Publication Ethics Statement

Trends in Computer Science and Information Technology (TCSIT) is committed to upholding the highest standards of publication ethics. We expect all parties involved in the publishing process—authors, reviewers, editors, and the publisher—to adhere to strict ethical guidelines to ensure academic integrity, transparency, and credibility.

▪ Ethical Guidelines and Compliance

TCSIT aligns with internationally recognized ethical guidelines for scholarly publishing. Where applicable, we follow the ethical standards set forth by:

▪ Responsibilities of Authors

Authors submitting manuscripts to TCSIT must adhere to the following ethical standards:

  • Originality and Plagiarism: Authors must ensure their submissions contain original work that has not been published or is under review elsewhere.
  • Plagiarism Screening: All manuscripts are screened for originality using iThenticate.
  • Proper Attribution: All sources must be appropriately cited, and permissions must be obtained for third-party materials.
  • Data Accuracy: Authors must ensure that all data and results are accurate and have not been manipulated or fabricated.
  • Authorship Criteria: All listed authors must have significantly contributed to the research and agree with the submitted manuscript.
  • Conflict of Interest Disclosure: Authors must disclose any financial, institutional, or personal conflicts of interest.
  • Ethical Research Conduct: Research involving human or animal subjects must comply with institutional and international ethical standards.

▪ Responsibilities of Editors

The editorial team of TCSIT plays a crucial role in maintaining research integrity. Editors must:

  • Ensure Fair and Unbiased Decisions: Manuscripts are evaluated solely based on their academic merit without discrimination.
  • Maintain Confidentiality: Information about submitted manuscripts must not be disclosed to anyone other than the corresponding author, reviewers, or necessary editorial staff.
  • Handle Ethical Concerns: If ethical concerns arise, editors must investigate and take appropriate actions.
  • Prevent Conflicts of Interest: Editors must not be involved in decisions where conflicts of interest exist.
  • Uphold Publication Integrity: Editors must take necessary steps to correct or retract publications when ethical breaches are identified.

▪ Responsibilities of Reviewers

Peer reviewers play a vital role in maintaining publication ethics and the quality of scholarly work. Reviewers are expected to:

  • Provide Objective Reviews: Reviewers must provide fair, unbiased, and constructive feedback.
  • Maintain Confidentiality: Manuscripts under review must be treated as confidential documents.
  • Identify Ethical Issues: Reviewers should report any suspected plagiarism, falsification, or other unethical practices.
  • Declare Conflicts of Interest: If a reviewer has any competing interests, they should notify the editorial team and decline the review.
  • Ensure Timely Reviews: Reviewers must complete reviews within the allotted time and inform the editor if they are unable to meet deadlines.

▪ Handling of Ethical Violations

TCSIT follows a structured approach for handling ethical violations, including:

  • Investigation: If an ethical violation is suspected, the editorial team will conduct an internal investigation.
  • Communication: The author(s) will be notified, and they will have an opportunity to respond.
  • Corrective Action: Depending on the severity, actions may include manuscript rejection, publication correction, retraction, or notification to relevant authorities.

▪ Retraction and Corrections

If research misconduct or serious ethical violations are confirmed, TCSIT may take the following actions:

  • Issue a correction: For minor errors that do not compromise the integrity of the research.
  • Retract an article: If significant ethical breaches, such as data falsification or plagiarism, are detected.
  • Blacklist authors: Authors found guilty of severe misconduct may be restricted from submitting to the journal in the future.

▪ Conflict of Interest Policy

Authors, reviewers, and editors must disclose any conflicts of interest that may influence research, peer review, or editorial decisions. These conflicts include:

  • Financial relationships (e.g., funding, grants, employment).
  • Personal relationships (e.g., family, institutional affiliations).
  • Professional or political affiliations that may bias judgment.

Committed to Ethical Publishing and Research Integrity!

Learn More About Our Publication Ethics Statement