ENSURING INTEGRITY: HOW WE PREVENT MANIPULATION IN THE PUBLISHING PROCESS

2023-09-28

Maintaining the integrity and credibility of the scientific publishing process is paramount. At Scientific Route OÜ, we are committed to preventing any form of manipulation in the publication process. Systematic manipulation includes instances where individuals employ dishonest or fraudulent methods to compromise the independent evaluation of scientific work or the proper attribution of authorship, and may involve publishing fabricated or plagiarized research.

Our Editorial Board strictly adheres to the following principles to counteract manipulation and maintain the highest standards of ethics and quality:

  1. Single Corresponding Authorship: Manuscripts are accepted for consideration if submitted on behalf of a single author, who will act as the corresponding author throughout the manuscript's processing.

  2. Thorough Reviewer Verification: We rigorously verify the contact details of new and potential reviewers proposed by the manuscript's authors. We may also verify the reviewers' credentials through ORCID or by contacting their respective institutions.

  3. Reviewer Qualification Check: We assess the qualifications of reviewers suggested for the manuscript to ensure their expertise aligns with the manuscript's subject matter.

  4. Detection of Unusual Patterns: We diligently identify unusual patterns of behavior that may suggest manipulation of the peer review process, utilizing the COPE scheme "How to recognise potential manipulation of the peer review process."

In the event of suspected manipulation, we follow the COPE scheme "What to do if you suspect peer review manipulation" and take the following actions:

  • Re-verification of Reviewer Information: We re-verify the validity of the reviewer's contact information by reaching out to their employing institutions.

  • Confirmation of Data: We request the corresponding author to confirm the provided data to ensure accuracy and prevent potential manipulation.

  • Expert Review: If manipulation is substantiated, the manuscript undergoes further evaluation by different experts to ensure unbiased assessment and maintain the integrity of the review process.

  • Transparent Actions: If needed, the manuscript may be sent back to the authors for revision (during the peer review stage) or, if already published, we adhere to retraction policies to rectify any concerns.

It's essential to emphasize that all manuscripts submitted for publication undergo a stringent double-blind peer review process, ensuring a fair and unbiased evaluation. We remain steadfast in our commitment to upholding the highest standards of ethical conduct and fostering a culture of academic rigor and honesty.