Ethics for Reviewers

Contribution to Editorial Decisions

Peer review is a crucial part of scholarly communication, and reviewers play a vital role in assisting editors in making editorial decisions. Reviewers must provide constructive feedback that helps authors improve their work.

Confidentiality

Reviewers must maintain the confidentiality of all submitted manuscripts and the review process. They must not share the review or any information about the paper with anyone, including the author, without permission from the editor. Reviewers should also not use any unpublished materials disclosed in a submitted manuscript for their research without the express written consent of the author.

Alertness to Ethical Issues

Reviewers must be alert to potential ethical issues in the paper and bring them to the editor’s attention. They should notify the editor if they find any substantial similarity or overlap between the manuscript under consideration and any other published paper of which they have personal knowledge.

Standards of Objectivity and Competing Interests

Reviewers must conduct reviews objectively, and personal criticism of the author is inappropriate. Reviewers should disclose any potential conflicts of interest resulting from competitive, collaborative, or other relationships or connections with any of the authors, companies, or institutions connected to the paper. Reviewers should not suggest including citations to their own or their associates’ work for the purpose of increasing their citation count or enhancing the visibility of their work.