Privacy Statement

Privacy and Ethics Policy

Publication Ethics and Malpractice Statement

The Iraqi Journal of Applied Physics (IJAP), along with its publisher - American Quality for Scientific Publishing, Ltd. (AQSP) - adheres strictly to the COPE (Code of Conduct and Best Practice Guidelines for Journal Editors), as well as the Code of Conduct for Journal Publishers.

All authors, reviewers, and editors are expected to follow these ethical guidelines and uphold the highest standards of integrity. Key principles are summarized below, but the full guidelines should be consulted for complete details.

 

Editorial Responsibilities

Impartiality and Independence

Editors evaluate submitted manuscripts solely based on academic merit—considering factors like originality, relevance, and clarity—without bias related to the authors' identity, background, or affiliations. Decisions on publication are independent of external influences, including governmental or institutional policies. The Editor-in-Chief holds full authority over editorial content and publication timelines.

 

Confidentiality

Manuscripts under review are treated as confidential. Editors and editorial staff will not disclose information about submissions to anyone other than the corresponding author, reviewers, or necessary parties involved in the editorial process.

 

Conflicts of Interest

Editors must avoid using unpublished material for personal research without explicit consent from the authors. They will recuse themselves from handling manuscripts where conflicts of interest exist and delegate such cases to another editorial board member.

 

Publication Decisions

Every manuscript under consideration is reviewed by at least two experts in the field. The Editor-in-Chief, guided by reviewers’ feedback and legal considerations, makes the final decision on publication.

 

Ethical Investigations

Editors, in collaboration with the publisher, will address ethical concerns about submitted or published work. Actions such as corrections, retractions, or expressions of concern will follow COPE guidelines.

 

Reviewer Responsibilities

Role in Editorial Decisions

Peer reviewers contribute to editorial decisions and help authors improve their work. Reviewers are essential in maintaining the integrity of the scientific review process.

 

Timeliness

Reviewers who cannot complete a review promptly or feel unqualified to assess a manuscript should notify the editors and decline the assignment to allow for alternative arrangements.

 

Confidentiality

Manuscripts received for review must be treated as confidential and not shared without authorization from the Editor-in-Chief.

 

Objectivity and Constructive Feedback

Reviews should provide objective, well-supported feedback to help authors improve their work. Personal criticism of authors is inappropriate.

 

Conflict of Interest

Reviewers must disclose conflicts of interest and decline assignments where such conflicts exist. Unpublished material from manuscripts must not be used for personal advantage.

 

Author Responsibilities

Reporting Standards

Authors should present accurate, detailed, and replicable descriptions of their research. Fraudulent or knowingly inaccurate statements are considered unethical.

 

Data Access and Retention

Authors may need to provide raw data for editorial review and ensure its availability for at least 10 years post-publication, while respecting confidentiality and legal restrictions.

 

Originality and Plagiarism

All submissions must be original, with proper citations for prior work. Plagiarism in any form is unethical and unacceptable.

 

Avoiding Duplicate Submissions

Authors should not submit the same work to multiple journals simultaneously. Exceptions for secondary publications are allowed only under specific conditions and with proper permissions.

 

Authorship Criteria

Authorship should be limited to those who significantly contributed to the research and manuscript. Contributors who do not meet authorship criteria should be acknowledged appropriately.

 

Conflict of Interest and Funding Disclosure

Authors must disclose any potential conflicts of interest, including financial and non-financial factors, and provide details of funding sources.

 

Ethical Compliance

Authors must ensure compliance with ethical standards for studies involving hazardous materials, human participants, or animals. Statements of informed consent and institutional approvals must be included in manuscripts.

 

Responsiveness to Peer Review

Authors are expected to address reviewer feedback promptly and revise their work accordingly before resubmission.

 

Correcting Errors

If significant errors are identified in published work, authors must cooperate with editors to issue corrections or retractions.

 

Publisher Responsibilities

Addressing Misconduct

In cases of scientific misconduct, including plagiarism, the publisher will work with editors to investigate and address the issue. Measures may include errata, retractions, or other necessary actions to maintain ethical standards.

 

Preservation of Content

The publisher ensures the permanent availability of published research through partnerships and digital archiving systems.

 

Data Privacy

Personal information provided to the journal, such as names and email addresses, is used solely for journal purposes and is not shared with third parties.