Ethical standards for authors, reviewers, editors and the publication process
The International Journal of Multidisciplinary Research Field (IJMRF) is committed to maintaining responsible and transparent publication practices. The journal expects authors, reviewers, editors and other participants in the publication process to follow appropriate standards of academic honesty, research integrity and professional conduct.
This Publication Ethics policy explains the general ethical responsibilities associated with manuscript submission, peer review, editorial evaluation and publication.
Authors submitting manuscripts to IJMRF are expected to:
Manuscripts submitted to IJMRF should represent original scholarly work. Authors should not submit the same manuscript to multiple journals at the same time.
Substantial duplication of previously published material, undisclosed republication or submitting essentially the same research to more than one publication venue may result in editorial action.
Plagiarism includes presenting another person's words, ideas, data, figures, structure or other intellectual work as one's own without appropriate acknowledgement.
Authors are responsible for ensuring that quotations, paraphrased material, references and other borrowed content are properly attributed. Manuscripts may be checked for plagiarism or substantial textual overlap when considered necessary during the editorial process.
Authors should report their research accurately and should not knowingly fabricate, manipulate or falsify research data, results or supporting information.
Where appropriate, authors should retain relevant research records and be able to provide reasonable clarification regarding the methods, data or findings presented in the manuscript.
Authorship should reflect meaningful intellectual or scholarly contributions to the research and manuscript. Individuals who have not made an appropriate contribution should not be listed as authors merely because of position, affiliation or personal relationship.
Any significant change in the author list after submission should be communicated to the editorial office and may require confirmation from the relevant authors before the change is considered.
Authors, reviewers and editors should disclose relationships or interests that could reasonably be perceived as influencing the publication process.
A conflict of interest does not necessarily mean that a person cannot participate in the process. Appropriate disclosure allows the journal to assess the situation and take reasonable steps where necessary.
Reviewers are expected to:
Editorial decisions should be based on the scholarly and publication requirements of the journal rather than personal characteristics or inappropriate external influence.
Editors may consider the manuscript's scope, originality, academic quality, ethical considerations, reviewer comments and other relevant publication factors when making decisions.
Manuscripts under review should be treated as confidential documents. Unpublished manuscript content should not be disclosed or used improperly by individuals involved in the editorial or review process.
Authors should also avoid publicly distributing confidential reviewer or editorial communications without appropriate permission.
Research involving human participants, animals or sensitive personal data should follow applicable ethical and legal requirements. Where relevant, authors should indicate appropriate ethical approval, informed consent or other required safeguards.
Authors should take reasonable measures to protect participant privacy and should avoid unnecessary disclosure of personally identifiable information.
If a significant error is identified after publication, the journal may consider an appropriate correction, clarification or other editorial notice depending on the nature and seriousness of the issue.
Concerns relating to published research should be communicated to the editorial office with sufficient information to allow the matter to be reviewed appropriately.
In serious circumstances, published material may be subject to retraction or another formal editorial action where there is reliable evidence of major problems such as substantial plagiarism, fabricated or falsified research, serious methodological errors, or other significant breaches of publication integrity.
Any such action will be considered according to the circumstances and the available evidence.
Authors may use appropriate artificial intelligence or automated tools as permitted by the journal, but authors remain responsible for the accuracy, originality, integrity and final content of their manuscripts.
AI-generated material should not be presented as independently verified scholarly work without appropriate human review. Authors should disclose significant use of AI tools where required by the journal or applicable publication standards.
AI tools should not be treated as substitutes for author responsibility, research verification, ethical review or proper citation.
Where publication or processing charges apply, payment does not determine whether a manuscript will be accepted for publication. Editorial evaluation and peer review remain separate from financial considerations.
Authors should review the applicable publication fee information before completing payment. Any refund or cancellation will be handled according to the journal's published policy.
Authors, reviewers or other concerned parties may communicate legitimate publication-ethics concerns to the journal's editorial office.
The journal may request supporting information or documentation where necessary to understand and assess a concern. Matters will be considered according to their nature, available evidence and applicable editorial policies.
IJMRF aims to maintain a publication environment based on academic integrity, transparency, confidentiality, responsible peer review and respect for scholarly work.
Authors and other participants are encouraged to raise genuine concerns rather than allowing potential ethical problems to remain unaddressed.
Authors and reviewers should also read the journal's related policies for additional information: