Publication Ethics and Malpractice Statement
The Electronic Journal of Applied Mathematics (EJAM) is committed to maintaining high standards of publication ethics and research integrity. The journal expects authors, editors, reviewers, and the publisher to act in accordance with the principles of honesty, fairness, transparency, confidentiality, accountability, and academic responsibility.
EJAM’s policies are informed by the principles and guidance of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and by widely recognized best practices in scholarly publishing.
1. Research Integrity
Research submitted to EJAM must be conducted and reported honestly, accurately, and transparently. Fabrication, falsification, deceptive reporting, and inappropriate manipulation of data, figures, or results are unacceptable.
2. Originality and Prior Publication
Submitted manuscripts must be original and must not have been published previously or be under consideration elsewhere. Duplicate submission, redundant publication, and unjustified overlap with other works are not permitted. Where a manuscript builds on the authors’ previous work, that work must be properly cited and the new contribution must be clearly identified.
3. Plagiarism and Proper Attribution
Plagiarism in any form is unacceptable. All sources must be properly acknowledged, including text, ideas, data, figures, mathematical derivations, tables, and code. Self-plagiarism and unattributed reuse of previously disseminated material are also unacceptable unless clearly disclosed, properly cited, and editorially justified.
The journal reserves the right to evaluate submissions using similarity-checking tools. Manuscripts with suspected plagiarism may be rejected or subjected to further investigation.
4. Authorship and Acknowledgements
All listed authors must have made a substantial scholarly contribution to the work, approved the final version of the manuscript, and agreed to its submission. The corresponding author is responsible for ensuring that all eligible authors are included and that no inappropriate names are listed as authors.
Contributors who do not meet the criteria for authorship should be acknowledged appropriately. Any authorship dispute may be referred back to the authors and, where necessary, to their institutions.
5. Data Integrity and Supporting Evidence
Authors are responsible for the integrity, accuracy, and reliability of the data and arguments presented in their manuscripts. Where appropriate, authors should retain underlying data, computational material, or other supporting evidence and provide them for editorial review upon reasonable request.
6. Conflicts of Interest
Authors, editors, and reviewers must disclose any financial, professional, institutional, or personal relationships that could influence, or reasonably be perceived to influence, the evaluation, interpretation, or publication of the work. Individuals with relevant conflicts of interest should recuse themselves when appropriate.
7. Responsibilities of Authors
- to submit only original work that is not under consideration elsewhere;
- to ensure proper citation and acknowledgment of all relevant sources;
- to present data and results accurately and without fabrication or falsification;
- to disclose relevant conflicts of interest and sources of funding;
- to ensure that all co-authors have approved the manuscript and its submission;
- to cooperate with the peer-review and editorial process in a timely manner;
- to notify the journal promptly if a significant error is discovered in the manuscript or published article.
8. Responsibilities of Editors
Editors evaluate manuscripts on the basis of scholarly merit, originality, clarity, relevance, and contribution to the field, without discrimination based on personal identity, nationality, institutional affiliation, or other non-academic factors.
Editors must handle submissions confidentially, avoid conflicts of interest, and ensure that peer review is conducted fairly and appropriately. Editorial decisions must remain independent of commercial, political, institutional, or personal influence.
9. Responsibilities of Reviewers
Reviewers are expected to provide objective, constructive, and evidence-based assessments. They must treat manuscripts as confidential documents and must not use or disclose unpublished information for personal or professional advantage.
Reviewers should accept assignments only when they have appropriate expertise and can complete the review within the requested period. Reviewers must disclose conflicts of interest and decline review where impartiality cannot be maintained.
10. Peer Review and Confidentiality
Peer review is a core part of the journal’s quality control process. EJAM expects all participants in the review process to respect confidentiality and to comply with the journal’s stated peer-review model and procedures.
11. Complaints, Appeals, and Editorial Fairness
EJAM is committed to fair editorial treatment of all submissions. Complaints or appeals concerning editorial decisions, peer review, or publication ethics may be submitted to the editorial office for consideration in accordance with the journal’s policies.
12. Corrections, Retractions, and Expressions of Concern
If significant errors, unreliable findings, misleading statements, or ethical breaches are identified, EJAM may publish a correction, retraction, or expression of concern, depending on the seriousness of the case. Such notices will be issued in a clear and timely manner in order to protect the integrity of the scholarly record.
13. Handling Allegations of Misconduct
Allegations of plagiarism, duplicate publication, fabricated or falsified data, manipulated peer review, authorship misconduct, or undisclosed conflicts of interest will be assessed seriously. The journal may seek clarification from the authors, consult editors or external experts, and, where appropriate, contact relevant institutions. EJAM will follow established ethical guidance when evaluating such cases.
14. Editorial Actions and Sanctions
Where misconduct or serious ethical breach is confirmed, the journal may take one or more actions, including rejection of the manuscript, withdrawal from review, publication of a correction or retraction, temporary restriction on future submissions, or notification of relevant institutions where warranted.
15. Transparency and Policy Review
EJAM is committed to transparency in its editorial and publishing practices and to the regular review of its policies in light of evolving standards in scholarly publishing and publication ethics.
