Publication Ethics

Publication Ethics and Ethical Guidelines

This statement establishes the ethical standards and responsibilities of all parties involved in the publication process of the Journal of Integrated Transportation Engineering and Management (JITEM), including authors and peer reviewers. These guidelines are adapted from the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) Best Practice Guidelines for Journal Editors and are intended to support integrity, transparency, accountability, and responsible scholarly publishing.

1. Duties of Authors

Reporting Standards

Authors must present their research findings accurately, objectively, and transparently, including a clear explanation of the significance of the study. Research data must be reported honestly and must not involve fabrication, falsification, or inappropriate manipulation.

Manuscripts should provide adequate methodological information and appropriate references to allow the research to be understood and, where applicable, replicated. Authors must not include fraudulent or knowingly inaccurate statements and are required to comply with all JITEM submission requirements.

Originality and Plagiarism

Authors must ensure that submitted manuscripts constitute original scholarly work. All ideas, findings, statements, and materials derived from other sources must be appropriately cited and acknowledged, including relevant work previously published by the authors themselves.

Manuscripts must not be submitted simultaneously to multiple journals unless such submission is explicitly permitted. Direct quotations must be clearly identified and accompanied by appropriate citations.

Multiple, Redundant, or Concurrent Publication

Authors must not submit the same manuscript to more than one journal at the same time. Publishing substantially the same research in multiple journals without appropriate disclosure is considered unethical.

Where several publications originate from the same research project, authors must clearly disclose the relationship between the publications and appropriately identify and cite the primary or related publication.

Acknowledgment of Sources

All sources that have significantly contributed to the research, including relevant literature, data, and previous scholarly work, must be properly acknowledged. Authors are responsible for providing appropriate credit to the contributions of other researchers and sources.

Authorship of the Paper

Authorship should be limited to individuals who have made substantial contributions to the conception, design, execution, or interpretation of the research. Individuals who meet the criteria for authorship should be included as co-authors.

Individuals whose contributions do not meet the criteria for authorship should be acknowledged appropriately. All authors listed in the manuscript must have approved the final version and agreed to its submission to JITEM.

Disclosure and Conflicts of Interest

Authors must disclose any financial, personal, professional, or other conflicts of interest that could potentially influence the research findings or their interpretation.

All sources of research funding or financial support must also be clearly disclosed in the manuscript.

Fundamental Errors in Published Works

If authors identify a significant error or inaccuracy in their published article, they must promptly notify the Editor or Editorial Board of JITEM. Authors are expected to cooperate with the journal in correcting or, where necessary, retracting the published work.

Hazards and Human or Animal Subjects

Research involving hazardous materials, procedures, or equipment must clearly identify the relevant risks and safety considerations.

Studies involving human or animal subjects must comply with applicable ethical standards. Relevant ethical considerations and approvals should be clearly stated in the manuscript where applicable.

2. Duties of Reviewers

Confidentiality

Manuscripts received for peer review must be treated as confidential documents. Reviewers must not disclose, share, reproduce, or discuss the contents of submitted manuscripts with any person other than those authorized by the editor.

Acknowledgment of Sources

Reviewers should assess whether relevant sources have been appropriately cited and identify significant published works that may have been omitted. Any suspected plagiarism, substantial similarity, or other ethical concerns should be reported confidentially to the editor.

Standards of Objectivity

Peer reviews must be conducted objectively and based on clear, constructive, and well-supported arguments. Reviewers should provide comments that can assist authors in improving the quality, clarity, and scholarly contribution of their manuscripts.

Reviewers should distinguish between revisions that are essential to the scientific quality of the manuscript and suggestions that may provide additional improvement.

Disclosure and Conflict of Interest

Reviewers must not use unpublished information obtained through the peer-review process for personal, professional, or other advantage.

Reviewers should decline an assignment if they have a conflict of interest that could affect their impartiality. Any potential conflict or circumstance that could compromise the objectivity of the review must be communicated to the editor.

Promptness

Reviewers are expected to complete their evaluations within the timeframe agreed upon with the journal. If a reviewer is unable to complete the review within the specified period, they should promptly notify the editor so that alternative arrangements can be considered.