Publication Ethics

WASR Publications is committed to upholding the highest standards of publication ethics and integrity. This policy outlines the ethical principles and responsibilities that guide our editorial process, interactions with authors, reviewers, and readers, and the handling of ethical issues that may arise during the publication process.

Ethical Guidelines for Authors

  1. Originality and Plagiarism

    Plagiarism is an unethical practice involving the use of another author’s work, ideas, data, or words without proper acknowledgment. The World Journal of Economics, Business and Management strictly prohibits all forms of plagiarism and academic misconduct.

    Plagiarism includes, but is not limited to, the following:

    • Direct Plagiarism: Copying text word-for-word from another source without proper citation or quotation.
    • Self-Plagiarism: Republishing one’s own previously published work, in whole or in part, without appropriate citation or significant modification.
    • Mosaic Plagiarism: Paraphrasing or rearranging another author’s work without proper attribution.
    • Fabrication and Falsification: Making up data, results, or altering research findings to misrepresent the original research.
    • Image or Graph Manipulation: Modifying images, figures, or graphical data in a misleading manner without clear disclosure.

    Plagiarism Detection Using Turnitin

    To ensure originality and maintain high academic standards, all manuscripts submitted to WJEBM undergo a Turnitin Similarity Check prior to the peer-review process. The editorial team evaluates similarity reports using the following guidelines:

    • Similarity Score Below 10%: Considered acceptable. Minor revisions may be requested if overlapping content requires clarification or citation.
    • Similarity Score Between 10% and 20%: Authors are required to revise the manuscript by improving paraphrasing and adding proper citations before further editorial processing.
    • Similarity Score Above 20%: The manuscript will be rejected or returned for major revision. Authors must submit a substantially revised version along with a justification letter explaining the changes made.
    • Similarity Score Above 40%: Immediate rejection due to excessive plagiarism. The author may be blacklisted from future submissions to the journal.

    Consequences of Plagiarism

    The journal takes plagiarism seriously and applies corrective actions based on the severity of the misconduct:

    • Minor Overlap (10–20%): Authors will be asked to revise and resubmit the manuscript with appropriate corrections.
    • Moderate Plagiarism (20–40%): The manuscript will be returned for major revision or rejected at the editor’s discretion.
    • Severe Plagiarism (Above 40%): Immediate rejection and blacklisting. A formal notification may be sent to the author’s affiliated institution.
    • Plagiarism Detected After Publication: The published article will be retracted, and a retraction notice will be issued. The author may also face a permanent or temporary ban from future submissions.

     

  2. Authorship

    • Authorship should be limited to those who have made significant contributions to the conception, design, execution, or interpretation of the reported study.
    • All listed authors should have agreed to the manuscript’s submission and be aware of its content.
    • Provide a clear statement of each author’s contributions to the manuscript.

  3. Conflict of Interest

    • Authors must disclose any financial or personal relationships that could be perceived as influencing the work.
    • Declare any conflicts of interest, including funding sources and affiliations, in the manuscript.

  4. Data Integrity and Transparency

    • Present accurate and complete data, ensuring transparency in research methodology and reporting.
    • Provide access to raw data if requested and appropriate, and retain data for a reasonable time post-publication.

  5. Ethical Treatment of Subjects

    • Ensure that research involving human or animal subjects complies with ethical standards and has received appropriate approvals from relevant ethics committees or institutional review boards.
    • Provide informed consent from participants, and maintain confidentiality of personal information.

Ethical Guidelines for Reviewers

  1. Confidentiality

    • Treat manuscripts as confidential documents and do not share their content or findings with others without permission from the editorial office.

  2. Objectivity and Fairness

    • Conduct reviews objectively and provide constructive feedback to improve the manuscript.
    • Declare any potential conflicts of interest and recuse yourself from reviewing if a significant conflict exists.

  3. Timeliness

    • Complete reviews within the agreed timeframe and notify the editorial office promptly if delays occur.

Ethical Guidelines for Editors

  1. Impartiality and Fairness

    • Make editorial decisions based solely on the manuscript’s academic merit, relevance, and quality.
    • Avoid any form of bias, including based on the author’s identity, nationality, or institutional affiliation.

  2. Conflicts of Interest

    • Editors should declare any conflicts of interest that could influence their decision-making process and delegate handling of manuscripts appropriately.

  3. Publication Decisions

    • Ensure transparency in the editorial decision-making process and provide clear reasoning for acceptance, revision, or rejection of manuscripts.

Handling Ethical Issues

  1. Plagiarism and Misconduct

    • Take allegations of plagiarism, data fabrication, or unethical behavior seriously.
    • Investigate reported cases thoroughly and take appropriate action, which may include rejection of manuscripts, publication retractions, or informing relevant authorities.

  2. Corrections and Retractions

    • Correct errors promptly if identified post-publication, with proper acknowledgment and transparency.
    • Consider retracting articles that contain serious inaccuracies or ethical violations.