Publication Ethics

Interested in submitting to this journal? We recommend that you review the Editorial Policy page for the journal's section policies, as well as the Instruction for Authors before you consider submitting a proposal for this journal.

Richtmann Publication Ethics & Publication Malpractice Statement

These guidelines are fully consistent with the principles set forth by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and the European Code of Conduct for Research Integrity 

Richtmann Publishing encourages the highest standards of publication ethics and strives to guarantee the integrity and credibility of the research we publish. We are committed to maintaining ethical practices throughout the publication process and expect all authors, reviewers, and editors to adhere to these principles.

Editorial Integrity

    • Impartiality: Editorial decisions are based solely on the scholarly merit of submissions and their relevance to the journal's scope, without regard to authors' race, gender, sexual orientation, nationality, or institutional affiliation.
    • Conflict of Interest: Editors, reviewers, and editorial staff must disclose any conflicts of interest that could influence their judgment. Conflicts of interest include personal, financial, or professional relationships that may affect their impartiality.
    • Confidentiality: Editors and reviewers must treat all submissions confidentially and refrain from disclosing any information about submitted manuscripts to anyone other than those involved in the editorial process.

Authorship and Originality

    • Authorship: All authors listed on a manuscript should have made significant contributions to the research. They should have participated in the conception, design, data collection, analysis, and interpretation of the study.
    • Plagiarism: Authors must ensure that their work is entirely original and properly acknowledge and cite the works of others when appropriate. Plagiarism in any form, including self-plagiarism, is strictly prohibited.
    • Multiple Submissions: Authors should not submit the same manuscript to multiple journals simultaneously. Each submission should be an original work that has not been published elsewhere.

Data Integrity and Reproducibility

    • Data Accuracy: Authors are responsible for ensuring the accuracy and integrity of the data presented in their manuscript. Fabrication, falsification, or manipulation of data is considered unethical and unacceptable.
    • Reproducibility: Authors should provide sufficient details of their methods and procedures to allow others to replicate the study. Raw data should be made available upon request, as appropriate.

Ethical Considerations

    • Human participants: Researchers must obtain informed consent from human participants before their participation in research. Informed consent should include clear explanations of the research purpose, procedures, potential risks and benefits, voluntary nature, privacy, confidentiality, and the right to withdraw at any time.  
    • Vulnerable population: Authors writing about vulnerable populations should prioritize ethical considerations such as obtaining informed consent, protecting confidentiality, ensuring cultural sensitivity, acknowledging power dynamics, and promoting the well-being of participants throughout the research process. 
    • Animal Welfare: Research involving animals must comply with relevant ethical guidelines and regulations. While informed consent is not applicable to animal subjects, researchers must ensure that they are treated in a manner consistent with best practices, minimizing harm and discomfort.   
    • Conflict of Interest: Authors should disclose any financial or personal relationships that could influence their research. These may include funding sources, employment, consultancies, and any competing interests that could be perceived as having an influence on the research.

Peer Review Process

    • Confidentiality: Reviewers and editors must treat all submitted manuscripts as confidential documents. They should not disclose any information about the manuscripts to anyone other than those involved in the review process.
    • Objectivity and Constructive Feedback: Reviewers should provide fair, unbiased, and timely assessments of the manuscript. Constructive feedback should be offered to help authors improve the quality of their work.
    • Conflicts of Interest: Reviewers and editors must declare any potential conflicts of interest that could bias their judgment on a manuscript. If a conflict of interest arises during the review process, the reviewer or editor should recuse themselves from the evaluation.

Corrections and Retractions

    • Errors and Misconduct: If authors discover significant errors or inaccuracies in their published work, it is their responsibility to promptly notify the journal's editor. Corrections or retractions will be issued promptly with proper acknowledgment of the nature of the error and the reasons for the correction.
    • Misconduct Investigations:  Richtmann takes allegations of research misconduct seriously. In cases of suspected misconduct, we will follow established guidelines and procedures to investigate and address the issue.
    • Sanctions:  If misconduct is confirmed, appropriate sanctions will be applied, including but not limited to retraction of the published article, notification of relevant stakeholders, and barring of future submissions 

Adherence to these publication ethics is essential to foster trust, integrity, and excellence in scientific research. Richtmann encourages all stakeholders to familiarize themselves with these principles and actively promote ethical practices in the scholarly community.