
2.1 Types of Data Collected
- Personal Data: Information on authors’ names, employers, email, phone numbers, and other contact details provided during manuscript submission and throughout the peer review and editorial correspondence.
- Research Data: The manuscript, figures, tables, supplements, datasets, and any additional materials submitted by authors.
- Reviewer and Editorial Data: Includes reviews, editorial decisions, and feedback between reviewers, editors, and authors.
2.2 Purpose of Data Collection
The information we collect is used to:
- Facilitate the peer review and editorial processes.
- Communicate with authors, reviewers, and editors.
- Ensure compliance with ethical and legal standards.
- Assure the authenticity and integrity of academic transcripts, ensuring that data or scientific evidence of ICPK is not disclosed to third parties, unless legally required or deemed advisable to address ethical issues or violations.
3. Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) Tools
The advent of AI tools has created new opportunities and challenges in research and publishing. ICPK acknowledges that AI should be used cautiously and only in a manner that is morally compliant to avoid academic risks such as plagiarism.
3.1 Policy on AI Use by Authors
Authors must report the use of AI software for writing or editing their manuscript, such as language editing tools, data analysis tools, and text generation tools. AI tools are not permitted for generating data, reviewing literature, or drawing conclusions for a study. All materials must be reviewed and approved by authors, and any AI tools applied in the research papers should be appropriately cited and noted.
3.2 Editorial Use of AI
ICPK does not use AI technologies to replace human intelligence during the manuscript review and editorial process. AI may only be used as an auxiliary tool, such as for plagiarism checking or technical formatting checks.
4. Authorship and Contribution Guidelines
Standardized authorship attribution is crucial to ensure transparency and rigor in research.
4.1 Criteria for Authorship
To qualify as an author, an individual must:
- Make significant contributions to the design, fabrication, measurement, or analysis of the work.
- Approve the final manuscript version before submission.
- Assume responsibility for all aspects of the work.
Investigators who contribute to the research but do not meet all four criteria should be acknowledged in the “Acknowledgments” section, not as authors.
4.2 Prohibited Practices
- Ghost Authorship: Excluding contributors who meet authorship criteria is not permitted.
- Gift Authorship: Including pseudonymous authors as contributors is not allowed.
- Disputes in Authorship: Disputes should be resolved under COPE guidelines or settled by the authors’ institution.
5. Confidentiality in Peer Review
ICPK adheres to strict confidentiality in the peer review system to protect the submission and the anonymity of reviewers.
5.1 Reviewer Confidentiality
Manuscripts and review articles should not be disclosed to unauthorized third parties. Reviewers are prohibited from using unpublished or unvalidated data and conclusions for personal or commercial use.
5.2 Anonymity in Review
A double-blind peer review process is applied, meaning that authors and reviewers are untraceable to each other. Breaches of privacy, such as disclosing manuscripts to third parties or submitting manuscripts to AI agents, may provoke disciplinary actions.
6. Plagiarism and Data Integrity
ICPK is committed to maintaining the integrity and trustworthiness of published literature.
6.1 Plagiarism Detection
Each submitted paper is screened using plagiarism detection tools like Crossref Similarity Check. Manuscripts with a similarity index above predefined thresholds will be rejected.
6.2 Data Fabrication and Manipulation
The accuracy and validity of data must be maintained. Fabrication, manipulation, or false reporting of data is strictly prohibited. Any violations may lead to manuscript retraction, communication with the author’s institution, and exclusion from future submissions.
7. Animal and Human Research Ethics
Human and animal studies are conducted in accordance with ethical guidelines established by the Institute for Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Biological Chemistry of the Polytechnic School of Pavia (ICPK).
7.1 Human Research
Informed consent must be obtained from participants, ensuring they understand the study’s aims, risks, and benefits. Participant anonymity and confidentiality must be preserved.
7.2 Animal Research
The Three Rs Principle should be followed:
- Replacement: Use alternatives to animal testing.
- Reduction: Minimize the number of animals used.
- Refinement: Optimize animal welfare.
8. Citation and Referencing Standards
Proper citation ensures the prestige of other authors and maintains the academic integrity of scientific work.
8.1 Referencing Style
Authors must use the Harvard Referencing System throughout their manuscripts. Complete reference citations should be provided in the reference section.
8.2 Ethical Citation Practices
Excessive self-citation should be avoided. Authors should provide an honest and transparent overview of the topic’s saturation level.
9. Conflicts of Interest
Authors, reviewers, and editors must disclose any potential conflicts of interest that could affect research, review, or editorial activities, including financial, interpersonal, or work relationships.
10. Grievance and Misconduct Reporting
ICPK provides a formal mechanism to address ethical complaints.
10.1 Reporting Misconduct
Any ethical breaches, authorship disputes, or violations of editorial standards should be directed to the Research Integrity unit at [Insert email/information here].
10.2 Investigation Process
All complaints will be handled confidentially and impartially, following COPE criteria. Completion reports will be shared with the complainants.
11. Data Protection and Privacy Compliance
ICPK complies with data protection laws, such as the GDPR, to preserve the privacy rights of all subjects.
11.1 Your Rights
You have the right to access, correct, or delete your personal data. You may also object to data processing under specific circumstances. For inquiries, contact us at [Insert Contact Email/Details].
12. Amendments to This Policy
ICPK acknowledges that this Policy may be updated to reflect new circumstances or laws. Any updates will be communicated via this page. For further details, please contact us directly.
Consistent with the ethical duties of research, data management, and reporting of the Institutional Review Committee (ICPK), this Privacy Policy is implemented. Thanks for entrusting us with the role of your academic partner.