Ethical Policy
Publication Ethics, Research Integrity and Responsible Conduct
ⓘ Our Commitment to Ethical Publishing
IQ Research Journal (IQRJ) upholds the highest standards of publication ethics and research integrity. We are committed to responsible scholarly publishing, transparency, and the prevention of research and publication malpractice.
Introduction
IQ Research Journal (IQRJ) is committed to maintaining the highest standards of publication ethics, academic integrity and responsible scholarly communication. The journal recognizes that the credibility of academic publishing depends on the honesty, transparency and accountability of authors, editors, reviewers and publishers.
Our publication ethics framework is informed by recognized scholarly publishing principles, including the guidance of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE). All participants in the publication process are expected to uphold ethical standards throughout manuscript preparation, submission, peer review, editorial assessment and publication.
Authors are responsible for ensuring that submitted manuscripts represent original and properly attributed scholarly work. Editors and reviewers are expected to conduct their duties fairly, objectively and confidentially.
01
Plagiarism
Plagiarism involves presenting another person’s ideas, words, data, findings or intellectual contributions as one’s own without appropriate acknowledgement. It may occur through direct copying, improper paraphrasing, unattributed use of published materials or the unauthorized reproduction of another researcher’s work.
IQ Research Journal considers plagiarism a serious violation of academic integrity.
Examples include:
Examples of plagiarism
- Copying text or substantial sections from another publication without proper citation.
- Using another researcher’s ideas, findings, tables, figures or illustrations without acknowledgement.
- Paraphrasing published material without appropriate referencing.
- Presenting another person’s research or intellectual contribution as one’s own.
- Reusing substantial portions of previously published work without appropriate disclosure and acknowledgement.
Submitted manuscripts may be screened using plagiarism and similarity-detection tools. Similarity reports are evaluated by the editorial team in context, since legitimate quotations, references and commonly used technical expressions may contribute to similarity scores.
Manuscripts containing unacceptable levels of unattributed material may be rejected. Where concerns arise after publication, the journal may investigate and take appropriate corrective action.
⚠ Plagiarism is a serious ethical violation. Manuscripts with unacceptable levels of unattributed material will be rejected, and post-publication concerns may be investigated with corrective action.
02
Duplicate Submission and Redundant Publication
Authors must not submit the same manuscript simultaneously to IQ Research Journal and another journal while it is under consideration.
Duplicate or redundant publication includes submitting substantially similar manuscripts to multiple journals, republishing previously published research without appropriate disclosure, or presenting substantially overlapping findings as entirely new research.
Authors must disclose any closely related manuscripts, previous publications, conference papers or other materials that may overlap with the submitted work.
Where duplicate submission or redundant publication is established, the journal may reject the manuscript or take appropriate post-publication action.
03
Fabrication and Falsification of Data
Research misconduct includes the fabrication, falsification or deliberate manipulation of research data, results, images, methods or other scholarly materials.
Fabrication refers to inventing data, experiments, observations or research results that were never obtained.
Falsification refers to manipulating research materials, equipment, processes, data or results in a manner that misrepresents the actual research findings.
Authors must ensure that their reported findings accurately reflect the research conducted. Research data should be maintained responsibly and made available where appropriate, subject to ethical, legal and confidentiality requirements.
Suspected cases of data fabrication or falsification will be investigated in accordance with applicable publication ethics guidance.
04
Citation Manipulation
References and citations should accurately acknowledge the scholarly contributions on which a manuscript is based. Authors must avoid:
- Including irrelevant references solely to increase citation counts.
- Excessive or unjustified self-citation.
- Coordinated citation practices intended to manipulate journal or author metrics.
- Inaccurate or misleading references.
- Citing sources that have not been consulted or do not support the statements being made.
Editors and reviewers must not pressure authors to include unnecessary citations for personal or institutional benefit.
All citations should be relevant, accurate and academically justified.
05
Authorship and Contributions
Authorship should be based on genuine scholarly contributions to the research and preparation of the manuscript.
Individuals listed as authors should have made meaningful contributions to the conception or design of the study, data collection, analysis or interpretation, manuscript preparation or substantial intellectual revision, and should approve the final version submitted for publication.
All authors must accept responsibility for the integrity of their contributions and agree to the submission.
Individuals who provided technical assistance, administrative support, funding or other contributions that do not qualify for authorship should be acknowledged appropriately.
Changes to authorship after submission must be justified and approved by all affected authors, subject to editorial consideration.
06
Conflicts of Interest
Authors, reviewers and editors must disclose any financial, professional, institutional or personal relationships that could influence, or reasonably appear to influence, their work or decisions.
Authors should declare relevant conflicts of interest during submission and provide a statement for publication where applicable.
Reviewers must disclose conflicts that could affect their impartiality and decline assignments where necessary. Editors must avoid handling submissions where personal, professional or financial interests may compromise fair editorial judgement.
Disclosure of a conflict does not automatically mean that a manuscript will be rejected. Transparency allows the journal to assess and manage potential conflicts appropriately.
07
Confidentiality and Editorial Integrity
Manuscripts submitted to IQ Research Journal are treated as confidential documents throughout the editorial and peer-review process.
Editors, reviewers and other authorized individuals must not disclose unpublished manuscript content or use information obtained through editorial assessment for personal advantage.
Reviewers must not share submitted manuscripts or review materials with unauthorized individuals without editorial permission.
Editorial decisions must be based on scholarly merit, relevance, originality, research quality and compliance with journal requirements, without discrimination or inappropriate influence.
08
Research Misconduct and Sanctions
Research misconduct includes plagiarism, fabrication, falsification, duplicate publication, unethical authorship practices, citation manipulation and other actions that compromise the integrity of scholarly research.
When a potential ethical violation is identified, the journal may:
Investigation process
1. Conduct a preliminary assessment of the concern.
2. Request clarification or supporting information from the authors.
3. Seek additional evidence where necessary.
4. Consult relevant institutional or publishing ethics guidance.
5. Make an editorial decision based on the available evidence.
Depending on the seriousness and circumstances of the case, possible actions may include manuscript rejection, suspension of editorial processing, publication of a correction or retraction, or notification of the relevant institution where appropriate.
All concerns will be handled with fairness, confidentiality and due consideration of the available evidence.
09
Corrections and Retractions
IQ Research Journal recognizes the importance of maintaining an accurate and reliable scholarly record.
Where errors are identified in published articles, the journal may publish corrections or clarifications where appropriate.
Where serious concerns undermine the reliability or integrity of a published article, the journal may consider retraction in accordance with applicable publication ethics guidance.
Retraction notices should clearly identify the affected publication and explain the reason for the action. The original article may remain accessible with an appropriate retraction notice to preserve the scholarly record.
10
Ethical Responsibilities of Authors, Reviewers and Editors
Authors
Submit original work, provide accurate information, acknowledge sources, disclose relevant conflicts of interest and respond honestly to editorial enquiries.
Reviewers
Provide objective, constructive and confidential assessments. Declare conflicts of interest and avoid using unpublished information for personal benefit.
Editors
Make impartial decisions based on scholarly merit, protect confidential information, manage conflicts of interest and respond appropriately to suspected ethical violations.
All parties share responsibility for preserving the integrity and credibility of academic publishing.
ETHICS ENQUIRIES
Contact the Editorial Office
For questions concerning publication ethics, research integrity, suspected misconduct or other ethical matters, please contact the IQ Research Journal Editorial Office.
IQ Research Journal (IQRJ) — Editorial Office
Email: editor@iqresearchjournal.com
Website: https://www.iqresearchjournal.com
IQ Research Journal is committed to responsible scholarly publishing, academic integrity and the protection of the scholarly record.