Publication Ethics and Publication Malpractice Policy

The Journal of Engineering Research and Reviews (JERR) is committed to maintaining high standards of publication ethics, research integrity, transparency, and responsible scholarly publishing.

The journal expects all participants in the publication process—including authors, editors, reviewers, and the publisher—to adhere to recognized principles of publication ethics and research integrity.

JERR follows a double-blind peer review process. The identities of authors are concealed from reviewers, and the identities of reviewers are concealed from authors throughout the peer review process.

The journal uses iThenticate and other appropriate similarity-detection tools to screen submitted manuscripts for plagiarism and substantial unattributed overlap. The journal reserves the right to conduct similarity checks at any stage of the editorial and publication process, including after publication when concerns are identified.

Suspected cases of plagiarism, fabrication, falsification, duplicate or redundant publication, authorship misconduct, manipulation of the peer review process, citation manipulation, undisclosed conflicts of interest, or other forms of publication misconduct may be investigated by the journal.

Where misconduct or a serious error is confirmed, JERR may take appropriate action, which may include rejection of a manuscript, correction of a published article, expression of concern, retraction, notification of relevant institutions or organizations, or other measures appropriate to the circumstances.

1. General Principles of Publication Ethics

Publication in a peer-reviewed journal is an essential part of the scholarly communication process. JERR recognizes that maintaining a reliable scholarly record requires responsible conduct by authors, editors, reviewers, and the publisher.

The journal is committed to:

• maintaining editorial independence and impartiality;

• conducting fair and confidential peer review;

• protecting the integrity and reliability of the published scholarly record;

• identifying and addressing suspected publication misconduct;

• providing transparent procedures for corrections and retractions;

• protecting the confidentiality of manuscripts during peer review;

• requiring appropriate disclosure of conflicts of interest and funding;

• promoting responsible authorship and contributorship; and

• treating all participants in the publication process fairly and professionally.

2. Author Responsibilities

Authors submitting manuscripts to JERR are responsible for ensuring that their work complies with the journal's ethical and publication requirements.

Authors must:

2.1. Originality and Plagiarism

• submit original work that has not been published previously in substantially the same form;

• properly acknowledge and cite the work, ideas, data, words, images, and other intellectual contributions of others;

• not engage in plagiarism, self-plagiarism, or substantial unattributed reuse of previously published material;

• ensure that any reproduced or adapted material is appropriately acknowledged and that necessary permissions have been obtained where required.

Manuscripts may be screened using iThenticate or other similarity-detection systems. The presence of text similarity does not by itself establish plagiarism; similarity reports are assessed by the editorial team in context.

2.2. Exclusive Submission

A manuscript submitted to JERR must not simultaneously be under consideration by another journal.

Submitting the same manuscript to multiple journals at the same time constitutes a breach of publication ethics.

2.3. Accuracy and Integrity of Research

Authors must report their research accurately and transparently.

Fabrication, falsification, manipulation, selective reporting of results, or deliberate misrepresentation of research findings is unacceptable.

Authors must ensure that the data, methods, results, figures, tables, and conclusions presented in the manuscript accurately reflect the research conducted.

2.4. Authorship and Contributorship

Authorship should reflect substantial intellectual or scholarly contributions to the research and manuscript.

All listed authors must have made meaningful contributions to the work, participated in drafting or critically revising the manuscript, approved the final version, and accepted responsibility for the integrity of the work.

Individuals who did not make a qualifying contribution should not be listed as authors.

All authors should agree on the author list and the order of authors before submission.

2.5. Conflicts of Interest

Authors must disclose any financial, personal, professional, institutional, or other relationships that could reasonably be perceived as influencing the research or its interpretation.

Sources of financial support for the research must be disclosed where applicable.

2.6. Ethical Approval

Where research involves human participants, human data, animals, or other activities requiring ethical oversight, authors must comply with applicable ethical requirements and provide the relevant ethical approval or exemption information in the manuscript.

2.7. Artificial Intelligence

Authors must disclose the use of generative AI or AI-assisted technologies when such technologies have materially contributed to the preparation of the manuscript.

AI tools cannot be listed as authors.

Authors remain fully responsible for the accuracy, originality, integrity, and appropriate attribution of all content submitted to the journal, including content generated or assisted by AI.

2.8. Errors in Published Work

If authors discover a significant error or inaccuracy in their published work, they must promptly notify the journal and cooperate with the editors in investigating the issue and, where appropriate, publishing a correction, expression of concern, or retraction.

3. Editors' Responsibilities

Editors are responsible for maintaining the academic and ethical integrity of the journal.

Editors must:

• evaluate manuscripts fairly and objectively;

• make editorial decisions based on academic and scientific merit;

• maintain editorial independence;

• ensure that manuscripts are handled confidentially;

• ensure that appropriate peer review is conducted;

• select reviewers with suitable expertise;

• manage conflicts of interest appropriately;

• protect the identities of authors and reviewers in accordance with the journal's double-blind peer review policy;

• address suspected publication misconduct appropriately;

• ensure that corrections and retractions are handled when necessary; and

• avoid discrimination based on authors' nationality, institutional affiliation, gender, race, religion, political views, or other irrelevant characteristics.

Editors must not use unpublished information obtained from submitted manuscripts for personal or professional advantage.

The Editor-in-Chief has overall responsibility for coordinating the editorial process and ensuring that the journal's policies are consistently applied.

4. Reviewers' Responsibilities

Reviewers play an important role in maintaining the quality and integrity of the journal's published literature.

Reviewers must:

• evaluate manuscripts objectively and constructively;

• assess the scientific quality, originality, methodology, results, interpretation, and significance of the work;

• provide clear and reasoned comments that assist editors and authors;

• maintain strict confidentiality regarding manuscripts under review;

• not disclose or share manuscript content with unauthorized individuals;

• identify relevant published work that has not been appropriately cited where applicable;

• notify the editor of suspected plagiarism, duplicate publication, fabrication, falsification, or other serious concerns;

• disclose any actual or potential conflict of interest;

• decline an invitation when they lack the necessary expertise or cannot provide an impartial assessment; and

• complete reviews within the requested timeframe whenever possible.

Reviewers must not use unpublished information obtained during peer review for personal, academic, commercial, or professional advantage.

5. Editorial Conflicts of Interest

Editors and reviewers must disclose any actual or potential conflict of interest that could affect their impartiality.

An editor should not handle a manuscript when they have a significant personal, professional, institutional, financial, or other relationship with the authors or the research that could compromise objective decision-making.

When necessary, the manuscript should be assigned to another qualified editor.

6. Plagiarism and Other Forms of Misconduct

JERR considers the following to be serious forms of publication or research misconduct:

• plagiarism;

• substantial unattributed copying;

• duplicate or redundant publication;

• simultaneous submission to multiple journals;

• fabrication of data or results;

• falsification or manipulation of data;

• inappropriate image manipulation;

• fraudulent or manipulated authorship;

• undisclosed conflicts of interest that materially affect the research;

• citation manipulation;

• manipulation or falsification of the peer review process;

• misuse of confidential information; and

• other practices that compromise the integrity of scholarly publishing.

When concerns are identified, the journal may request explanations or supporting documentation from the authors and may contact relevant institutions or organizations where appropriate.

7. Investigation of Alleged Misconduct

When a credible allegation of publication misconduct is received, the journal will assess the concern and determine whether further investigation is warranted.

Authors may be asked to provide explanations, original data, ethical approval documentation, authorship information, or other relevant evidence.

Where appropriate, the journal may seek information from institutions, funders, ethics committees, or other relevant organizations.

Investigations will be conducted as fairly and confidentially as reasonably possible.

The action taken will depend on the nature and severity of the confirmed issue.

8. Corrections, Expressions of Concern, and Retractions

JERR is committed to maintaining the accuracy and integrity of the published scholarly record.

When a published article contains an error that affects the accuracy or interpretation of the work but does not invalidate the overall article, the journal may publish a correction.

When substantial concerns about the reliability or integrity of a publication cannot yet be resolved, the journal may publish an expression of concern.

When an article is found to contain serious errors, unreliable findings, plagiarism, fabricated or falsified data, or other circumstances that invalidate the publication, the journal may retract the article.

Corrections, expressions of concern, and retractions will be clearly identified and linked to the original article whenever technically possible. The original publication record will not be unnecessarily removed, as maintaining a transparent scholarly record is important for research integrity.

9. Appeals and Complaints

Authors may appeal an editorial decision when they believe that a significant factual error, misunderstanding, procedural irregularity, or conflict of interest materially affected the decision.

Appeals must provide a clear and reasoned explanation and address the specific grounds for the appeal.

Complaints concerning editorial conduct, publication ethics, peer review, or journal procedures may be submitted to the journal through its official editorial contact channels.

The Editor-in-Chief or an appropriately designated editor will consider complaints and appeals fairly and confidentially.

10. Post-Publication Concerns

JERR welcomes credible reports of concerns regarding published articles.

Readers, authors, reviewers, and other members of the scholarly community may notify the journal when they identify significant errors, potential misconduct, or other issues that may affect the reliability of a published article.

The journal will assess credible concerns and may take appropriate corrective action when necessary.

11. Publisher Responsibilities

The publisher supports the Editor-in-Chief and editorial team in maintaining the integrity and independence of the journal.

The publisher is responsible for providing the infrastructure necessary for submission, peer review, publication, correction, and preservation of the scholarly record.

Commercial considerations must not override editorial decisions concerning the acceptance or rejection of manuscripts.

The publisher supports appropriate action when credible concerns regarding publication ethics or research integrity arise.

12. Commitment to Ethical Publishing

The Journal of Engineering Research and Reviews is committed to maintaining a transparent, fair, confidential, and ethically responsible publication process.

All authors, editors, reviewers, and the publisher are expected to cooperate in protecting the integrity of the scholarly record and in addressing suspected or confirmed publication misconduct.

The journal may update this policy when necessary to reflect developments in publication ethics, research integrity, peer review, open science, and recognized standards of scholarly publishing.