PUBLICATION ETHIC
Geotechnical Engineering Journal is a peer-reviewed national journal dedicated to publishing high-quality research in the field of geotechnical engineering. This statement clarifies the ethical responsibilities of all parties involved in the publication process, including authors, the chief editor, the editorial board, peer reviewers, and the publisher (Arbain Publishing). This statement is based on COPE’s Best Practice Guidelines for Journal Editors.
Ethical Guidelines for Journal Publication
The publication of an article in a peer-reviewed journal such as Geotechnical Engineering Journal is a vital contribution to the development of a structured and respected body of knowledge. It reflects the quality of the research and the institutions supporting it. Peer-reviewed articles uphold the principles of scientific research in geotechnical engineering, ensuring academic integrity and ethical responsibility in the study of soil mechanics, foundation engineering, and other geotechnical applications.
As the publisher of Geotechnical Engineering Journal, Arbain Publishing upholds high ethical standards at all stages of publishing and ensures that advertising, reprints, or commercial influences do not affect editorial decisions.
Editorial Responsibilities
Publication Decisions
The editor-in-chief of Geotechnical Engineering Journal is responsible for determining which submitted manuscripts should be published. Decisions are based on the manuscript’s scientific significance, relevance to geotechnical engineering, and contribution to the field. Editors follow the journal’s policies, legal standards, and ethical guidelines, including those concerning plagiarism, libel, and copyright infringement.
Fair Play
Manuscripts are evaluated solely based on academic merit, without discrimination against race, gender, religious belief, ethnicity, citizenship, or political views.
Confidentiality
Editors and editorial staff must maintain strict confidentiality regarding submitted manuscripts. No information about a manuscript should be shared with anyone other than the corresponding author, reviewers, editorial board members, and the publisher.
Disclosure and Conflicts of Interest
Unpublished materials from submitted manuscripts must not be used in the editor’s research without explicit written permission from the author(s). Editors must recuse themselves from handling manuscripts where conflicts of interest exist due to personal, professional, or financial relationships.
Reviewer Responsibilities
Contribution to Editorial Decisions
Peer review is crucial in assisting the editor in making publication decisions and providing constructive feedback to improve the manuscript.
Promptness
Reviewers who feel unqualified to evaluate a manuscript or unable to complete the review in a timely manner should notify the editor immediately.
Confidentiality
Manuscripts received for review must be treated as confidential documents and should not be shared or discussed with unauthorized individuals.
Objectivity Standards
Reviews should be objective, and personal criticism of the author is unacceptable. Reviewers should provide constructive and well-supported arguments in their assessments.
Acknowledgment of Sources
Reviewers should ensure that the manuscript properly acknowledges relevant literature. They should alert the editor if they detect plagiarism or significant similarities with previously published works.
Disclosure and Conflicts of Interest
Privileged information from the review process must be kept confidential and not used for personal gain. Reviewers must decline to review manuscripts where conflicts of interest exist due to collaborative, financial, or institutional relationships.
Author Responsibilities
Reporting Standards
Authors must present an accurate and objective account of their research. Manuscripts should contain sufficient detail and references to allow replication. Fabrication, falsification, or deliberate misrepresentation of data is unethical and unacceptable.
Originality and Plagiarism
- Authors must ensure that their work is entirely original.
- Any use of another person’s work must be properly cited or quoted.
- Plagiarism in any form is strictly prohibited.
Multiple, Redundant, or Concurrent Publication
- Authors must not submit the same manuscript to multiple journals simultaneously.
- Manuscripts should not describe essentially the same research as previously published work.
Acknowledgment of Sources
Authors must provide proper acknowledgment of all sources that influenced their research.
Authorship of the Paper
- Only individuals who have significantly contributed to the conception, design, execution, or interpretation of the research should be listed as authors.
- Other contributors should be acknowledged or listed as contributors.
- The corresponding author must ensure that all co-authors approve the final version and agree to its submission.
Disclosure and Conflicts of Interest
All authors must disclose any financial or substantive conflicts of interest that could affect the research outcomes. Any funding sources must also be disclosed.
Fundamental Errors in Published Works
If an author discovers a significant error in their published work, they must immediately notify the journal editor or publisher and cooperate in correcting or retracting the paper.
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