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

   • Authors must ensure that their work is original and has not been previously published or submitted elsewhere.
   • Properly cite and reference sources used in the manuscript.
   • Avoid plagiarism, including self-plagiarism, by appropriately attributing previous work and ideas.

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.