Journal Members
The journal’s members may commit the following infractions. Those infractions not directly considered here follow from a failure to fulfil their general duties.
Possible actions against members of the journal who commit any misconduct are indicated here.
- Improper Request of Citations
A member of the journal commits an ethical infraction should he/she request of the potential authors—for non-academic reasons and in order to obtain an undue advantage—that they cite specific studies.
- Failure to Disclose Conflicts of Interest
The members of the journal must openly, honestly and clearly disclose the real or potential conflicts of interest that may influence their actions or decision-making.
- Manipulation of Documents and Information
No member of the journal can manipulate, hide or eliminate any article submitted, the preliminary observation reports, the opinion received from referees or editorial decisions or communications, in order to either favour or harm someone, to affect an author’s rights, or due to any other ethically reproachable reason. The preparation of a peer-assessment report based on the opinions given by the referees will not be considered as documentary manipulation. Concealing all traces of the authors in the articles in order to protect peer assessment under a double-blind system will likewise not be considered an infraction.
- Breaches of Confidentiality
Ethical infractions arise whenever any member of the journal infringes confidentiality by divulging personal information, the contents of an article, a peer-assessment report, a verdict, communication or any other confidential information to people, to institutions other than the journal or to the general public without the previous free, informed and written consent of whoever might be thus affected. Giving potential referees the title and abstract of the submitted article, sending the anonymised article to the referees and any communication required to confirm an ethical infraction do not fall under this rule.
- Obstructing Collaboration
Members of the journal are pledged to provide all the information required to establish whether an ethical infraction has or has not been committed. Obstructing the inquest or taking reprisals against the complainants will thus be considered an infraction against these guidelines. Any form of evading or eluding duties, such as hiding or eliminating journal information, are likewise considered acts of obstruction.
