Publication Ethics Policy

Olympus Open is committed to maintaining the highest standards of publication ethics and ensuring that all parties involved in the publication process—authors, editors, reviewers, and the publisher—uphold the integrity of the scholarly record. Our ethical guidelines are designed to promote transparency, fairness, and accountability throughout the publication process, in accordance with the guidelines provided by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).

Responsibilities of Authors

  • Originality: Authors must ensure that their work is original and has not been published elsewhere. Any use of other works must be properly cited and acknowledged.

  • Data Integrity: Authors must present accurate and reliable data, ensuring that the findings are a true reflection of their research. Fabrication or manipulation of data is strictly prohibited.

  • Authorship: All listed authors must have made a significant contribution to the research and should be able to take responsibility for its contents. All individuals who contributed to the work should be appropriately acknowledged.

  • Conflict of Interest: Authors must disclose any potential conflicts of interest, whether financial or personal, that could influence the results or interpretation of their manuscript.

  • Ethical Approval: For research involving human participants, animals, or sensitive data, authors must ensure that appropriate ethical approvals have been obtained and that the research adheres to relevant ethical standards.

Responsibilities of Editors

  • Fairness: Editors must evaluate manuscripts based on their intellectual content, without regard to the authors' race, gender, sexual orientation, religious belief, ethnic origin, citizenship, or political philosophy.

  • Confidentiality: Editors must ensure that all submitted manuscripts are treated confidentially and are not disclosed to anyone except the corresponding author, reviewers, and the publisher, as appropriate.

  • Decision-making: Editors are responsible for making the final decision regarding acceptance or rejection of manuscripts. These decisions should be based on the importance, originality, and clarity of the work, as well as the study's relevance to the journal.

  • Addressing Misconduct: Editors must act upon any allegations of misconduct (e.g., plagiarism, fabrication of data) and ensure that investigations are conducted in line with COPE guidelines.

Responsibilities of Reviewers

  • Objectivity: Reviewers must provide an unbiased and constructive critique of the manuscript, focusing on its scholarly merits and integrity.

  • Confidentiality: Reviewers must maintain the confidentiality of the manuscript and not disclose any of its contents or use it for personal advantage.

  • Acknowledgment of Sources: Reviewers must identify any relevant published work that has not been cited by the authors and inform the editor if they believe the manuscript is too similar to another published work.

  • Timeliness: Reviewers should complete their reviews promptly and notify the editor if they are unable to meet the deadline or if they feel unqualified to review the manuscript.

Handling of Ethical Misconduct

  • Plagiarism and Research Misconduct: If plagiarism or other ethical misconduct is identified, Olympus Open will follow the COPE guidelines in addressing the issue. This may involve contacting the author’s institution, issuing retractions, or other corrective measures.

  • Corrections and Retractions: If significant errors or misconduct are discovered post-publication, the journal will issue appropriate corrections, retractions, or expressions of concern to maintain the integrity of the published record.

Conflict of Interest

Olympus Open requires that all parties involved in the publication process disclose any conflicts of interest that could influence the review, acceptance, or publication of a manuscript.

Commitment to Ethical Standards

Olympus Open is dedicated to promoting ethical publishing practices and preserving the integrity of the academic record. We encourage all authors, reviewers, and editors to adhere to these guidelines to ensure that research is conducted and published responsibly.