Publication Ethics

JASTT adheres to the highest standards of publication ethics and takes all possible measures against publication malpractice. The journal follows the guidelines set by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and expects all stakeholders to uphold the principles of transparency, accountability, and academic integrity.

1. Publication Ethics and Malpractice Statement

The publication of an article in the peer-reviewed journal JASTT represents a commitment to the advancement of reliable and responsible scholarship. This journal’s ethics statement is based on the COPE Code of Conduct and Best Practice Guidelines for Journal Editors, which outline responsibilities related to:

  1. General duties and responsibilities of editors
  2. Relations with readers
  3. Relations with authors
  4. Relations with reviewers
  5. Relations with editorial board members
  6. Relations with journal owners and publishers
  7. Editorial and peer review processes
  8. Protecting individual data
  9. Encouraging ethical research (e.g., research involving humans or animals)
  10. Dealing with possible misconduct
  11. Ensuring the integrity of the academic record
  12. Intellectual property
  13. Encouraging academic debate
  14. Handling complaints
  15. Conflicts of interest
2. Plagiarism and Misconduct

All manuscripts submitted to JASTT are screened using plagiarism detection software such as Turnitin or iThenticate. Manuscripts that demonstrate significant similarity (typically over 15%) with previously published work are subject to rejection or request for revision.

JASTT considers plagiarism, data fabrication, falsification, and image manipulation to be serious ethical violations. Any manuscript found to have engaged in such misconduct will be rejected, and appropriate actions may be taken, including notifying the authors’ institutions.

3. Conflict of Interest

All authors, reviewers, and editors must disclose any financial, professional, or personal relationships that could influence their judgment. Conflicts of interest must be declared upon manuscript submission. Authors are required to submit a signed Conflict of Interest Declaration form as part of the submission process.

Failure to disclose relevant conflicts may result in manuscript rejection or retraction after publication. The editorial office may request additional clarification when necessary.

4. Research Involving Human Participants

The Journal of Applied Science and Technological Trends (JASTT) upholds the highest ethical standards for research involving human participants. The journal aligns with the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki (World Medical Association) and the COPE guidelines.

  1. Ethical Approval: Studies involving human subjects must be approved by an Institutional Review Board (IRB), Ethics Committee, or similar authority. Authors must clearly identify the approving body and provide reference numbers.
  2. Informed Consent: Written informed consent must be obtained from all participants. If consent is waived or provided verbally, authors must provide justification approved by the ethics body.
  3. Participant Privacy: Identifiable personal data should not be disclosed without explicit consent. Data must be handled in accordance with data protection regulations (e.g., GDPR).
  4. Vulnerable Populations: Research involving vulnerable groups must include additional ethical considerations, including legal guardian consent where applicable.
  5. Ethics Statement in Manuscripts: Articles must include an “Ethics Approval and Consent to Participate” section specifying the ethics protocol followed.
  6. Editorial Oversight: The editorial board reserves the right to reject manuscripts not compliant with these standards or request supporting documentation.
5. Special Considerations for Vulnerable Populations

Research involving vulnerable populations—such as children, the elderly, individuals with cognitive impairments, and economically or socially disadvantaged groups—requires heightened ethical oversight. In such cases:

  • Researchers must justify the inclusion of vulnerable subjects and ensure the study poses minimal risk.
  • Informed consent must be obtained from legally authorized representatives (e.g., parents or guardians in the case of children).
  • Ethics committee approval must explicitly address the safeguards for these populations.

JASTT adheres to international ethical principles as outlined in the Declaration of Helsinki (World Medical Association) and the COPE guidelines.

6. Informed Consent

Obtaining informed consent is a basic ethical obligation and legal requirement. Consent documents must provide potential participants with the necessary information to make an informed decision. While written consent is preferred, verbal or alternative formats may be used when approved by the ethics committee. For research involving human subjects, authors must include a clear statement on informed consent in their manuscript.

7. Animal Research
  1. For studies on regulated animals (e.g., vertebrates, higher invertebrates), ethical approval must be obtained in advance from a recognized body such as an Institutional Review Board or Ethics Committee.
  2. Authors must include an ethics statement in the methods section, naming the approving organization and reference numbers. If not available, written approval must be submitted confidentially.
  3. Research involving non-regulated animals should explain why formal ethical approval was not required.
  4. Authors must follow high institutional standards in the handling of experimental animals.
  5. We recommend adherence to the ARRIVE guidelines (NC3Rs, UK) and the Weatherall Report on the Use of Non-Human Primates in Research.
  6. Organism descriptions should be specific, including strain names if available.
8. Post-Publication Corrections and Retractions Policy

JASTT is committed to upholding the integrity of the scholarly record. In line with COPE recommendations, we follow transparent and rigorous procedures to address issues identified after publication:

1. Corrections (Errata and Corrigenda): Issued for factual or typographical errors that do not impact scientific conclusions. Corrections will be clearly linked to the original article.

2. Retractions: Issued in cases of serious scientific misconduct (e.g., plagiarism, falsification, ethical breaches). The reason for retraction will be stated, and the article marked as retracted in all databases.

3. Expressions of Concern: Used when concerns arise but cannot be immediately resolved. These remain linked to the original article until investigations are complete.

4. Article Withdrawal: If discovered before formal publication, articles that violate ethical standards may be withdrawn. Withdrawal notices may be issued depending on the stage of publication.

5. Transparency and Process: All notices will be assigned DOIs and permanently archived. The editorial board may coordinate with authors, reviewers, and institutions to investigate post-publication concerns.

Concerns may be reported to editor@jastt.org.