Publication Policies

Our publication policies and ethics statements are based on Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) Guidance for Journals and Publishers.

CONTENTS:
Publication Ethics and Malpractice Statement
   Duties of Editors
   Duties of Reviewers
   Duties of Authors
Authorship and Contributorship Policy
Complaints and Appeals Policy
Conflicts of interest / Competing interests
Funding Declaration Policy
Data and Reproducibility
Ethical Oversight
Post-Publication Discussions and Corrections
Intellectual Property Policy
Research Misconduct
Policy on AI-Assisting Tools
Repository Policy
Digital Preservation
Advertising Policy
Sanctions

Publication Ethics and Malpractice Statement

Establishing clear ethical standards for all participants in the publishing process - authors, journal editors, peer reviewers, and publishers is essential.

All Journals published by The Science and Information (SAI) Organization are dedicated to following best practices on ethical matters, errors and retractions. One of the key duties of the editorial board is to prevent instances of publication malpractice. Any kind of unethical behavior is not acceptable, and The Science and Information (SAI) Organization do not tolerate plagiarism in any form.

Authors submitting articles to The Science and Information (SAI) Organization Journals affirm that manuscript contents are original.

Duties of Editors
  • Publication decisions: The editors are responsible for deciding which of the articles submitted to the journal should be published. The editor’s decisions are guided by the journal’s editorial board policies and comply with applicable legal regulations related to libel, copyright infringement and plagiarism. Publishing decisions are only taken after critical assessment and adherence to utmost ethical integrity.
  • Fair play: The organization is committed to a fair and equitable review process. The editors evaluate solely based on the merit of the manuscripts, not on the author’s race, gender, sexuality or any other political beliefs.
  • Confidentiality: The editor maintains strict confidentiality regarding all submitted manuscripts, sharing them only with the corresponding author, reviewers, potential reviewers, other editorial advisers, and the publisher, as appropriate.
  • Disclosure and conflicts of interest: Unpublished materials disclosed in a submitted manuscript must not be used in an editor's own research without explicit authors’ consent.
Duties of Reviewers
  • Contribution to Editorial Decisions: Peer review assists the editor in making timely editorial decisions and, through editorial communication with the author, can also help the author refine the paper.
  • Promptness: Reviewers are expected to complete their review in a timely manner while maintaining the highest professional standards. If reviewers are unable to meet the deadline, they should inform the editor immediately.
  • Confidentiality: Reviewers must also adhere to the confidentiality rules established for editors. They should refrain from discussing or sharing the manuscript with any third party except as authorized by the editor.
  • Standards of Objectivity: Reviews should be conducted objectively and fairly, avoiding personal criticism of the author. Reviewers should clearly express their views with supportive and logical arguments.
  • Acknowledgement of Sources: Reviewers should identify relevant published work that the authors may have overlooked. Any claim that an observation, derivation, or argument has been previously reported should be supported by a citation or reference. Reviewers should also notify the editor of any significant similarities or overlaps between the manuscript under consideration and any other published papers they are aware of.
  • Disclosure and Conflict of Interest: Reviewers should avoid reviewing manuscripts in which they have conflicts of interest arising from competitive, collaborative, or other relationships with any of the authors, companies, or institutions connected with the manuscripts.
  • Usage of Generative AI: When a researcher is invited to review another researcher’s paper, the manuscript must be treated as a confidential document. Reviewers should not upload a submitted manuscript or any part of it into a generative AI tool as this may violate the authors’ confidentiality and proprietary rights and, where the paper contains personally identifiable information, may breach data privacy rights.
Duties of Authors
  • Reporting standards: The authors of original research should present an accurate account of the work performed, along with an objective discussion of its significance. Underlying data should be represented accurately in the paper. A paper should contain sufficient detail and references to permit others to replicate the work. Fraudulent or knowingly inaccurate statements constitute unethical behavior and are unacceptable.
  • Originality and Plagiarism: All submitted manuscripts must be original, and if the authors have used the work and/or words of others, they should be properly cited or referenced in the manuscript.
  • Multiple, Redundant or Concurrent Publication: An author should not in general publish manuscripts describing essentially the same research in more than one journal or primary publication. Submitting the same manuscript to more than one journal concurrently constitutes unethical publishing behaviour and is unacceptable.
  • Acknowledgement of Sources: Proper citation of the work of other authors must always be included in your research paper. Authors should acknowledge and cite significant publications that have played a crucial role in shaping their research.
  • Hazards: If the research involves chemicals, procedures, or equipment that pose any unusual hazards, the authors must clearly highlight these in the manuscript.
  • Disclosure and Conflicts of Interest: All authors should disclose in their manuscript any financial or other substantive conflict of interest that might be construed to influence the results or interpretation of their manuscript. All sources of financial support for the project should be disclosed.
  • Fundamental errors in published works: If an author finds a significant error or inaccuracy in their own published work, they are obligated to promptly notify the journal editor or publisher and cooperate with the editor to rectify the error or retract the published paper.
  • Disclosure of Generative AI Usage: Authors should explicitly declare their use of AI tools in the paper, including those for grammar checking or paraphrasing.

Authorship and Contributorship Policy

  • Authorship: Authorship should be limited to those who have made a significant contribution to the conception, design, execution, or interpretation of the reported study. All those who have made significant contributions should be listed as co-authors. Where there are others who have participated in certain substantive aspects of the research project, they should be acknowledged or listed as contributors. The corresponding author should ensure that all appropriate co-authors and no inappropriate co-authors are included on the paper, and that all co-authors have seen and approved the final version of the paper and have agreed to its submission for publication.
  • Changes to Authorship: It is important for the authors to verify the correct list of authors, the corresponding author, and the sequence of authors before submission. Any modifications to these elements will not be permitted after the manuscript is accepted for publication.

Complaints and Appeals Policy

The organization prioritizes the resolution of complaints and appeals regarding its publication and editorial decisions. Authors, reviewers, and readers may submit concerns about ethical breaches or editorial practices.

Procedure:

  • Submission: Complaints must be submitted in writing within 30 days following the decision or incident via email to the Managing director, Mr. Rahul Bhatia (rahul.bhatia@thesai.org)
  • Investigation: The editorial team will acknowledge receipt of complaint within 7 days and initiate an investigation. External experts may be involved to assist in the investigation process.
  • Decision: A written response will be provided within 15 days after the investigation concludes.
  • Appeals: If the complainant is not satisfied with the outcome of the investigation or any other editorial decision, they may submit an appeal within 15 days. All appeals are evaluated by a senior member of the editorial team who was not involved in the original decision. Decisions made after the appeal review are final. The Science and Information (SAI) Organization is committed to ethical publishing practices and may refer to COPE flowcharts and recommendations when addressing serious ethical or procedural concerns.

Conflicts of interest / Competing interests

All authors, reviewers, and editorial board members are required to declare any potential conflicts of interest that could influence their work or the perception of their work.

If any undisclosed conflicts of interest arise, both before and after the manuscript publication, appropriate actions will be taken in accordance with the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) guidelines.

  • Undisclosed conflict of interest in a submitted article (as per COPE guidelines)
  • Undisclosed conflict of interest in a published article (as per COPE guidelines)

Funding Declaration Policy

All authors are required to clearly declare any sources of financial support that contributed to the research presented in their article. Transparency in funding ensures the integrity of the scholarly record and allows readers to understand any potential influences associated with the research.

Authors must disclose any form of financial support used to cover expenses associated with conducting and reporting the research, including but not limited to::

  • Internal financial support, such as institutional funding, research grants, departmental funds, employer support, or funds provided by organizations the author is affiliated with.
  • External financial support, such as grants or sponsorships from charities, non-profit organizations, private foundations, for-profit companies, think tanks, political advocacy groups, trade or research associations, and government bodies.

Every funding declaration must include:

  • The full name of the funding body or sponsor
  • The grant number(s) (where applicable)
  • The name of the recipient (individual or group) to whom the grant was awarded, if available

Data and Reproducibility

We encourage authors to provide access to data and methodologies that support their findings.

  • Data Sharing: Authors are requested to submit the raw data related to their paper for editorial review and should be prepared to offer public access to this data, if feasible. Additionally, they should retain the data for a reasonable period after publication. They are also encouraged to include a data availability statement outlining how and where the data can be accessed.
  • Reproducibility: Manuscripts should contain adequate methodological information to ensure that the study can be accurately reproduced by others.

Ethical Oversight

All research must be conducted in accordance with ethical guidelines.

  • Approval: Authors are required to submit evidence obtained from relevant bodies for studies involving human or animal subjects.
  • Compliance: Authors are responsible for adhering to ethical standards throughout their research process.
  • Reporting: Any breaches of ethical standards must be reported to the editorial team immediately.

Post-Publication Discussions and Corrections

Authors are encouraged to promptly report any errors identified in their published work to maintain the accuracy and reliability of our publications.

  • Reporting Errors: Authors who identify errors in their published manuscripts are expected to promptly notify the editorial office using the contact details provided on the journal’s website. The corresponding author is generally designated as the primary contact for such communications.
  • Review Process: Upon receiving the notification, the editorial team, led by the editor or a designated representative with relevant expertise, will assess the reported error along with any supporting data. Depending on the nature of the error, the proposed correction may be sent for additional peer review.
  • Correction Mechanism: The editor will determine the most suitable course of action to rectify the error. This may involve publishing a Corrigendum for errors that do not compromise the article's overall conclusions or integrity. Authors are responsible for preparing the Corrigendum, which must be approved by all co-authors prior to publication. The Corrigendum will be attached to the original article.
  • Erratum: If an error occurs during the publication process that requires correction, the journal may issue an Erratum. The Erratum will be linked to the article and is intended to clarify any inaccuracies without affecting the underlying research conclusions.
  • Retraction: If significant issues are identified, such as serious misconduct, plagiarism, or substantial inaccuracies that undermine the findings, the journal may initiate a retraction of the article. A retraction notice will be published, explaining the reasons for the retraction and ensuring transparency with readers. The retracted article will remain accessible in the journal with a clear indication of its retracted status.

Intellectual Property Policy

Copyright Ownership

All publications are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, even commercially as long as the original work is properly cited.

Authors retain full copyright ownership of their work. Upon acceptance of the manuscript for publication, authors are asked to sign an author agreement form verifying that they have the right to publish the material and that they grant permission to The Science and Information (SAI) Organization to publish their work. In addition:

  • Authors retain the right to publish extended versions of their manuscripts elsewhere, provided that the original publication is acknowledged.
  • Authors retain the right to publish their work in on-line repositories, internal technical reports, etc.
  • The Science and Information Organization does not offer honoraria to authors.
  • The Science and Information Organization reserves the right to edit the manuscripts to meet the publication standards.
Originality and Plagiarism

The journal upholds the highest standards of academic integrity. Plagiarism - defined as the appropriation of another's ideas, processes, results, or expressions without proper acknowledgment, is strictly prohibited. Authors must ensure that all contributions are original and properly credit any sources used. The editors will have access to Turnitin (a plagiarism detection software) and retain the authority to reject submissions that fail to meet originality standards. Any instances of plagiarism may result in disciplinary actions, including the retraction of published articles and reporting to relevant academic institutions.

Attribution and Citation

Authors are obligated to provide appropriate attribution and citation for all sources and references used in their work, including direct quotes, paraphrased ideas, media, and data from other works. Proper citation is essential for maintaining the credibility of the research and respecting the intellectual property rights of original authors. Authors should adhere to the journal’s prescribed citation style and ensure that all contributions to the manuscript are acknowledged. The journal promotes transparency in authorship and the recognition of funding sources, research assistants, and all other contributors.

Intellectual Property Disputes

In the event of an intellectual property dispute, the editors will investigate the claim thoroughly and in accordance with the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) guidelines. All parties involved will be given the opportunity to present their case. If necessary, the organization may seek the expertise of external experts to resolve the dispute. Potential outcomes may include formal retractions, corrections, or other appropriate actions based on the findings.

Research Misconduct

Research misconduct refers to a range of unethical behaviors that undermine the integrity of scientific research. The main types of research misconduct include:

  • Plagiarism: The unauthorized use or appropriation of another person's work, ideas, or expressions without proper attribution.

    When plagiarism is reported, authors are given a chance to respond to the allegations. Further, a formal investigation procedure is initiated in which the editorial board reviews the case along with a review committee of at least 3 senior reviewers. The editorial board places the investigation of each claim of plagiarism as a top priority for resolution and action.

    Actions taken when plagiarism is determined in a published article and proven misconduct:
    • A letter is sent to all other authors involved in which they are informed about the perpetrated act.
    • Intimation to the author’s university/department about the incident of misconduct.
    • A review will be conducted to assess the level of involvement of each author in the misconduct; only those found responsible will be blacklisted, prohibiting them from publishing any content with The Science and Information Organization.
    • PDF of the article will no longer be available online.
    • The initial PDF document will be replaced by a retraction note.
    • The editorial team will pursue the retraction of the article from other online indexing services.
  • Fabrication: Fabricating data, results, or methods and presenting them as legitimate is considered research misconduct. If any allegations, complaints, or findings arise regarding fabrication, the publisher will notify the corresponding author and request a justification. If the author is unable to provide a satisfactory explanation, the publisher will contact the author's institution or employer. The situation will be handled in accordance with the guidelines established by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).
  • Falsification: Manipulating research materials, equipment, or processes, or altering or omitting data to misrepresent the results is considered research misconduct. Such matters will be addressed in accordance with the protocols recommended by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), as outlined in the following links: Inappropriate image manipulation in a published article.
  • Self-Plagiarism: Reusing substantial portions of one's own previously published work without proper citation, presenting it as new, constitutes self-plagiarism. Such instances are addressed in accordance with the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) guidelines:
  • Authorship Issues: Failing to recognize appropriate contributors or including individuals as authors who do not meet the authorship criteria constitutes misconduct. The Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) provides recommendations for identifying potential authorship issues. Changes to authorship, including adding or removing authors, altering the corresponding author, or changing the sequence of authors, are not permitted after a manuscript has been accepted.
  • Conflict of Interest (CoI): Failing to disclose financial or personal interests that could influence research outcomes constitutes a conflict of interest (CoI). All cases of CoI will be handled in accordance with the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) guidelines:
  • Manipulation of Citations: This occurs when researchers selectively cite only those works that support their conclusions while ignoring relevant studies that may contradict their findings. This practice can create a misleading narrative and distort the research landscape. Additionally, excessive self-citation - where authors disproportionately cite their own previous work, can inflate perceived impact and relevance, further skewing the integrity of the literature. When such a case occurs, authors are requested to provide a valid justification. The final decision is then made on a case-by-case basis after consulting with the Editor-in-Chief.
  • Violation of Research Ethics: Failing to obtain informed consent from participants, disregarding confidentiality, or exposing participants to undue risk constitutes unethical behavior. Adhering to ethical guidelines is essential for protecting the rights and welfare of research subjects. Ethical issues will be addressed in accordance with the guidelines of COPE.

Policy on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and automated tools

Generative AI can be a valuable aid in drafting and refining academic writing, but it must never replace the intellectual contribution of the author. This Policy on AI-Assisting Tools by The Science and Information (SAI) Organization adheres to the Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ) recommendations on the responsible use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and automated tools.

For Authors:

  • Authors must disclose the use of generative AI in developing the article, beyond straightforward language correction, editing and formatting.
  • Authors are fully accountable for verifying the accuracy and reliability of any automated outputs used in their research or manuscript preparation.
  • Automated tools cannot be listed as authors under any circumstances.
  • Generative AI should not be treated or cited as a source.

For Reviewers:

  • Reviews should not be generated by AI, since doing so risks breaches of confidentiality, biased or generic commentary, hidden prompts, and fabricated or misleading claims including false references. Limited editing or rewriting assistance may be acceptable if openly disclosed.
  • Any routine use of automated tools should be stated clearly, and such tools must have been properly evaluated and validated before use.

For Editors:

  • Editors may use automated tools such as plagiarism detection software, image manipulation analysis, or reviewer recommendation systems, provided that they operate under appropriate human oversight. Any regular or systematic use of these tools should be transparently disclosed as part of the journal’s editorial practices. Editors retain full responsibility for reviewing and confirming all automated findings related to potential integrity concerns before publication.

Enforcement: All authors, editors, and contributors are required to adhere to these guidelines. Violations of this policy will be treated with the same seriousness as plagiarism or academic misconduct, and may result in removal of the published paper.

Repository Policy

Three versions of the Contribution are referenced in these guidelines:

  • Original Submission: the version submitted by the author prior to peer review.
  • Accepted Manuscript: Version updated to include the author's revisions after peer review, prior to any typesetting.
  • Final Published PDF: copy-edited and typeset Publisher’s PDF, the same version published on the journal’s website.

The Science and Information (SAI) Organization implements a policy that grants authors the freedom to deposit all iterations of their article in any institution or repository of their preference, without imposing any embargo on submitted, accepted, or final published versions.

When depositing Final Published PDF (or Original Submission or Accepted Manuscript, if preferred) in repositories, authors should provide appropriate citation to the original publication.

Pre-Print Archiving: Authors are permitted to archive pre-prints of their manuscripts on personal websites, institutional repositories, and non-commercial pre-print servers. The pre-print version refers to the original draft of the article before it undergoes peer review and formal publication. Authors retain the copyright of their pre-prints, and archiving them in repositories allows for early sharing of research findings.

Digital Preservation

All published articles are archived in Portico to ensure long-term digital preservation, integrity, and continued accessibility. This guarantees that even if the journal is no longer available on its original platform, the content remains permanently accessible to the scholarly community through Portico’s digital preservation services.

Advertising Policy

All publications issued by The Science and Information (SAI) Organization operate under a firm principle of editorial independence. Commercial interests — including advertising and sponsorship have no influence on editorial decisions or the content we publish.

  • The publisher does not endorse any product or service featured as an advertisement or sponsored content.
  • Editorial decisions are made solely on scholarly merit. No arrangement — paid or unpaid — with sponsors or advertisers can affect the evaluation, acceptance, or presentation of manuscripts.
  • We do not accept submissions of advertising articles, whether paid or free. Promotional content has no place in our scholarly output.
  • Authors must not embed advertising links, keywords, or other promotional material within scientific manuscripts.

This policy supports our commitment to intellectual integrity, transparency, and trust.

Sanctions

The following key principles govern The Science and Information Organization’s approach to Sanctions policies and procedures:

  • The Science and Information Organization maintains a Sanctions policy to meet obligations under Sanctions regimes of the jurisdictions in which it operates, is registered and/or licensed.
  • The Science and Information Organization complies with the requirements of the U.S., U.N. and E.U. Sanctions regimes (whenever these apply to its operations) wherever it operates, and will not undertake any business that would breach those Sanctions regimes.
  • In addition to complying with the requirements of the U.S., U.N. and E.U. Sanctions regimes (whenever these apply to its operations), The Science and Information Organization complies with other Sanctions regimes whenever they apply to particular The Science and Information Organization operations, and will not undertake any business that would breach those Sanctions regimes.
  • The Science and Information Organization may decide not to provide products or services even where it is permitted by law, particularly where the circumstances presents reputational risk.
  • The Science and Information Organization will not undertake any business that would breach any export laws that apply to it.
  • The Science and Information Organization shall not engage in any publishing relationship or transaction that directly or indirectly involve countries that are subjects or targets of Sanctions (“Sanctioned Countries”); or, nationals of Sanctioned Countries;

Measures to Comply with Sanctions

Before engaging in any commercial relationship or transaction, The Science and Information Organization ensures that these relationships and transactions comply with applicable U.S., U.N., and E.U. Sanctions laws, by screening those individuals or entities against the SDN list and other relevant Sanctions lists.

The Science and Information Organization shall also screen its transactions as to potential violations on country specific sanctions.

In carrying out such screening, The Science and Information Organization may rely on information provided to it by its authors, participants, and partners unless it is aware or suspects that those participant and partners, or the information provided, is unreliable or dishonest, or relates to a high-risk jurisdiction.