Publication Ethics

RKGP Journals is dedicated to upholding the highest standards of publication ethics and promoting responsible research practices. All editorial staff, authors, and reviewers are expected to adhere to ethical principles in line with the COPE Code of Conduct for Journal Publishers, the COPE Guidelines for Journal Editors, and the COPE Ethical Guidelines for Peer Reviewers. Allegations of misconduct are investigated in accordance with COPE Best Practice Guidelines. Potential breaches should be reported promptly via compliance@rkgpjournals.org. RKGP Journals staff are trained to conduct thorough investigations and may seek legal counsel when necessary.

RKGP Journals aligns its practices with internationally recognized standards, including guidance from COPE, ICMJE, STM, and WAME, across the following areas:

  • Authorship
  • Manuscript submission
  • Conflict of interest
  • Fair editing and peer review
  • Promoting ethical research

 

  1. Authorship

All published articles must accurately reflect contributions. Authors are responsible for ensuring proper attribution and acknowledgment of all contributors. Disputes regarding authorship are addressed in accordance with COPE guidelines.

  1. Attribution and Acknowledgment
    RKGP Journals follows the ICMJE authorship criteria, limiting authorship to individuals who have made substantial contributions to the design, execution, or interpretation of the research.
  2. Changes in Authorship
    Requests for addition or removal of authors, whether before or after publication, must be submitted to the journal editor. Changes are only approved when justified and agreed upon by all authors, typically implemented via published corrections. Relevant COPE flowcharts include:
  • Addition before publication
  • Removal before publication
  • Addition after publication
  • Removal after publication
  1. Ghost, Guest, and Gift Authorship
    Ghost, guest, and gift authorship practices are strictly prohibited. Allegations of such practices are investigated according to COPE guidelines. Identified violations may result in post-publication corrections or notification of institutional ethics committees.

 

  1. Manuscript Submission

RKGP Journals requires all submissions to be original, confidential, and in compliance with ethical standards. Misconduct may result in:

  • Retraction of published work
  • Publication of corrections or statements of concern
  • Refusal of future submissions
  • Notification to the authors’ institution or ethics committee
  1. Redundant Publication
    Manuscripts must not be submitted simultaneously to multiple journals or previously published elsewhere. Alleged cases of duplicate publication are investigated in accordance with COPE guidelines. Collaboration with other publishers may occur to verify redundancy.
  2. Plagiarism
    Submitted manuscripts must represent original work. All borrowed ideas, text, or data must be appropriately cited, and necessary permissions obtained. Plagiarism, including unauthorized reuse or paraphrasing of text, data, or images, is strictly prohibited. Manuscripts are screened using plagiarism-detection software, and allegations are investigated thoroughly.
  3. Defamation
    Manuscripts must not contain false, misleading, or defamatory statements that could harm the reputation of individuals, organizations, or businesses. Claims must be verifiable.

 

  1. Conflict of Interest

Transparency in potential conflicts of interest is mandatory for authors, editors, and reviewers.

  1. Authors
    Authors must disclose any financial or non-financial interests that may influence research interpretation or could be perceived as such, including:
  • Research funding or sponsorship
  • Provision of materials or equipment
  • Consultancy or advisory roles
  • Stock or patent ownership
  • Speaker fees or honoraria
  1. Editors
    Editors must declare conflicts of interest at the start of their term and recuse themselves from handling manuscripts where conflicts exist.
  2. Reviewers
    Reviewers are required to disclose conflicts of interest before accepting assignments. Conflicted reviewers will be replaced.
  3. Fair Editing and Peer Review
  4. Editorial Independence
    Editors maintain full independence in editorial decisions. Discussions regarding journal strategy or policy do not influence the acceptance of manuscripts. Submissions by editors or board members receive the same peer review process as other manuscripts.
  5. Peer Review Conduct
    RKGP Journals supports ethical peer review, referencing COPE Ethical Guidelines for Peer Reviewers. Reviewers are expected to assess manuscripts impartially, maintain confidentiality, and avoid influencing outcomes based on personal interests.
  6. Confidentiality
    Editors and reviewers must treat all submissions as confidential. Consultation with colleagues requires prior editor approval.
  7. Peer Review Fraud
    Authors suggesting reviewers must provide genuine, verifiable contact details. Submission of fabricated reviewer information constitutes misconduct and may lead to manuscript rejection, retraction, or institutional notification.
  8. Promoting Ethical Research
  9. Patient Confidentiality: Studies involving human subjects must protect privacy. Written informed consent is required for publication of identifiable information, and patient identifiers must be removed.
  10. Animal Research: Animal studies must comply with humane treatment standards, including ARRIVE guidelines. Ethical or legal approvals must be documented.
  11. Clinical Trial Registration: Clinical trials must be registered prospectively in publicly accessible databases, with registration numbers provided in manuscripts. Reporting should follow CONSORT guidelines when applicable.
  12. Data Falsification and Fabrication
    Manipulation or fabrication of data is prohibited. Instances detected prior to publication may result in rejection, investigation, and notification of relevant authorities.
  13. Citation Manipulation: Authors must cite only relevant literature. Excessive self-citation or citation manipulation for metrics enhancement is unethical.

RKGP Journals regularly reviews and updates this policy to maintain alignment with global standards of research integrity and publication ethics.