Publication Ethics

Publication Ethics and Publication Malpractice Statement for MJMES

MJMES adheres to a robust ethical framework grounded in the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) guidelines. The journal follows these ethical principles strictly, ensuring compliance with the MJMES Editorial Board’s established codes of conduct. All parties involved in the journal’s process should observe these ethical standards, including readers, authors, reviewers, and editors. The policies set forth help guide the submission process and determine which manuscripts are eligible for publication in a given issue. For detailed information about ethical guidelines in scholarly publishing, please refer to the official COPE website at http://publicationethics.org.

Duties and Responsibilities of Publishers

  1. MJMES is committed to ensuring that the final editorial decision regarding manuscript submissions is made with the utmost consideration and is based purely on professional judgment.
  2. The journal guarantees that editorial decisions are made independently, with no influence from commercial interests or external pressures.
  3. MJMES is dedicated to preserving the integrity of academic research and the records associated with published works.
  4. The ethical practices of all parties involved in the editorial process, including the Editor-in-Chief, Associate Editors, Editorial Board Members, reviewers, authors, and readers, are continuously monitored to maintain high standards.
  5. MJMES rigorously checks for instances of plagiarism and fraudulent data in all manuscripts submitted for publication.
  6. The journal remains open to publishing necessary corrections, clarifications, retractions, and apologies related to any articles previously published.

Duties and Responsibilities of Editors

  1. Editors at MJMES hold full authority to accept or reject any submitted manuscript based on its merit and adherence to the journal’s standards.
  2. Editors are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of all manuscripts under review until they are officially published.
  3. The Editor-in-Chief, in collaboration with other editors and reviewers, has the final say on whether a manuscript is published or not.
  4. Editors must ensure that reviewers remain anonymous throughout the review process to safeguard impartiality.
  5. Any conflicts of interest among editors must be disclosed and avoided to preserve the journal’s integrity.
  6. Editors are expected to uphold academic integrity at all times and should aim to meet the needs of both readers and authors.
  7. Editors should be proactive in addressing concerns related to plagiarism and data falsification. They are also responsible for publishing necessary corrections or retractions if these issues arise.
  8. The primary focus of the editor should be the intellectual content of the manuscripts, and personal biases should be avoided.
  9. Any manuscript information should not be shared with anyone other than the relevant stakeholders, such as the corresponding author, reviewers, potential reviewers, editorial advisers, and the publisher, unless explicitly permitted.
  10. Unpublished material disclosed in a submitted manuscript must not be used for the editor’s personal research purposes without the explicit written consent of the author.

Duties and Responsibilities of Reviewers

  1. Reviewers play a crucial role in assisting editors with the decision-making process regarding the acceptance or rejection of a manuscript.
  2. The confidentiality of the manuscript under review must be respected by all reviewers.
  3. Reviewers are expected to provide timely feedback, which will assist the editorial board in determining the publication potential of the manuscript.
  4. Any information obtained during the peer review process must not be used for personal gain or advantage by the reviewer.
  5. Reviews should be objective, professional, and technically focused, offering constructive feedback to the authors.
  6. Reviewers should avoid reviewing manuscripts if there is any potential conflict of interest with the authors, institutions, or sponsors involved in the research.
  7. Reviewers should disclose any conflicts of interest and work towards avoiding them to ensure the impartiality of the review process.

Duties and Responsibilities of Authors

  1. Manuscripts must be submitted in English, with the exception of articles in the field of architectural engineering, which may be submitted in Arabic. All submissions should be well-written, ensuring proper grammar and accurate technical terminology.
  2. Authors must confirm that their manuscript has not been published elsewhere and is not currently under review by another journal or publisher.
  3. The corresponding author is responsible for ensuring that all co-authors have reviewed and approved the manuscript for publication.
  4. Authors have an obligation to participate in the peer-review process by evaluating manuscripts submitted by others, contributing to the overall integrity of the academic community.
  5. It is the author’s responsibility to ensure that any manuscript submitted on behalf of an institution has received the necessary institutional approval.
  6. Authors must agree to allow their manuscript to undergo necessary editing to improve its clarity and readability, enhancing the work’s presentation.
  7. Authors are required to clearly identify any financial support they have received for the research or manuscript preparation, detailing the role of the sponsor in the research work.
  8. All authors must approve the final version of the manuscript and grant permission to the corresponding author to engage with the editorial office regarding revisions, proofs, and publication.
  9. If an author discovers a significant error or inaccuracy in their published work, they are obligated to promptly inform the journal editor or publisher to initiate retraction or correction procedures.
  10. All submitted manuscripts to MJMES are subject to plagiarism screening using Turnitin software. Plagiarism is considered a serious violation of publication ethics and will not be tolerated.
  11. Authors are required to review and acknowledge the final checklist before submitting the manuscript for consideration by MJMES to ensure all requirements are met.

Principles of Transparency for MJMES

  1. Peer Review Process: MJMES adheres to a double-blind peer-review system for its electronic and print publications, which are released bi-monthly. The journal is committed to maintaining the highest standards of review and transparency. Full details regarding the peer-review process, along with related policies and guidelines, are openly available on the journal’s official website (https://mjmes.uomustansiriyah.edu.iq/index.php). This transparency ensures that all interested parties are informed about the review process.
  2. Governing Body: MJMES is guided by a well-established editorial board consisting of prominent experts recognized for their contributions to the various engineering fields covered by the journal. The full names, affiliations, and professional credentials of the editorial team are publicly listed on the journal's editorial team page (https://mjmes.uomustansiriyah.edu.iq/index.php/mjmes/about/editorialTeam), reflecting the diversity and expertise that drives the journal’s mission.
  3. Contact Information: The journal provides comprehensive contact details for the editorial office, allowing for easy communication between authors, reviewers, and editors. These contact details are readily accessible on the journal’s website (https://mjmes.uomustansiriyah.edu.iq/index.php/mjmes/about/contact), ensuring that inquiries are addressed promptly.
  4. Author Fees / Access: MJMES is an open-access journal, meaning all published articles are freely available to anyone who can access the journal's website, with no associated cost. However, authors are required to pay a publication fee of $150 USD for each accepted article, contributing to the journal’s operational costs and maintenance.
  5. Identification of and Dealing with Allegations of Research Misconduct: The Editor-in-Chief takes proactive measures to detect and prevent the publication of manuscripts where research misconduct, such as plagiarism, citation manipulation, or data falsification, has occurred. The journal adheres to strict ethical standards in ensuring that the research published is of the highest integrity.
  6. Website: The journal’s official website (https://mjmes.uomustansiriyah.edu.iq/index.php) is designed with a commitment to upholding high ethical and professional standards. It serves as a transparent platform for both authors and readers, offering accessible information about the journal's operations and policies.
  7. Name of the Journal: The name of MJMES is distinctive and unique, ensuring there is no confusion with other journals in the academic landscape. This clarity ensures that the journal’s identity remains unmistakable and recognizable within the field of engineering and related disciplines.
  8. Conflicts of Interest: Authors submitting manuscripts to MJMES are asked to disclose any potential conflicts of interest that might influence their research or publication. This is done through the Conflict of Interest Disclosure form, ensuring transparency and fairness in the submission process.
  9. Publishing Schedule: MJMES publishes articles on a bi-monthly schedule, and this publication frequency is clearly communicated on the journal's website (https://mjmes.uomustansiriyah.edu.iq/index.php). This helps authors and readers alike stay informed about when new issues are released.
  10. Archiving: The journal has a clear plan in place for the electronic backup and long-term preservation of its published content. This ensures that all articles remain accessible and protected for future reference, and the archiving procedures are detailed on the website (https://mjmes.uomustansiriyah.edu.iq/index.php).

 

Violation of Publication Ethics

  1. Plagiarism: Plagiarism refers to the intentional use of another person’s ideas or original material without proper attribution. This includes copying text from published works, including one's own previous publications, without proper citation. MJMES utilizes plagiarism detection software to screen all manuscripts under review. Plagiarism is considered a severe breach of publication ethics, and the use of CrossCheck (powered by Turnitin) helps maintain the integrity of the publication process by ensuring that all manuscripts are original.
  2. Data Fabrication and Falsification: Data fabrication occurs when a researcher invents data or results that were not actually obtained, while data falsification involves manipulating, altering, or omitting data from a study in order to misrepresent findings. Both are considered serious violations of research integrity.
  3. Simultaneous Submission: Simultaneous submission refers to the practice of submitting the same manuscript to multiple journals at the same time. This is considered unethical, as it can lead to complications in the peer-review process and results in a waste of reviewers' time.
  4. Duplicate Publication: Duplicate publication happens when the same manuscript is published in more than one journal without proper citation or cross-referencing. This violates ethical guidelines because it misrepresents the novelty and significance of the research.
  5. Redundant Publications: Redundant publication involves splitting the findings of a single study into multiple articles, often in an attempt to inflate the author’s academic profile. This is considered unethical as it leads to the unnecessary fragmentation of research results.
  6. Improper Author Contribution or Attribution: All listed authors must have made a significant scientific contribution to the research and its manuscript. Anyone who contributed significantly should be listed as an author, including those who contributed to data collection, analysis, and manuscript writing. Failure to properly attribute contributions can lead to disputes and undermine the integrity of the academic community.
  7. Citation Manipulation: Citation manipulation occurs when excessive citations are included in a manuscript, not because they are relevant to the article's content, but to artificially inflate citation counts for a particular author or journal. This is misleading and constitutes scientific misconduct.
  8. Sanctions: Any documented violation of publication ethics by authors, whether within MJMES or in any other journal, will lead to strict sanctions. These may include the immediate rejection of the manuscript in question, rejection of all other submissions from the offending author(s), and a ban on submitting to any journal for at least 36 months. The authors may also be prohibited from serving on the editorial board or as a reviewer for any journal. The severity of the sanction will depend on the nature of the violation.

 

Handling Cases of Misconduct

  1. If an ethical violation is suspected, the Editor of MJMES will initially contact the author in a neutral, non-judgmental manner and request an explanation, while providing relevant documentation of the alleged misconduct.
  2. If the author’s response is unsatisfactory or if serious misconduct is suspected, the matter will be referred to the editorial board, which will deliberate on the severity of the violation and decide whether further actions, such as banning the author from future submissions, are necessary.
  3. If the violation is deemed less severe, the editor may issue a letter of disapproval to the author, reminding them of the journal’s ethical policies. In cases where the article has been published, the editor may request a correction or apology be published to amend the record.
  4. If a violation occurs, the corresponding author will be notified. Any manuscript or future works submitted by the author will be immediately rejected.
  5. The authors responsible for misconduct will be prohibited from serving on the editorial board or as reviewers for MJMES. Further action may be taken depending on the severity of the case.
  6. In extreme cases, where the misconduct is particularly severe, the corresponding author's institution may be notified, and a 5-year ban may be imposed on submitting any work to MJMES.
  7. In cases of severe fraud resulting in the retraction of an article, a retraction notice will be published in the journal, and the article will be marked as "retracted" in the online version. This retraction notice will include the date and a link to the original article.

 

Journal Complaints and Appeals Process

MJMES welcomes well-supported appeals regarding editorial decisions. Such appeals will first be handled by the journal’s editors, who will assess their validity. If the appeal is found to be valid, it will be reviewed by the editorial board or external reviewers, and a new decision will be made.

Complaints and appeals are handled in accordance with the guidelines set by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), ensuring that all concerns are addressed fairly, both before and after publication. In cases where an appeal is referred for further investigation, updates will be made to the published record, with a correction or retraction issued as needed.