Ethics and Malpractice

Prakriti - The International Multidisciplinary Research Journal

Prakriti - The International Multidisciplinary Research Journal is committed to upholding the highest ethical standards in all stages of the publication process. The journal adheres to internationally recognized guidelines for ethical research and publishing practices. This section outlines the responsibilities of all parties involved in the publication process, including editors, authors, reviewers, and the publisher.

1. Ethical Responsibilities of Authors

  • Originality and Plagiarism: Authors must ensure that their work is original and properly cite any sources or content derived from others. Plagiarism in any form is strictly prohibited.
  • Data Integrity: Authors are responsible for the accuracy and integrity of their research data. Any form of data manipulation, fabrication, or falsification is considered unethical.
  • Multiple Submissions: Authors should not submit the same manuscript to more than one journal simultaneously, and must declare if their manuscript has been previously published or is under consideration elsewhere.
  • Authorship: All contributors who made a significant intellectual or practical contribution to the work should be listed as co-authors. Those who did not contribute significantly should not be included.
  • Conflict of Interest: Authors must disclose any financial or personal relationships that could potentially influence the research or interpretation of the results.
  • Corrections and Retractions: If an author discovers a significant error or inaccuracy in their published work, they are obligated to promptly notify the journal and cooperate in correcting or retracting the paper as necessary.

2. Ethical Responsibilities of Reviewers

  • Confidentiality: Reviewers must treat all manuscripts received for review as confidential documents. They must not disclose or discuss the content of the manuscript with others except as authorized by the journal’s editor.
  • Objectivity: Reviews should be conducted objectively, with constructive feedback provided to improve the quality of the manuscript. Reviewers should not allow personal biases to affect their judgment.
  • Conflict of Interest: Reviewers must disclose any conflicts of interest, including any personal or professional relationships with the authors that may influence their review.
  • Plagiarism and Redundancy: Reviewers should notify the editors if they suspect plagiarism, redundancy, or any ethical concerns related to the manuscript under review.

3. Ethical Responsibilities of Editors

  • Fair Decision-Making: Editors are responsible for making impartial and fair decisions on manuscripts based solely on their scholarly merit, relevance to the journal’s scope, and contribution to the field, without regard to the authors’ race, gender, or personal beliefs.
  • Confidentiality: Editors must maintain confidentiality regarding the manuscript during the review process and ensure that all personal and professional information is handled with discretion.
  • Conflict of Interest: Editors must recuse themselves from reviewing manuscripts in which they have a personal or financial conflict of interest.
  • Corrections and Retractions: If significant errors or ethical concerns are identified in a published article, the editors are responsible for initiating the appropriate correction or retraction process.

4. Ethical Responsibilities of the Publisher

The publisher of Prakriti - The International Multidisciplinary Research Journal ensures that commercial interests do not compromise editorial decisions. The publisher is committed to maintaining the journal’s integrity by supporting editors, authors, and reviewers in adhering to ethical standards.

Peer Review Process

Prakriti employs a double-blind peer review process, ensuring anonymity for both the authors and reviewers. Each manuscript is reviewed by at least two independent experts in the relevant field to ensure the highest quality and integrity of the research. The peer review process follows these stages:

  1. Initial Assessment: The editors conduct an initial review to determine whether the manuscript fits the journal’s scope and adheres to basic quality standards.
  2. Double-Blind Review: Selected reviewers evaluate the manuscript’s content, originality, and relevance. Reviewers provide feedback on the manuscript’s strengths, weaknesses, and necessary revisions.
  3. Editorial Decision: Based on the reviewers' recommendations, the editor makes a decision to accept, request revisions, or reject the manuscript.
  4. Revision and Final Review: If revisions are required, the authors are given a set period to make the necessary changes. After resubmission, the manuscript may undergo further review before a final decision is made.

This rigorous peer review process helps ensure the publication of high-quality, reliable, and scientifically sound research.

Article Erratum or Correction

In the event that a published article contains significant errors or inaccuracies, Prakriti - The International Multidisciplinary Research Journal follows a formal process to address and correct these issues.

  1. Erratum: If the error is due to a mistake made by the journal or its production team, an erratum will be issued to correct the error in the original publication without affecting the scientific content of the research.

  2. Correction: If an error is identified by the author(s), a correction will be published to address the issue. The correction will include the revised information and a statement explaining the changes made to the original article.

  3. Retraction: In cases of severe ethical breaches, such as fraud or plagiarism, or if the research is proven to be fundamentally flawed, the article may be retracted. A retraction notice will be issued, and the original article will be marked as retracted but remain available for transparency.

All corrections and retractions will be clearly noted and linked to the original article to maintain the integrity of the scientific record.