Publication Ethics

Publication Ethics Guidelines

The ERMIS (Journal) is committed to maintaining the highest ethical standards in publishing. We uphold integrity, transparency, and responsibility in all aspects of the research and publication process. Any cases of research and publication misconduct will be addressed in accordance with the guidelines set by the COPE (Committee on Publication Ethics), the Council of Science Editors (CSE), and the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE), along with any other relevant regulations.

Ethical Issues Related to Research Approvals and Data Confidentiality

All research involving human participants or animals must obtain approval from an appropriate regulatory body, such as the Institutional Review Board (IRB), Ethics and Research Boards (ERB), or equivalent. A copy of the approval must be submitted with the manuscript. Furthermore, all data derived from human and animal subjects must be treated confidentially, in compliance with applicable regulatory and legislative requirements.

Publishing Ethics

Our publication process adheres to strict ethical criteria to ensure accuracy, clarity, and high-quality scholarship. ERMIS is committed to continuous improvement and welcomes recommendations for enhancing the journal's quality. We strictly follow peer review standards outlined by COPE, CSE, ICMJE, and other relevant guidelines. The editorial board upholds ethical guidelines for peer reviewers and maintains publication integrity.

For more information, please visit:
COPE Publication Ethics

Handling Research and Publication Misconduct

ERMIS does not condone any form of research or publication misconduct. If any such misconduct is identified, the Chief Editor and editorial team will take prompt action in line with COPE, CSE, ICMJE, and other regulatory guidelines. The authors involved will be notified, and appropriate steps will be taken according to established policies.

Research and publication misconduct may include, but is not limited to:

  • Plagiarism (intentional or unintentional)

  • Data falsification or fabrication

  • Duplicate publication

  • Peer review misconduct

  • Author misconduct

  • Citation manipulation

  • Digital image manipulation

  • Use of template papers (paper mills)

  • Social media publication misconduct

  • Salami slicing

  • Conflicts of interest or competing interests

Each case will be addressed individually, with full adherence to regulatory guidelines.

For more information, visit: COPE Misconduct Guidelines

Plagiarism

Plagiarism, in any form—intentional or unintentional—is a serious violation. This includes:

  • Presenting someone else's work as one’s own

  • Failing to properly cite sources

  • Copying text from previous works, even with citations, without proper quotation marks

  • Reusing one’s own previously published work without citation (self-plagiarism)

  • Using data or text from others without proper acknowledgment

We also consider unintentional plagiarism, which arises from oversight or insufficient understanding of proper citation practices.

Plagiarism will be addressed in accordance with COPE guidelines.

For more details on plagiarism handling, visit: COPE Plagiarism Guidelines

Data Falsification

Data falsification refers to the manipulation or misrepresentation of data, including:

  • Altering images (e.g., micrographs, gels, radiological images)

  • Omitting or altering data points to mislead the results

  • Changing experimental outcomes to fit a desired conclusion

Such actions distort the research process and will be dealt with according to COPE guidelines.

For more information, visit: COPE Data Falsification Guidelines

Duplicate Publication

Duplicate publication involves submitting the same research, in whole or part, for publication in multiple outlets. This misrepresents the originality of the research and can distort the academic record. While there are rare cases where simultaneous publication in multiple journals may be acceptable, this must be fully transparent and well-justified.

BAP does not accept articles that exhibit duplicate publication or redundant findings (salami slicing). All submitted manuscripts will be assessed for this type of misconduct.

For more details, visit: COPE Duplicate Publication Guidelines

Peer Review Misconduct

Peer review is a critical component of the publication process, and any manipulation or misconduct related to this process—before, during, or after review—will not be tolerated. This includes reviewers who provide biased or dishonest assessments for personal gain.

ERMIS adheres to COPE guidelines for peer review, ensuring transparency and fairness.

For more information, visit: COPE Peer Review Guidelines

Author Misconduct

Author misconduct includes the misrepresentation of authorship, such as attributing an article to someone who did not contribute significantly, or listing an individual who has a conflict of interest. ERMIS follows COPE guidelines to resolve author-related issues.

Citation Manipulation

Citation manipulation occurs when references are added with the sole intent of boosting citations. This includes intentionally referencing one's own work or a collaborator's work to artificially inflate citation metrics. Such practices distort the scientific record and are prohibited.

For more information, visit: COPE Citation Manipulation Guidelines

Digital Image Manipulation

Digital image manipulation includes the alteration, copying, or misrepresentation of images used in research publications. Any intentional modification that misleads or distorts the data will be considered unethical and handled in accordance with COPE guidelines.

For more details, visit: COPE Digital Image Manipulation Guidelines

Salami Slicing

Salami slicing refers to the unethical practice of dividing research findings from a single study into multiple publications. This distorts the scientific record and can lead to biases in meta-analyses. ERMIS does not accept articles that appear to be based on salami slicing. Submissions will be assessed to ensure that findings are presented in a coherent and comprehensive manner.

By adhering to these Publication Ethics Guidelines, we aim to maintain the integrity of the research process and contribute to a responsible academic environment.

For more information and to report misconduct, please visit: COPE Official Guidelines