Publication Ethics

Upholding the highest standards of research integrity and ethical publishing

Ethical Standards and Guidelines

1. Research Integrity

IAO Alliance is committed to maintaining the highest standards of research integrity. All published research must adhere to the following principles:

  • Originality: All submitted work must be original and not previously published
  • Accuracy: Research findings must be reported accurately and completely
  • Transparency: Methods and data must be clearly described and accessible
  • Reproducibility: Studies should be designed to allow replication
  • Honesty: All aspects of research must be conducted with complete honesty

2. Authorship Requirements

Authorship must be based on substantial contributions to the research. All authors must meet the following criteria:

Contribution

Substantial contribution to conception, design, data collection, or analysis

Drafting

Participation in drafting or critical revision of the manuscript

Approval

Final approval of the version to be published

Accountability

Agreement to be accountable for all aspects of the work

3. Conflict of Interest

All authors must disclose any potential conflicts of interest that could influence their research or its interpretation:

  • Financial interests: Funding sources, employment, consultancies, stock ownership
  • Personal relationships: Family, professional, or personal relationships with relevant parties
  • Academic competition: Competing research interests or academic rivalries
  • Intellectual property: Patents, trademarks, or other intellectual property rights
Important: Failure to disclose conflicts of interest may result in manuscript rejection or retraction.

4. Research Misconduct

IAO Alliance has zero tolerance for research misconduct. The following practices are strictly prohibited:

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Fabrication

Making up data or results

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Falsification

Manipulating or changing data

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Plagiarism

Using others' work without attribution

5. Human and Animal Research Ethics

Research involving human subjects or animals must comply with ethical standards:

  • Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval required for human subjects research
  • Informed consent must be obtained from all participants
  • Animal welfare protocols must be followed for animal research
  • Ethical approval documentation must be provided upon submission
  • Privacy and confidentiality of participants must be protected

6. Data Management and Sharing

Proper data management is essential for research integrity:

  • Data retention: Research data should be retained for at least 5 years after publication
  • Data sharing: Authors should be prepared to share data upon reasonable request
  • Data security: Appropriate measures must be taken to protect sensitive data
  • Data documentation: Sufficient documentation should accompany all datasets

7. Editorial Responsibilities

Our editorial team is committed to:

  • Maintaining confidentiality of submitted manuscripts
  • Ensuring fair and unbiased peer review processes
  • Investigating allegations of research misconduct
  • Taking appropriate action when misconduct is confirmed
  • Publishing corrections, retractions, or expressions of concern when necessary

8. Reporting Misconduct

If you suspect research misconduct, please report it immediately:

Confidential Reporting

Email: info@iaoalliance.org

All reports will be handled confidentially and investigated thoroughly according to established procedures.

Commitment to Excellence

IAO Alliance is committed to upholding the highest ethical standards in academic publishing. We follow guidelines established by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and other international organizations. For questions about publication ethics, contact us at info@iaoalliance.org.