Publication Ethics

Al-Mustansiriyah Journal of Science (MJS) is committed to maintaining the standards of integrity and ethical conduct in scholarly publishing. The journal expects all participants in the publication process (authors, reviewers, editors, and editorial staff) to adhere to recognized principles of research integrity and publication ethics. The journal publishes original scientific and impactful research in the fields of science (multidisciplinary) and seeks to ensure that all published content is accurate and reliable in accordance with the committee on publication ethics (COPE).

Research Integrity

The journal does not tolerate plagiarism, data fabrication, image manipulation intended to mislead, citation manipulation, peer-review manipulation, or duplicate publication.

Editorial Independence

Editorial decisions are made independently by the editorial board based solely on the scientific relevance and quality of submitted manuscripts. The publisher (Mustansiriyah University) does not influence editorial decisions regarding manuscript acceptance or rejection.

Responsibilities of Editors

Editors will not use unpublished information obtained during the editorial process for personal research purposes and are responsible for:

  • Ensuring that manuscripts are assessed only on academic merit without discrimination based on nationality, gender, or religion.
  • Evaluating submitted manuscripts fairly and objectively and selecting qualified reviewers with appropriate expertise.
  • Maintaining the confidentiality of submitted manuscripts and peer-review records.
  • Managing conflicts of interest in the editorial process.
  • Taking appropriate action when concerns regarding research misconduct arise, expressions of concern, issuing corrections, or retractions.

Responsibilities of Reviewers

Reviewers must not use information obtained through peer-review for personal advantage and are expected to:

  • Maintain confidentiality regarding all submitted materials.
  • Provide constructive, objective, and evidence based evaluations.
  • Review manuscripts within the agreed timeframe.
  • Inform the editor of any potential conflicts of interest, suspected plagiarism, duplicate publication, data manipulation, or other ethical concerns.

Responsibilities of Authors

Authors submitting manuscripts to MJS must:

  • Obtain all necessary ethical approvals before conducting research.
  • Submit original work that has not been published elsewhere and is not simultaneously under consideration by another journal.
  • Present research findings accurately and honestly.
  • Retain research data and provide access when reasonably requested.
  • Disclose any financial or non-financial conflicts of interest.
  • All listed authors must have made substantial contributions to the research and approve the final version of the manuscript
  • Notify the journal promptly if a significant error is discovered after submission or publication.

Authorship Criteria

Authorship should be limited to individuals who have made significant intellectual contributions to the study. The corresponding author is responsible for ensuring that all contributors are included in the author contributions statement. Author contributions are used to provide transparency about individual contributions to papers.

Human and Animal Research

Research involving human participants must comply with applicable ethical standards and institutional requirements. Authors must provide information regarding ethics committee approval. Research involving animals must be conducted in accordance with recognized welfare standards.

Use of Artificial Intelligence Tools

Authors may use generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) and AI-assisted tools to assist with the preparation, analysis, writing of manuscripts, language improvement, and grammar correction. Artificial intelligence tools cannot be listed as authors. Any substantial use of GenAI tools in manuscript preparation should be disclosed in an appropriate statement within the manuscript.

Conflicts of Interest

Editors, reviewers, and authors must disclose any relationships and interests that could influence or appear to influence their professional judgment. The journal will assess disclosed conflicts and take appropriate measures to ensure a fair evaluation process. Authors should disclose any conflicts in an appropriate statement within the manuscript.

Data Availability and Reproducibility

Authors are encouraged to make supporting datasets available whenever possible or appropriate to ensure their study is transparent and reproducible. Authors should provide a data availability statement describing where and how to access the underlying research data.

Handling Allegations of Misconduct

The journal investigates allegations of research or publication misconduct in a fair, confidential, and evidence based manner. Each case is assessed individually based on the available evidence and the nature and severity of the allegations. Actions may include requesting clarification from authors and seeking additional documentation. When significant errors or ethical concerns arise after publication, the journal may publish expressions of concern, corrections, or retractions and inform relevant institutions when necessary.

Complaints and Appeals

Authors may submit appeals regarding editorial decisions or complaints concerning editorial procedures. The editor-in-chief reviews all appeals and complaints objectively, and it may seek further independent assessment when appropriate.

 

For further details about the journal's publishing policies, visit the Journal Policies page.