Publication Ethics

The International Journal for Development of Science and Technology (IJDST) is committed to maintaining the highest standards of integrity, transparency, accountability, and ethical responsibility in scholarly publishing. The journal strives to ensure that all published research contributes to the advancement of scientific knowledge while upholding the principles of honesty, fairness, and academic excellence.

IJDST adheres to the internationally recognized ethical principles of scholarly publishing and follows the guidelines of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE). The journal expects authors, reviewers, editors, editorial board members, and the publisher to uphold the highest standards of professional ethics throughout the submission, peer review, publication, and post-publication processes. Any form of publication malpractice or unethical behavior is considered unacceptable and will be addressed promptly in accordance with the journal's editorial policies.

1. Responsibilities of Authors

Authors submitting manuscripts to IJDST must ensure that:

• The manuscript is original, unpublished, and is not under consideration by another journal or publisher.
• Simultaneous submission of the same or substantially similar manuscript to multiple journals is strictly prohibited.
• Proper acknowledgment is given to all sources, and plagiarism in any form is strictly prohibited.
• Research data are accurate, authentic, and honestly presented without fabrication, falsification, or inappropriate manipulation.
• All listed authors have made significant intellectual contributions to the research and have approved the final version of the manuscript.
• Individuals who do not meet the authorship criteria should be acknowledged appropriately.
• All financial support, funding sources, and potential conflicts of interest are disclosed.
• Research involving human participants, animals, or sensitive data has received approval from the appropriate ethics committee where required.
• Any significant errors discovered after publication are immediately reported to the editorial office for correction or retraction where necessary.

2. Responsibilities of Reviewers

Reviewers of IJDST are expected to:

• Evaluate manuscripts objectively, fairly, and solely on their academic merit.
• Maintain strict confidentiality throughout the peer review process.
• Provide constructive, evidence-based, and timely recommendations.
• Identify relevant published work that has not been cited.
• Inform the Editor of any suspected plagiarism, duplicate publication, ethical concerns, or research misconduct.
• Declare any conflicts of interest and decline the review if an impartial assessment cannot be provided.
• Refrain from using unpublished information obtained during the review process for personal or professional advantage.

3. Responsibilities of Editors

Editors of IJDST are responsible for:

• Evaluate manuscripts solely on originality, scientific quality, significance, and relevance to the journal.
• Ensure that every manuscript undergoes an impartial and confidential peer review process.
• Maintain editorial independence and make publication decisions without commercial, institutional, or personal influence.
• Protect the confidentiality of authors, reviewers, and unpublished manuscripts.
• Prevent conflicts of interest in editorial decision-making.
• Investigate allegations of research misconduct and take appropriate editorial action when necessary.
• Publish corrections, retractions, or expressions of concern whenever required to maintain the integrity of the scholarly record.

4. Editorial Independence

The International Journal for Development of Science and Technology (IJDST) maintains complete editorial independence throughout the publication process. Editorial decisions are based solely on the originality, scientific quality, significance, ethical compliance, and relevance of the submitted manuscript. Editors make publication decisions without influence from the publisher, sponsors, advertisers, or any external organizations. Editors with a conflict of interest shall withdraw from handling the manuscript to ensure a fair and unbiased editorial process.

5. Plagiarism and Misconduct

The International Journal for Development of Science and Technology (IJDST) maintains a strict zero-tolerance policy toward plagiarism and all forms of research and publication misconduct. The journal is committed to preserving academic integrity by ensuring that every published article represents original and authentic scholarly work.

All submitted manuscripts are subjected to similarity screening using recognized plagiarism detection software before entering the peer review process. Manuscripts with unacceptable levels of similarity or evidence of unethical publication practices may be rejected immediately or returned to the authors for clarification.

Research misconduct includes, but is not limited to:

• Plagiarism and self-plagiarism
• Fabrication or falsification of research data
• Image manipulation or inappropriate digital enhancement
• Duplicate or redundant publication
• Simultaneous submission to multiple journals
• Citation manipulation
• Authorship disputes, including ghost, guest, or honorary authorship
• Peer review manipulation
• Misrepresentation of research findings
• Failure to disclose conflicts of interest

If suspected research or publication misconduct is identified before or after publication, the Editorial Board will evaluate the matter in a fair, confidential, and impartial manner. Based on the findings, the journal may take appropriate editorial action, including requesting revisions, rejecting the manuscript, publishing a correction, or retracting the article where necessary. IJDST is committed to upholding research integrity and ensuring the accuracy and reliability of the scholarly record.

6. Conflict of Interest

Authors, reviewers, and editors must disclose any financial, professional, institutional, or personal relationships that could influence the research or editorial process. Any identified conflict of interest will be managed appropriately to ensure transparency, fairness, and impartiality throughout the publication process.

7. Data Integrity and Reproducibility

Authors are responsible for ensuring that all research data presented in their manuscripts are accurate, authentic, and honestly reported. The journal may request supporting data during the review process to verify research findings. Authors are encouraged to retain research data and promptly notify the editorial office if significant errors or inaccuracies are identified after publication.

8. Artificial Intelligence (AI)-Assisted Content

Authors may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools for language editing or formatting assistance; however, they remain fully responsible for the accuracy, originality, and integrity of the manuscript. AI tools cannot be listed as authors, as they cannot assume responsibility for scholarly work or meet authorship requirements.

9. Corrections and Retractions

IJDST is committed to maintaining the accuracy of the scholarly record. Where necessary, the journal will publish corrections, corrigenda, or retractions to address significant errors or ethical concerns. Authors are expected to cooperate fully during any investigation to ensure transparency and research integrity.

10. Confidentiality

All manuscripts submitted to IJDST are treated as confidential documents. Editors, reviewers, and editorial staff shall not disclose, distribute, or use unpublished information contained in submitted manuscripts for personal, academic, or commercial purposes without the explicit permission of the authors.

11. Ethical Oversight

IJDST regularly reviews and updates its editorial policies to ensure compliance with internationally accepted standards of publication ethics and scholarly publishing. The journal remains committed to continuous improvement in editorial practices and ethical governance.

12. Complaints and Appeals

IJDST will address all ethical complaints, disputes, and appeals in a fair, transparent, and timely manner. Authors and reviewers have the right to raise concerns regarding editorial decisions or ethical issues.

Final Declaration Statement