Duties of Editors

Duties of Editors

Fair play and editorial independence

Submitted manuscripts are evaluated by editors based on their academic merit (originality, significance, validity, clarity) and relevance to the scope of the journal, without taking into consideration the authors’ race, gender, sexual orientation, nationality, religion, political philosophy or affiliation. Decisions to edit and publish are not determined by any agencies or policies outside of the journal. The Editor-in-Chief has full authority over the complete editorial content of the journal and the timing of publication of that content.

Confidentiality

Information about a submitted manuscript will not be disclosed to anyone other than the corresponding author, reviewers, editorial advisers and the publisher, as necessary.

Disclosure and conflicts of interest

Unpublished information disclosed in a submitted manuscript will not be used by editors and editorial staff for their own research, unless the authors’ written consent is obtained. All information acquired by handling the manuscript will be kept confidential and not used for personal advantage by editors. Editors will exclude themselves from considering a manuscript in which they have conflicts of interest as a result of competitive, collaborative, or other connections with the authors or institutions related to the manuscript. In such a case, the manuscript will be handled by another member of the editorial board.

Publication decisions

The editors ensure that all submitted manuscripts being considered for publication undergo peer-review by at least two reviewers who are expert in the field. The Editor-in-Chief is responsible for deciding which of the manuscripts submitted to the journal will be published, based on the study’s validity, its significance to researchers and readers, the reviewers’ comments, and such legal requirements as are currently in force regarding libel, copyright infringement and plagiarism. The Editor-in-Chief may consult other editors or reviewers in making this decision.

Involvement and cooperation in investigations

Editors (together with the publisher) will take responsive measures when ethical concerns are raised with regard to a submitted manuscript or published paper. Every reported act of unethical publishing behaviour will be inspected, even if reported years after publication. If, the investigation reveals that the ethical concern is well-founded, a correction, retraction, expression of concern or other note as may be relevant, will be published in the journal.