The American Scientific Publishing Group (ASPG) is committed to maintaining high standards of publication ethics, integrity, and transparency across all its journals, and operates in accordance with internationally recognized best practices in scholarly publishing.
This policy defines the ethical responsibilities of editors, authors, reviewers, and the publisher throughout the entire publication process.
1. Editorial Responsibilities
Editors are responsible for ensuring the quality, integrity, and relevance of journal content. Editorial decisions are based on the scientific merit, originality, clarity, and relevance of submitted manuscripts.
Editors shall:
- - Evaluate manuscripts impartially and without discrimination
- - Maintain confidentiality of all submissions
- - Avoid conflicts of interest
- - Take appropriate action in cases of suspected ethical misconduct
Editorial Independence
Editorial decisions are made independently and are not influenced by commercial interests, sponsors, or external parties. The publisher ensures that editorial integrity is maintained at all stages of the publication process.
2. Peer Review Process
All submitted manuscripts undergo a structured and independent peer-review process to ensure academic quality and validity.
The process includes:
- - Initial editorial screening
- - Evaluation by qualified independent reviewers
- - Editorial decision based on reviewers’ reports
All ASPG journals apply a single-blind peer-review model, unless otherwise specified by the journal. Further details of the peer review workflow are available in the Peer Review Process.
3. Reviewer Responsibilities
Reviewers play a critical role in maintaining the quality and integrity of scholarly publishing. Reviewers are expected to:
- - Provide objective and constructive feedback
- - Maintain confidentiality of the manuscript
- - Declare any conflicts of interest
- - Complete reviews within the agreed timeframe
4. Author Responsibilities
Authors must ensure that:
- - Submitted work is original and has not been published elsewhere
- - The manuscript is not under consideration by another journal
- - All sources are properly cited
- - All authors have significantly contributed to the work
- - The data presented are accurate and not fabricated, falsified, or manipulated
Authors are collectively responsible for the integrity of their work.
5. Authorship and Contributions
Authorship should be limited to individuals who have made substantial contributions to:
- - The conception or design of the study
- - Data collection, analysis, or interpretation
- - Drafting or revising the manuscript
All authors must approve the final version prior to submission. Any changes to authorship must be approved by all authors and the editorial office.
6. Conflicts of Interest
Authors, editors, and reviewers must disclose any financial or personal relationships that could influence the research or its interpretation.
If no conflicts exist, a statement confirming the absence of conflicts must be provided.
7. Plagiarism and Academic Misconduct
ASPG has zero tolerance for unethical practices, including:
- - Plagiarism
- - Data fabrication or falsification
- - Duplicate submission or redundant publication
- - Inappropriate citation practices
All manuscripts may be subject to similarity checks. Confirmed misconduct will result in rejection or retraction.
8. Research Misconduct and Investigation
Suspected cases of ethical misconduct are investigated by the editorial office in accordance with established ethical procedures. This may include communication with authors, reviewers, and affiliated institutions.
If misconduct is confirmed, actions may include:
- - Rejection of the manuscript
- - Retraction of published articles
- - Notification to relevant institutions
- - Temporary or permanent submission restrictions
9. Data Availability and Transparency
Authors are encouraged to:
- - Provide access to supporting data where appropriate
- - Cite datasets using persistent identifiers (e.g., DOI)
- - Follow FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable) principles
If data cannot be shared, a clear justification must be provided.
10. Ethical Approval for Research
Research involving human participants or animals must comply with recognized ethical standards and relevant institutional and international guidelines.
Authors must confirm that appropriate ethical approval has been obtained where required.
11. Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)
Authors must disclose any use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools in the preparation of their manuscript. AI tools must not be listed as authors. Authors remain fully responsible for the accuracy, integrity, and originality of the content. The use of AI should be limited to supportive purposes and must be clearly described where it has contributed to the work.
12. Corrections and Retractions
ASPG is committed to maintaining the integrity of the scholarly record and applies established best practices in handling post-publication issues.
Actions may include:
- - Corrections (erratum or corrigendum)
- - Retractions
- - Expressions of concern
All post-publication updates are implemented transparently, clearly documented, and appropriately linked to the original publication to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the scientific record.
The publisher may initiate post-publication investigations if concerns about the integrity of a published work are raised.
Authors are responsible for promptly notifying the journal of any errors identified in their published work.
13. Complaints and Appeals
Concerns regarding editorial decisions, ethical issues, or publication practices should be directed to the ASPG editorial office (editorial@americaspg.com).
All complaints will be handled in accordance with established ethical guidelines and investigated fairly and confidentially.
14. Copyright and Licensing
Upon acceptance, authors agree to the ASPG’s copyright and licensing terms. Authors retain the right to use their work for academic and non-commercial purposes, provided appropriate citation is given.
15. Contact Information
For inquiries related to publication ethics, please contact:
Email: support@americaspg.com