Publication Ethics

Publication Ethics

The Review of Economics, Accounting, Business, and Management Studies (REABMS) is committed to upholding the highest standards of integrity, transparency, accountability, and ethical conduct throughout the scholarly publishing process. The journal recognizes that maintaining public trust in academic research requires adherence to internationally accepted principles of responsible research and publication. Accordingly, REABMS expects authors, reviewers, editors, editorial board members, and publisher representatives to conduct themselves with honesty, professionalism, fairness, and respect for ethical scholarly practices.

Publication ethics are fundamental to ensuring the credibility, reliability, and long-term value of the scholarly record. REABMS is dedicated to preventing research misconduct, promoting responsible authorship, safeguarding the integrity of peer review, and ensuring that all editorial decisions are made independently and solely on the basis of scholarly merit.

Principles of Ethical Publishing

REABMS is guided by the following core principles, applying equally to empirical, theoretical, conceptual, methodological, review, and interdisciplinary research:

Integrity in research and scholarly communication
Honesty in the reporting and interpretation of research findings
Transparency in editorial decision-making
Accountability among all participants in the publication process
Fairness, impartiality, and non-discrimination during peer review
Respect for intellectual property rights
Protection of research participants and confidential information
Responsible stewardship of the scholarly record

Responsibilities of Stakeholders

Responsibilities of Authors

Authors submitting manuscripts to REABMS are expected to uphold the highest standards of research integrity. Authors are responsible for ensuring that:

Originality

Submitted manuscripts represent original scholarly work and have not been previously published or simultaneously submitted to another journal or publisher.

Accurate Reporting

Research findings should be reported honestly, accurately, and completely. Authors must not fabricate, falsify, selectively omit, or manipulate data, analyses, figures, tables, or other materials.

Proper Citation

All ideas, data, methods, figures, tables, software, and previously published materials obtained from other sources must be appropriately cited and acknowledged.

Authorship

Only individuals who have made substantial scholarly contributions should be listed as authors. All listed authors must approve the submitted manuscript and agree to its publication if accepted.

Ethical Research

Research involving human participants, animals, confidential organizational information, or sensitive data must comply with applicable ethical standards and institutional requirements. Where appropriate, authors should provide: ethics approval information, informed consent statements, data availability statements, and funding disclosures.

Conflicts & Corrections

  • Conflict of Interest: Authors must disclose any financial, professional, institutional, or personal relationships that could influence the conduct, interpretation, or reporting of their research.
  • Correction of Errors: If authors discover a significant error or inaccuracy, they are expected to promptly notify the Editorial Office and cooperate in issuing a correction, retraction, or other action.

Responsibilities of Reviewers

Peer reviewers play an essential role in safeguarding the quality and integrity of scholarly publishing. Reviewers are expected to:

  • Accept review invitations only within their areas of expertise;
  • Conduct reviews objectively, fairly, and professionally;
  • Maintain strict confidentiality regarding all manuscript content;
  • Provide constructive, evidence-based recommendations;
  • Identify relevant literature that has not been cited where appropriate;
  • Report suspected plagiarism, duplicate publication, data/image manipulation, citation manipulation, or other ethical concerns;
  • Declare any conflicts of interest before accepting a review assignment;
  • Decline review invitations whenever impartial evaluation cannot be assured.
Reviewers must not use unpublished information obtained during peer review for personal or professional advantage.

Responsibilities of Editors

Editors are responsible for ensuring that decisions are independent, transparent, and based solely on scholarly merit. Editors shall:

  • Evaluate manuscripts fairly and without discrimination;
  • Maintain confidentiality throughout the editorial process;
  • Select qualified and independent reviewers and manage conflicts of interest;
  • Ensure adherence to ethical publishing standards;
  • Investigate allegations of research or publication misconduct;
  • Take appropriate editorial action when ethical concerns are confirmed;
  • Safeguard the integrity of the scholarly record.
Decisions shall never be influenced by: Commercial interests; publication fees; institutional affiliations; political, religious, or ideological considerations; or personal relationships. The Editor-in-Chief has ultimate responsibility for all editorial decisions.

Responsibilities of the Publisher

The publisher supports REABMS in maintaining editorial independence and ethical publishing practices. The publisher shall:

  • Protect editorial independence;
  • Support transparent editorial policies;
  • Preserve published content through recognized archiving systems;
  • Facilitate ethical publication practices;
  • Cooperate in correcting or retracting published articles when necessary;
  • Support continuous improvement of editorial quality.

The publisher does not interfere with editorial decisions regarding manuscript acceptance or rejection.

Research Misconduct

REABMS considers research misconduct to include, but not be limited to:

  • Plagiarism & Self-plagiarism
  • Data fabrication & falsification
  • Image manipulation
  • Citation manipulation
  • Duplicate/redundant publication
  • Salami publication
  • Peer review manipulation
  • False or purchased authorship
  • Undisclosed conflicts of interest
  • Misrepresentation of ethical approval
  • Failure to obtain informed consent

Handling Ethical Concerns

Allegations of misconduct are evaluated carefully, confidentially, and impartially. The structured process may include preliminary assessment, author communication, request for documentation, and consultation with experts/institutions.

Possible outcomes include: No further action, request for revision, editorial clarification, publication of a correction, expression of concern, retraction, manuscript rejection, or notification of relevant institutions/funding agencies. Every case is evaluated individually.

Ethical Use of AI

Authors may use AI-assisted tools for language, formatting, or coding, provided that:

  • Authors retain full responsibility for accuracy and integrity;
  • AI tools are not listed as authors;
  • Substantial AI use is properly disclosed;
  • AI content is rigorously verified before submission.

Editors and reviewers must not upload confidential manuscripts into publicly accessible AI systems. (See full AI Policy for details).

Confidentiality

All manuscripts are treated as confidential documents throughout the editorial and peer review process.

Editors, reviewers, and staff shall not disclose manuscript content or unpublished information except where necessary for legitimate editorial purposes. Confidential information shall never be used for personal, financial, academic, or professional benefit.

Corrections to the Record

REABMS is committed to maintaining an accurate and trustworthy scholarly record. When significant errors or ethical concerns are identified after publication, the journal may publish:

  • Errata & Corrections
  • Expressions of Concern
  • Retractions
  • Article Removal Notices (in exceptional legal cases)

Post-publication actions are undertaken transparently and permanently linked to the original publication.

Commitment & Alignment

REABMS is dedicated to fostering a culture of ethical scholarship founded on integrity, accountability, transparency, and respect for responsible research practices. The journal periodically reviews its editorial practices to ensure continued alignment with internationally recognized standards for editorial quality and open-access scholarly communication.

This policy is informed by the guidance and best practices of: