Ethical Policy

 

Our aim is to support the ethical publishing principles for all who are involved in Journal of Data Science (JDS) publishing with a summary of best practice guidance from leading organizations (e.g., COPE) around the world. Our guidelines are applicable to JDS journal editors, authors, and peer-reviewers. This journal is committed to upholding the integrity of the scientific record. The journal follows the COPE flowcharts on how to deal with potential acts of misconduct.

 

Conflicts of interest

To ensure objectivity, neutrality, and transparency in research and to ensure that accepted principles of ethical and professional conduct have been followed, authors and peer-reviewers participating in the manuscript submission stage should include information regarding sources of funding and potential conflicts of interest, financial or non-financial, – whether they actually had an influence. In most cases, this declaration will not stop work from being published nor will it always prevent someone from being involved in a review process. Undeclared interests may incur sanctions. Submissions with undeclared conflicts that are later revealed may be rejected. Published articles may need to be re-assessed, have a corrigendum published, or in serious cases be retracted.

The types of conflicts for the authors are:

  • research grants from funding agencies. Please give the information about the research funder and the grant number in the Acknowledgements part of the manuscript;
  • honoraria for speaking at conferences;
  • financial support for attending conferences;
  • financial support for educational programs;
  • employment or consultation;
  • support from a project sponsor;
  • position on an advisory board or board of directors or other types of management relationships;
  • multiple affiliations;
  • financial relationships, for example, equity ownership or investment interest;
  • intellectual property rights (e.g. patents, copyrights, and royalties from such rights);
  • references to the “predatory” journals;
  • holdings of spouse and/or children that may have a financial interest in the work;
  • personal relationships or competing interests directly or indirectly tied to this research;
  • professional interests or personal beliefs that may influence your research.

The corresponding author must collect the conflict of interest (listed above) disclosure from all authors and declare them on behalf of all authors during the manuscript submission stage in the Journal of Data Science (JDS). Declared conflicts of interest will be considered by the editor and reviewers.

JDS intends to prevent conflict of interest when assigning submissions to editors and inviting peer-reviewers. They should decline in any of the below situations occur and declare any conflicts to the journal. Peer-reviewers must declare their interests in the ‘Confidential’ section of the review form, which will be considered by the editor. Close competitors should consider declining. This information will not be made public.

The types of conflicts of interest for editors and peer-reviewers are:

  • editors and/or peer-reviewers have a recent publication or current submission with any author of the manuscript;
  • editors and/or peer-reviewers share or recently shared an affiliation with any author of the manuscript;
  • editors and/or peer-reviewers collaborate or recently collaborated with any author of the manuscript;
  • editors and/or peer-reviewers have a close personal connection to any author of the manuscript;
  • editors and/or peer-reviewers have a financial interest in the subject of the work of the manuscript;
  • editors and/or peer-reviewers feel unable to be objective for the manuscript.