Ethical Guidelines for Researchers

Novelty Mathematics (NIM) ethical guidelines are given here for those who intend to publish their work in this journal. The guidelines are as follows:

  1. The manuscript you submit to NIM must not be forwarded to any other journal

until the decision of the editorial board of NIM is communicated to you.

  1. The manuscript should not contain any illicit material nor contravene any existing copyright unless with due permission.
  2. The author should have permission from another manuscript holder(s) to reconstruct their manuscript not owned by the author.
  3. "Proof of Consent" regarding using names of people and organizations must be given.
  4. The author who submits the final draft of the manuscript is responsible for the material concur to publication and the order of the other authors listed on the paper.
  5. All persons making significant contributions to the research should be listed as author(s). Minor contributions may be acknowledged in the Acknowledgement section.
  6. The author(s) is responsible for announcing any potential conflict of interest in the paper. Any support from the third party must be mentioned in the Acknowledgement section.
  7. The author should not deposit the final version of the manuscript into an organizational repository until NIM has published the manuscript. After publishing, the paper will be deposited in the repository by NIM's editor(s).
  8. The author should not allow others to gather and save his paper to a separate server electronically.
  9. All authors must submit a Consent Form and a Contribution Form mentioning their contribution to the research paper submitted. The consent form should have the signatures of all the authors showing that they have reviewed the article and agree to take responsibility for the content.

The corresponding author who submits the manuscript to NIM should practice and follow the authors' guidelines as mentioned, as all manuscripts that are not according to the guidelines will not be processed. Furthermore, the author should also accept that, in severe cases of misconduct, which the editorial board will finally decide, they may be barred from publishing in NIM.

Errors and Corrections

Notices of corrections will be uploaded on the website and in the online version of the journal. Any possible modification will be done in the manuscript to meet the corrections requirements. Authors must submit an Errors and Omissions Correction Form to the editor. Such notices will contain one of the following:

  1. a) Error and Omissions in Printing
  2. Any error or omission in publishing due to oversight of the publisher is corrected at the request of the author(s). This form indicates publishing errors or negligence usually occurring in the publication process. Such errors will appear on the online version of the manuscript at the abstract level to ensure visibility for readers. Moreover, corrections are made upon scrutiny of the request made by the author(s).
  3. b) Error and Omission in Writing
  4. Any error or omission made before submitting the manuscript also requires a request on the error correction form by the author(s). The editorial board will then scrutinize the request and make necessary changes and corrections. These corrections will be made in the manuscript's online version to ensure readers' visibility.

Retraction

This notice will only be used in major cases of ethical misconduct or when research is misleading, plagiarized, or against the country's or society's general interest. In normal circumstances, the manuscript will remain in the outline version of the journal. However, the retraction will appear on the manuscript's online version to ensure readers' visibility. The retraction notice will be published as a separate item in the upcoming issue and assigned a DOI number for future reference by the researchers.

 Such notice will clearly state the causes for the manuscript being withdrawn factually. For example, it might be necessary to eradicate manuscripts from the database for legal reasons. In this case, a note to this effect will be presented on the online table of contents. If this notice is required for the author's work, NIM will reserve the right to bar the author(s) from publishing in NIM.

Clarification Note

A clarification note may clarify any points as and when required, which may not be considered a correction. Please note that any amendment has to be highlighted as a stated publishing error, author error, or note of clarification. The editorial board can only amend the text if required; their decision will be final.

Expression of Concern

In cases where the conclusion is unclear, or we cannot make a fair decision due to a conflict of interest or lack of information, NIM will express concern about the manuscript. An expression of concern will appear on the online version of the manuscript at the abstract level to ensure visibility for readers. It will also appear on the online version of the manuscript.

NIM reserves the right not to proceed with a case if the complainant presents a false name or misbehaves towards the NIM team.

Guidelines for Making Decisions about Ethical Misconduct

Ethical Misconduct

There are several types of ethical issues. The ethical misconduct may include the following:

  • Plagiarism
  • Self-plagiarism
  • Authorship issues
  • Defamation/Libel
  • Fabrication
  • Unethical Research or Testing
  • Conflict of interest

Plagiarism

Maintaining a commitment to zero plagiarism is imperative. However, submitted articles may exhibit some degree of similarity, a factor carefully examined for potential plagiarism, with the threshold set at a maximum of 20%.

Several key points guide our adherence to academic integrity:

  • The absence of references to works cited within the text in the list of references at the article's conclusion.
  • Ensuring that similarity from a single source does not surpass 5%.
  • Granting the editorial board the authority to assess a submitted paper thoroughly to ascertain whether any identified similarity constitutes plagiarism.
  • Empowering the editorial board to request the authors to furnish the data files and results, contributing to a comprehensive evaluation of the submitted work.

 

Self-Plagiarism

NIM only accepts original work. Any similarity between someone's work and the author/s's work is scrutinized for plagiarism detection. Any reproduction from the author's work should be according to the requirements and norms of research. Research papers submitted from research theses by scholars and students should also adhere to the general rules of similarity.

Authorship Issues

All contributors to a research paper are expected to make significant contributions, with those having minor roles duly acknowledged. Authorship-related issues typically fall into three categories:

  • The exclusion of a contributor from the list of authors.
  • The inclusion of individuals who have not made substantive contributions to the manuscript.
  • Concerns regarding the order of authors on the manuscript and the corresponding level of their contributions.

The editorial board's decision at the NIM journal is final in resolving any authorship disputes. However, it's important to note that as the research process unfolds before manuscript submission, neither NIM nor the editors can comment on each author's specific level of contribution. Authorship cannot be altered after the completion of the peer-review process. Nevertheless, if an article has not undergone peer review, the corresponding author may request changes in authorship, providing a valid reason for consideration.

Defamation/Libel

A research study conducted on individuals or organizations necessitates obtaining their explicit consent. Should any potentially defamatory content be identified by the editorial board or raised by the concerned entities, the submitted article is subject to rejection.

When unverified, contentious, or inaccurate statements are present in a submitted manuscript, NIM retains the right to request modifications or reject the publication.

While critiques and evaluations of products and services are welcomed, comments must remain constructive and devoid of malicious intent.

If a published manuscript contains statements considered defamatory, NIM reserves the right to issue retractions and offer apologies as necessary.

Fabrication

Making up data or results and reporting the results would constitute fabrication. In case of fabrication, the editorial board of NIM may reject the article, or if found after publishing the paper, it may be retracted. In addition, the author/s may also be barred from publishing in NIM.

Unethical Research and Testing

Authors must adhere to established national and international protocols concerning data protection, privacy rights, medical testing involving humans and animals, and child protection. In this regard, authors must submit all necessary consent forms from the relevant regulatory bodies to the editors and publishers at NIM.

NIM actively encourages authors to articulate how their studies contribute to societal advancement. Should it come to light that a study violates national and international procedures and such non-compliance is verified by the relevant regulatory body, NIM reserves the right to initiate a retraction process.

Conflict of Interest

Transparency is paramount within the academic community, so authors, editors, and reviewers are obligated to disclose any conflicts of interest. Such conflicts may encompass personal and financial stakes in the study's outcomes, undisclosed financial backing from interested third parties, or personal and financial interests in suppressing the study.

Before the review process, it is imperative to include a note in the manuscript highlighting the background of financial support from third parties or any potential conflict of interest.

Suspected conflicts of interest should be promptly reported to NIM. For instance, concerns about an editor should be brought to the attention of the journal publisher at NIM. In all instances, NIM commits to:

  • Respond efficiently and professionally to emails and letters of complaint.
  • Uphold complete objectivity and fairness.
  • Scrutinize evidence thoroughly before taking further steps.
  • Contact the accused individuals to clarify their position before any action is taken.
  • Allow sufficient time for all parties to respond.
  • Keep all parties informed of decisions, including copyright owners, authors, and editors.
  • Safeguard the author's moral rights and ensure the accurate record of the literature.

Ultimately, the NIM and its editorial board will decide on any disputed case following a fair and considered process. It's essential to note that NIM reserves the right to terminate the process if the complainant provides inaccurate information, behaves inappropriately, or threatens the NIM team.