The publication process at EJMA is the basis for the objective and respectful improvement and dissemination of information. The procedures in this process are designed to improve the quality of the studies. Peer review validates and supports the scientific method. It is of utmost importance that all parties participating in the publication process (authors, readers and researchers, publisher, reviewers and editors) comply with the standards of ethical considerations. EJMA expects all parties to observe the following ethical responsibilities.
The following ethical duties and responsibilities are based on the guide and policies of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE). and World Medical Association Declaration of Helsinki
Ethical Responsibilities of Authors
Authors who submit their manuscripts to EJMA are expected to comply with the following ethical responsibilities:
- Author(s) must submit original studies to the journal. If they use other studies, they must make accurate and complete in-text and end-text references.
- Individuals who did not contribute to the study at the intellectual level should not be indicated as an author.
- If there are conflicting interests or relations related to the manuscript submitted to be published, they must be explained.
- During the review process of the manuscript, the author(s) may be asked to supply raw data to the editorial and scientific boards.
- Author(s) should document that they have the study participants' consent and the necessary permissions related to the research/analysis and sharing of the data used.
- Author(s) have the responsibility to inform the editor of the journal or the publisher if they notice a mistake in their study during early release or the publication process and to cooperate with the editors during the correction or withdrawal process.
- Authors cannot submit their studies to multiple journals simultaneously. Each submission can be made only after the previous one is completed. A study published in another journal cannot be submitted to EJMA
- Author responsibilities as described in a study cannot be changed once the review process has begun (e.g., adding an author, reordering of author names).
Ethical Responsibilities of Editors
The editor and field editors of EJMA should uphold the following ethical responsibilities that are based on the COPE Code of Conduct and Best Practice Guidelines for Journal Editors and COPE Best Practice Guidelines for Journal Editors.
General Duties and Responsibilities
Editors are responsible for each study published in EJMA. In this respect, the editors have the following roles and responsibilities:
- Making efforts to meet the demand for knowledge from readers and authors,
- Ensuring the continuous development of the journal,
- Managing procedures aimed to improve the quality of the studies published in the journal,
- Supporting freedom of expression,
- Ensuring academic integrity,
- Following the procedures without making concessions on intellectual property rights and ethical standards,
- Being transparent and clear on issues that require correction or explanation.
Relationships with Readers
Editors must make decisions taking into consideration the knowledge, skills, and expectations of all readers, researchers, and practitioners. They must also ensure that published studies are original and contribute to the literature. Moreover, they must take notice of the responses received from researchers and practitioners and provide explanatory and informative feedback.
Relationships with Authors
Editors have the following duties and responsibilities in their relations with authors:
- Editors must make decisions about the studies' importance, originality, validity, clarity in wording, and suitability according to the journal's aims and objectives.
- Editors must accept manuscripts that are within the scope of the publication into the pre-review process unless there are serious problems with the study.
- Editors must not ignore positive suggestions made by reviewers unless there are serious problems with the study.
- New editors, unless there are serious issues, must not overrule a previous editor's decisions about a study.
- A description of the review process must be published and editors must observe the defined process.
- Editors must publish a comprehensive author's guide and this guide must be updated regularly.
- Authors should be provided with explanatory and informative feedback.
Relationships with Reviewers
Editors have the following duties and responsibilities in their relations with reviewers:
Editors must
- choose reviewers according to the subject of the study.
- provide the information and guidance reviewers need during the review process.
- observe whether there are conflicting interests between reviewers and authors.
- keep the identities of reviewers confidential in blind review.
- encourage reviewers to assess the manuscript in an unbiased, scientific, and objective tone and prevent unkind and unprofessional reviews.
- evaluate reviewers regularly based on criteria like performance and timing.
- develop practices and policies that support the performance of reviewers.
- take the necessary steps to regularly update the reviewer pool and ensure that it has sufficiently broad representation.
Relationships with the Editorial Board
Editors must make sure that the members of the editorial board follow procedures in accordance with the publication policies and guidelines, and must inform members about publication policies and developments. The editors must also train new members of the editorial board and provide the information they need.
Moreover, editors must
- ensure that the members of the editorial board review the manuscripts in an unbiased and independent manner.
- select new members of the editorial board who are sufficiently qualified and who can contribute to the journal.
- send manuscripts for review based on the subject of expertise of the editorial board members.
- regularly communicate with the editorial board.
- arrange regular meetings with the editorial board to develop publication policies and advance the journal.
Relationships with the Journal Owner and Publisher
The relationship between the editors and the publisher is based on the principle of independence of the editors. All of the decisions made by the editors are independent of the publisher and the owner of the journal, as required by the agreement made between the editors and the publisher.
Editorial and Blind Review Processes
Editors are obliged to comply with the blind review and review process as stated in the journal's publication policies in order to ensure that each manuscript is reviewed in an unbiased, fair, and timely manner.
Quality Assurance
Editors must make sure that articles in the journal are published in accordance with the publication policies of the journal and international standards.
Protection of Personal Information
Editors are to protect the personal information of study participants and to reject a manuscript if there is no documentation of the participants' consent. Furthermore, editors are also to protect the personal information of authors, reviewers, and readers.
Ethics Approval and Protection of Human and Animal Rights
Editors are to ensure protection of human and animal rights in the studies being reviewed and must reject experimental studies that do not have the approval of the appropriate ethics committee and other relevant bodies.
Precautions against possible Abuse and Malpractice
Editors are to take precautions against possible abuse and malpractice. They must conduct investigations of alleged misconduct meticulously and objectively and must also share the results of the investigation.
Ensuring Academic Integrity
Editors must make sure that any errors, inconsistencies, or misleading information in studies is corrected quickly.
Protection of Intellectual Property Rights
Editors are responsible for protecting the intellectual property rights related to all articles published in the journal, and the rights of the journal and author(s) in cases where these rights are violated. Also, editors must take the necessary precautions to ensure that the content of published articles does not violate the intellectual property rights of other publications.
Constructiveness and Openness to Discussion
Editors must
- pay attention to convincing criticism about studies published in the journal and have a constructive attitude towards such criticism.
- grant the right of reply to the author(s) of a study that is criticized.
- not ignore or exclude a study that includes negative results.
Complaints
Editors must examine complaints received from authors, reviewers, or readers, and must provide an explanatory response.
External Influence
The independent decision-making of the editors cannot be subjected to influence by the owner of the journal, the publisher, or any other external political or economic factor.
Conflicting Interests
The editors, acknowledging that there may be conflicting interests between reviewers and other editors, guarantee that the publication process of the manuscripts will be completed in an independent and unbiased manner.
Ethical Responsibilities of Reviewers
The fact that all manuscripts are reviewed through a blind review process has a direct influence on the quality of the publication. This process ensures confidentiality and an objective and independent review. The review process at EJMA is a double blind review. Texts are assigned to the reviewers by the editor. Reviewers do not contact the authors directly; the review and comments are conveyed through a journal management system.
The reviewers doing review work for EJMA bear the following ethical responsibilities: Reviewers must
- agree to review manuscripts only in their subject of expertise.
- review in an unbiased and confidential manner.
- inform the editor of the journal if they think that they have encountered a conflict of interests and decline to review the manuscript during the review process.
- dispose of the manuscripts they have reviewed in accordance with the principle of confidentiality after the review process. Reviewers may use the final version of manuscripts they have reviewed only after publication.
- review the manuscript objectively and only in terms of its content, ensuring that nationality, gender, religious or political beliefs, or economic concerns do not influence the review.
- review the manuscript in a constructive and respectful tone, avoiding personal comments, hostility, slander, and insult.
- review the manuscript they have agreed to review on time and in accordance with the ethical rules stated above.
Ethical Responsibilities of the Publisher
The publisher of EJMA has a non-profit objective. The publisher and the board of EJMA are conscious of the fact that they must observe the ethical responsibilities below and act accordingly:
The publisher undertakes to ensure independent editorial decisions are made without regard to economic or political interests. The editors are the party responsible for the publication process at EJMA and have full and final decision-making authority.
The publisher will protect the intellectual property rights of all the articles published in EJMA and has the responsibility to keep a record of each unpublished article.
The publisher has the responsibility to take precautions against scientific abuse, fraud, and plagiarism.
Unethical Behavior
Notification of any unethical act or improper content in EJMA that departs from the ethical responsibilities described herein may be sent to the journal by e-mail at hilmikodaz@hotmail.com.
