The scientific publication is committed to strictly observing the ethical principles established by various international organizations, such as the Committee on Publication Ethics, and to maintaining high publication standards by establishing norms and guidelines for best practices in compliance with these requirements.
The editorial office of “Natura Scientia Journal” is responsible for making decisions on the selection of articles for publication in the journal. The editors’ evaluation of submitted works must be limited solely to their intellectual content. The editorial office may, at its discretion, reject any material that violates legal requirements concerning defamation, copyright infringement, and plagiarism. The editorial office is obliged to ensure the confidentiality of submitted works prior to their publication.
The publication of an article in a peer-reviewed journal is an important component in the development of a coherent and valuable network of knowledge. It is a direct indication of the quality of the work of the authors and the institutions that support them. Peer-reviewed articles uphold and exemplify the scientific method. Therefore, it is important to align the standards of expected ethical behavior for all parties involved in the act of publication: the author, journal editor, reviewer, publisher, and society.
1. Responsibilities of Authors
Authors must ensure that all participants meet the established authorship criteria. Authorship must be limited to those who have made a significant contribution to the research, participated in the drafting or critical revision of the manuscript, approved the final version, and accepted responsibility for the integrity of the work.
Authors must carefully review the list and order of authors before manuscript submission and obtain permission from all co-authors for its submission to the agreed journal.
If there are parties who are not authors but have made a significant contribution to the research, appropriate acknowledgement and gratitude should be expressed.
2. Originality and Plagiarism
Authors must submit original works that have not been previously published. Plagiarism in any form is prohibited and is considered unethical behavior. When citing the results of other studies, an appropriate reference must be provided.
Authors must avoid the possibility of redundant and duplicate publications in order to preserve the integrity of scientific results. Redundant publications include the submission of one study to several publications by dividing it into parts, as well as self-plagiarism, whereas duplicate publications involve the submission of the same study to two or more journals.
3. Data Integrity and Confidentiality
Authors must provide authentic data and ensure their proper documentation. Where necessary to ensure the transparency and reproducibility of research results, authors must provide the raw data and materials at the editor’s request.
When using confidential data, proprietary information, or information of state significance, authors must comply with ethical and legal standards.
Public disclosure of the content of a review report or editorial correspondence is considered improper conduct.
4. Conflicts of Interest
Authors must disclose all potential conflicts of interest, including financial, personal, or institutional relationships that may be perceived as influencing the research results or their interpretation. This includes, but is not limited to, financial sponsorship from commercial organizations, relationships with organizations that may benefit or suffer from the publication, or personal relationships that may affect the author’s work.
Authors must indicate all sources of funding for their research, including grants, sponsorship, or financial contributions from external organizations. They must also explain the role of these funding sources in the research, data collection and analysis, and interpretation of results, where applicable.
5. Risks and Humans or Animals as Research Subjects
When conducting research involving human participants, animals, or confidential data, authors must comply with ethical standards and regulations, taking into account the protection of the rights, dignity, and confidentiality of the participants. Respect for persons and justice must be observed throughout the entire research process.
Authors must ensure that all necessary ethical approvals have been obtained before the start of the research. For research involving confidential data, appropriate participant consent must be obtained, and data processing must comply with privacy laws and regulations (for example, GDPR, HIPAA). Authors bear full responsibility for ensuring that the conducted research complies with ethical and legal requirements in order to protect the integrity of the research and the well-being of participants.
