Publication Ethics
OUR STATEMENT OF ETHICS IS BASED ON COPE'S BEST PRACTICE GUIDE FOR JOURNAL EDITORS
The Lentera journal sets high standards of ethical behavior by all parties involved in journal publications, namely: authors, journal editors, peer-reviewers, and publishers. As a peer-reviewed journal, the Journal is committed to implementing publication ethics as an ethical guideline in our three editions a year.
Publication Ethics Guidelines. Publication of each article in the Journal is an important component in the development of a coherent and respected knowledge network. This is considered a direct reflection on the quality of the work contributed by the authors and recognized by the institutions that support them. As a publisher, the Journal takes on the duty of looking after all stages of publication and recognizes this kind of ethical responsibility. This involves all parties in journal publication, namely: authors, journal editors, peer-reviewers, and publishers.
Publication Decision. Editors are responsible for considering the decision-making process regarding articles submitted to the Journal. The editor must comply with the Journal guidelines and policies and be limited by ethical and legal requirements that will apply regarding defamation, plagiarism and copyright infringement. Editors can confer with other editors or reviewers in making publication decisions based on research areas.
Fair play. Editors at all times evaluate manuscripts for their intellectual content without regard to the author's race, gender, sexual orientation, religious belief, ethnic origin, nationality, or political philosophy.
confidentiality. Editors and any editorial staff must not disclose any information about submitted manuscripts to anyone other than the respective authors, reviewers, prospective reviewers, other editorial advisers and the publisher, as appropriate.
Disclosure and Conflict of Interest. Unpublished material disclosed in submitted manuscripts may not be used in an editor's own research without written consent from the author.
1. REVIEWER TASK
Contribution to Editorial Decisions. Peer review assists editors in making editorial decisions and through editorial communication with authors can also assist authors in improving papers.
Speed. Any selected referee who feels unqualified to review research reported in a manuscript or knows that prompt review is not possible must notify the editor and withdraw from the review process.
confidentiality. Any manuscripts received for review must be treated as confidential documents. They may not be shown or discussed with others except as permitted by the editors.
Objectivity Standards. Reviews must be carried out objectively. Personal criticism of the author is inappropriate. Referees must express their views clearly with supporting arguments.
Source Acknowledgment. Reviewers should identify relevant published work that has not been cited by the author. Any statement that the observations, derivations, or arguments have been previously reported must be accompanied by a relevant citation. Reviewers should also bring to the editor's attention any substantial similarities or overlap between the manuscript under consideration and other published papers of which they are personally aware.
Disclosure and Conflict of Interest. Privileged information or ideas obtained through peer review must be kept confidential and not used for personal gain. Reviewers should not consider manuscripts in which they have a conflict of interest resulting from competitive, collaborative, or other relationships or connections with any of the authors, companies, or institutions associated with the paper.
2. AUTHOR'S TASKS
Reporting Standards. Authors of original research reports must present an accurate account of the work performed as well as an objective discussion of its significance. The underlying data must be represented accurately on paper. A paper should contain sufficient detail and references to enable others to replicate the work. Statements that are deceptive or intentionally inaccurate constitute unethical behavior and are unacceptable.
Originality and Plagiarism. Authors should ensure that they have written entirely original work, and if authors have used the work and/or words of others, these have been properly cited or quoted.
Multiple, Redundant, or Concurrent Publication. An author may not, in general, publish manuscripts describing substantially the same research in more than one journal or primary publication. Submitting the same manuscript to more than one journal simultaneously is unethical and unacceptable publishing behavior.
Source Acknowledgment. Proper acknowledgment of the work of others should always be given. Authors should cite influential publications in determining the nature of the work reported.
Paper Writing. Authorship should be limited to those who have made a significant contribution to the conception, design, conduct, or interpretation of the study being reported. Everyone who has made a significant contribution should be listed as a co-author. Where there are others who have participated in certain substantive aspects of the research project, they must be acknowledged or listed as contributors.
