Hydrology

Publication Ethics
SciencePG Statement

At Science Publishing Group, we are committed to upholding the highest standards in scholarly publishing. We ensure that all submitted manuscripts adhere to SciencePG’s guidelines and best practices. Our stance on publishing ethics is deeply rooted in the principles of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE). We strictly follow COPE's guidelines in addressing key ethical issues, such as conflicts of interest, authorship, misconduct allegations, data transparency, plagiarism, and the integrity of the peer review process.

As we remain committed to ethical standards, SciencePG also acknowledges the importance of autonomous decision-making based on our existing policies and principles. This independence, combined with adherence to COPE's guidelines, ensures the highest level of integrity and professionalism in our publication process.

In case of uncertainties regarding ethical conduct in research and publishing, we suggest referring to the extensive resources provided by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), the Council of Science Editors (CSE), and the World Association of Medical Editors (WAME). These resources offer a comprehensive guide to tackling ethical issues, thereby promoting the constant improvement of scientific record integrity.

Ethical Guidelines for Authors

As part of SciencePG's commitment to maintaining the highest levels of academic integrity and standards, authors submitting their manuscripts to SciencePG journals must ensure that they follow our ethical guidelines. We encourage authors to familiarize themselves with these guidelines and adhere to them throughout the process of manuscript preparation and submission.

Authors submitting to SciencePG journals must ensure the ethical soundness of their research and abide by the following guidelines:

  • Accurate Presentation

    Authors should truthfully present their research findings and discuss their significance objectively, without overstatement or misinterpretation.

  • Authorship

    All individuals who meet the authorship criteria should be included as authors, with their specific contributions accurately acknowledged. Only those who made substantial contributions should be listed as authors.

  • Conflict of Interest

    Any potential conflicts of interest should be disclosed at the time of submission. This includes, but is not limited to, financial, personal, or other relationships that might influence the results or interpretation of their manuscript.

  • Data Integrity

    Authors should provide detailed and replicable methodologies, with raw data made publicly available unless there is a compelling reason for its protection, such as confidentiality or security.

  • Simultaneous Submission

    Authors must not submit the same manuscript simultaneously to more than one journal, to ensure the uniqueness and originality of each submission.

  • Originality

    Research results should be novel and not previously published. Any form of plagiarism or duplicate publication will not be tolerated.

  • Permissions

    Authors should obtain appropriate permissions for the use of any previously published content, including text, images, tables, etc., in their manuscript.

  • Error Correction

    Any errors or inaccuracies discovered after submission or publication should be promptly communicated to SciencePG for correction or retraction as necessary.

  • Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)

    Any use of AI tools in the research process must be clearly declared. Undisclosed or inappropriate use of AI, including to manipulate results or the publication process, will be treated as an ethical breach.

Non-compliance with these guidelines may lead to manuscript rejection or retraction and other consequences as per SciencePG's editorial policies. Authors can refer to our full Ethics Guidelines for a more detailed understanding.

Ethical Guidelines for Reviewers and Editors

In the peer review process of SciencePG, all participants including editors-in-chief, editorial board members, guest editors, and reviewers share the responsibility of maintaining the integrity of our editorial process.

Reviewers:

1

Confidentiality: Reviewers should respect the confidentiality of the review process and should not disclose any details of the manuscript or its review during or after the review process.

2

Impartiality: Reviewers should conduct their reviews in a fair and impartial manner, devoid of personal bias or influence.

3

Conflict of Interest: If any potential conflict of interest arises that could compromise the impartiality of their review, reviewers should immediately alert the editors and if necessary, decline the review assignment.

4

Direct Contact: Reviewers should not contact authors directly without the explicit permission from SciencePG.

Editors:

1

Ethical Oversight: Editors should ensure and promote the consistent application of SciencePG's ethical policies, taking necessary actions to enforce these policies when needed.

2

Confidentiality: They should safeguard the confidentiality of the review process.

3

Personal Integrity: Editors should exercise high standards of personal integrity in their role, taking necessary steps to manage instances where they could have a competing interest or an appearance of one.

4

Guidance: Editors should work collaboratively with authors, reviewers, and the editorial board members, ensuring they are well-informed of SciencePG’s ethical and publishing policies. They should act in a fair, unbiased, and timely manner in all ethical matters.