Publication ethics

MycoAsia is committed to upholding high standards of publication ethics. Publication ethics encompass a set of ethical principles and guidelines that govern the behavior of individuals involved in the publication of scientific research. These principles are designed to ensure the integrity, transparency, and credibility of the scientific publishing process. Adhering to publication ethics is essential for maintaining the quality of scientific literature and promoting responsible research practices.

Scientific misconduct refers to any unethical behavior or actions that compromise the integrity and validity of scientific research. It encompasses a wide range of actions, from minor violations of ethical standards to severe breaches of scientific integrity. The following are different types of scientific misconduct:

1. Plagiarism: Plagiarism involves using or appropriating someone else’s work, ideas, or words without proper attribution. It can take various forms, such as copying text verbatim, paraphrasing without citation, or self-plagiarism (reusing one’s own previously published work without acknowledgment).
2. Fabrication: Fabrication refers to the deliberate invention, alteration, or falsification of research data, results, or findings. It involves creating or reporting nonexistent data to support desired conclusions or enhance the significance of the research.
3. Falsification: Falsification involves manipulating or selectively reporting research data, results, or findings to mislead readers or support predetermined conclusions. This can include selectively omitting data points, altering images or graphs, or modifying statistical analyses to achieve desired outcomes.
4. Data Manipulation: Data manipulation refers to the inappropriate handling, alteration, or modification of research data to achieve desired results or conceal unfavorable findings. It includes changing data points, removing outliers without justification, or selectively including or excluding data to support a hypothesis.
5. Duplicate Publication: Duplicate publication occurs when authors submit and publish the same research findings in multiple publications without disclosing the prior publications. It can involve publishing the same manuscript in different journals or submitting multiple manuscripts based on the same data.
6. Salami Slicing: Salami slicing, also known as fragmented publication or least publishable unit (LPU), involves dividing a single study or dataset into multiple publications to increase the number of publications or enhance the researcher’s publication record. This practice can lead to the unnecessary proliferation of small, incremental studies and distort the scientific literature.
7. Authorship Misconduct: Authorship misconduct refers to unethical practices related to authorship credit and responsibilities. It includes guest authorship (including individuals who did not contribute significantly to the research) or ghost authorship (excluding individuals who made substantial contributions) and improper ordering of authors.
8. Conflict of Interest: Conflict of interest occurs when a researcher’s personal, financial, or professional interests could potentially compromise their objectivity or impartiality in conducting or reporting research. It is crucial to disclose any conflicts of interest that may influence the research process or interpretation of results.
9. Unethical Animal or Human Research: Unethical conduct involving animal or human subjects includes conducting research without appropriate ethical approvals, inadequate informed consent, mistreatment or exploitation of subjects, or failure to comply with guidelines and regulations for the humane and ethical treatment of research participants.
10. Peer Review Manipulation: Peer review manipulation involves manipulating the peer review process to bias the outcome in favor of the author’s work or undermine the quality and integrity of the peer review system. This can include providing false reviewer identities, coercing or influencing reviewers, or submitting fraudulent reviews.
11. Failure to Disclose Conflicts of Interest: Researchers have an ethical responsibility to disclose any financial, personal, or professional relationships that may present a conflict of interest regarding their research. Failure to disclose such conflicts can undermine the credibility and objectivity of the research.

MycoAsia follows the guidelines of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), which provides ethical guidelines and best practices for academic journals and publishers (https://publicationethics.org/). By adhering to COPE guidelines, MycoAsia ensures fairness, transparency, and accountability in handling any disputes or ethical concerns that may arise during the publication process.

MycoAsia expects authors to declare their contributions in manuscripts clearly. Stating the contributions of each participating author promotes transparency and proper recognition of their contributions to the research. Any disputes related to authorship will be resolved according to COPE guidelines.

MycoAsia prohibits the submission of manuscripts under consideration for publication in another journal. Simultaneous submission of the same manuscript to multiple journals is considered unethical in the academic publishing community. Furthermore, authors should not submit manuscripts that have already been published in another journal to MycoAsia. This policy ensures the avoidance of duplicated or redundant research findings, preserving the integrity and uniqueness of the scientific literature.

Authors are required to disclose any conflicts of interest or competing interests in their manuscripts. Conflicts of interest can arise when authors have financial, personal, or professional relationships or affiliations that may influence their work or create a perception of bias. By declaring conflicts of interest, authors promote transparency and enable readers and reviewers to assess the potential impact of such conflicts on the research findings or interpretations. This disclosure maintains the credibility and integrity of the publication process. It is generally recommended that authors clearly state any conflicts of interest in a dedicated section of the manuscript, providing details of the conflict’s nature and its potential influence on the research.

MycoAsia encourages the sharing of data and biological materials mentioned in published papers. Sharing data and biological materials fosters scientific collaboration, reproducibility, and advancements in mycology research. However, it is important to comply with the rules and regulations of the countries involved in sharing such materials. Different countries may have specific regulations governing the transfer, use, or export of certain types of data or biological materials, particularly concerning endangered species, protected habitats, or biosecurity concerns. By promoting responsible sharing within applicable rules and regulations, MycoAsia ensures that scientific collaboration and research activities are conducted in a manner that respects legal and ethical considerations.

The Editorial Board of MycoAsia is dedicated to identifying and preventing the publication of papers with suspected scientific misconduct. In cases where an Editorial Board member supports unethical behavior or practices, appropriate action will be taken, including their removal from the Editorial Board. This commitment upholds the journal’s ethical publishing practices and ensures the integrity of the peer-review process. By maintaining a strong stance against scientific misconduct and promptly addressing any unethical behavior, MycoAsia maintains a high standard of ethical conduct in the field of mycology research.

Authors and readers are encouraged to report any observed research misconduct in published papers. This proactive approach promotes the integrity and quality of the journal’s content. MycoAsia promptly investigates complaints of scientific misconduct received by the Editorial Office, providing an interim reply to the complainant within three working days. The Editor-in-Chief makes the final decision on such matters following the procedures prescribed by COPE, ensuring the establishment of facts and appropriate action.