Publication Ethics and Malpractice Statement

Synthesis: A Multidisciplinary Research Journal is firmly committed to upholding the highest standards of integrity, transparency, and ethical conduct in scholarly publishing. Our policies align with the internationally recognized guidelines of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE), and other relevant ethical bodies. These principles guide authors, reviewers, and editors throughout all stages of the submission, evaluation, and publication process.

1. Responsibilities of Authors

1.1 Originality and Integrity

Authors must submit original, unpublished work that is not under consideration by another journal.

  • Data, results, and analyses must be accurate, verifiable, and honestly reported.

  • All sources must be properly cited using the journal’s designated citation style.

  • Plagiarism, data fabrication, data falsification, and duplicate publication are strictly prohibited.

1.2 Authorship Criteria

Authorship should reflect substantial contributions to:

  • Conceptualization or design of the study

  • Data collection, analysis, or interpretation

  • Drafting or revising the manuscript critically

  • Approval of the final version

All authors must meet ICMJE authorship criteria.
Guest authorship, honorary authorship, or exclusion of legitimate contributors is not permitted.

1.3 Conflicts of Interest

Authors must disclose any financial, institutional, or personal relationships that may influence the research or interpretation of results.

1.4 Data Availability

Upon request, authors should be prepared to provide raw data or supplementary information to verify the accuracy of their findings.

2. Plagiarism and Similarity Screening

All submissions undergo plagiarism screening using reputable software such as iThenticate or Turnitin.

  • Manuscripts with similarity >10% (excluding references and standard phrases) may be returned for revision or desk rejected.

  • Plagiarism discovered post-publication will result in correction, retraction, or other appropriate action following COPE procedures.

Forms of plagiarism include:

  • Direct copying

  • Self-plagiarism without citation

  • Improper paraphrasing

  • Unattributed use of ideas, figures, or tables

3. Responsible Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Synthesis recognizes the evolving role of AI tools in academic writing and analysis.

3.1 Acceptable Use

Authors may use AI tools only for:

  • Grammar and language editing

  • Translation support

  • Coding assistance under human supervision

AI usage must not exceed minor linguistic support (approx. ≤5%) and must not replace scholarly reasoning or interpretation.

3.2 Prohibited Use

  • AI-generated content representing novel ideas, analyses, or results

  • AI-generated datasets without human verification

  • Fabricated citations or “hallucinated” references

  • AI-generated manuscripts or major sections of text

3.3 Disclosure Requirement

Authors must disclose any AI assistance in the Acknowledgments section.

4. Ethical Standards for Human and Animal Research

4.1 Human Participants

Studies involving human subjects must follow ethical standards such as the Declaration of Helsinki and be approved by an Institutional Review Board (IRB) or Ethics Committee.

Manuscripts must include:

  • Name of the approving ethics committee

  • Ethical approval/reference number

  • Statement of compliance with institutional/national ethical standards

  • Confirmation of informed consent (including consent for identifiable images or data)

Additional safeguards are required for vulnerable populations.

4.2 Animal Research

Research involving animals must comply with institutional and national guidelines and recognized frameworks such as the ARRIVE Guidelines.

Authors must report:

  • Ethical approval number and institution

  • Humane treatment and welfare measures

  • Procedures used to minimize pain or distress

5. Peer Review and Editorial Responsibilities

5.1 Double-Blind Peer Review

All submissions undergo:

  • Initial editorial screening

  • Double-blind peer review by qualified experts

  • Final decision by the Editor-in-Chief

5.2 Reviewer Responsibilities

Reviewers must:

  • Evaluate manuscripts objectively

  • Maintain confidentiality

  • Avoid conflicts of interest

  • Provide constructive, unbiased feedback

  • Report suspected misconduct (plagiarism, falsification, ethical breaches)

5.3 Editorial Responsibilities

Editors must:

  • Ensure fairness and non-discrimination

  • Make decisions based solely on scholarly merit

  • Maintain confidentiality of submissions

  • Address ethical concerns promptly according to COPE guidance

6. Post-Publication Corrections, Retractions, and Integrity

6.1 Corrections

Corrections are issued for minor errors that do not affect results or conclusions.

6.2 Retractions

Retractions occur when:

  • Major errors invalidate findings

  • Ethical violations (plagiarism, falsification, duplicate publication) are confirmed

  • Undisclosed conflicts of interest compromise integrity

Retraction notices remain permanently accessible and linked to the original article.

6.3 Editorial Expressions of Concern

Issued when potential issues arise but full investigation is pending.

7. Complaints and Appeals

Authors may request reconsideration of editorial decisions. Complaints regarding ethical concerns, reviewer misconduct, or procedural issues will be investigated confidentially following COPE procedures.

8. Commitment to Ethical Publishing

Synthesis remains dedicated to maintaining the credibility, transparency, and ethical integrity of the scholarly record. All stakeholders—authors, reviewers, editors, and readers—are expected to uphold these standards to ensure the publication of trustworthy and responsible research.