Editorial Policies
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COPE Recommendation for Conflict of Interest (specific to editors)
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Conflict of Interest and Financial Disclosures (specific to editors)
1. COPE Recommendation for Conflict of Interest (specific to editors)
The African Journal of Poultry Farming adheres to the guidelines set out by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) for Conflict of Interest (COI) specific to editors. Editors are required to disclose any potential conflicts of interest that may affect their impartiality in the review and publication process. Editors must avoid situations where their personal, financial, or professional interests could compromise their objectivity in editorial decision-making. This policy emphasizes the need for full transparency in all editorial activities, particularly when editorial roles overlap with the content of the journal, such as when the editor has personal ties to authors or research being considered for publication. Editors are prohibited from handling manuscripts where they have direct conflict of interest, and appropriate steps will be taken to address such conflicts.
The journal ensures a transparent decision-making process by disclosing all relevant information to authors and reviewers, ensuring that each manuscript undergoes unbiased evaluation. If an editor finds themselves in a potential conflict situation, they must recuse themselves from handling the relevant manuscript and notify the editorial board for reassignment to another editor without any negative impact on the submission.
2. Publication Ethics and Malpractice Statement
The African Journal of Poultry Farming upholds high standards of publication ethics to ensure that all research published is free from malpractice and ethical violations. The journal follows established protocols to prevent any form of unethical conduct, including plagiarism, data fabrication, and falsification. Authors, reviewers, and editors are expected to adhere to these ethical standards to preserve the integrity of the scholarly record.
Key Points Include:
- Plagiarism: The journal strictly prohibits plagiarism in any form, including self-plagiarism, and employs advanced plagiarism detection tools to identify and reject plagiarized submissions.
- Data Fabrication: Manuscripts that involve fabricated data or any kind of manipulation will be immediately rejected, and further action may be taken in line with COPE guidelines.
- Falsification of Authorship: The authorship list must accurately reflect those who made substantial contributions to the research. False attribution or exclusion of contributors is not acceptable.
- Ethical Approval: For studies involving human or animal subjects, appropriate ethical approval must be obtained, and details of ethical clearance should be provided in the manuscript.
3. Advertisement Policies
African Journal of Poultry Farming has clear policies regarding advertisements within the journal to ensure that all ads are appropriate and do not compromise the integrity of the journal’s content. Advertisements should be relevant to the journal’s field of research and aligned with its academic mission.
- Approval Process: All advertisements must be reviewed and approved by the editorial team before publication. Any advertisement that could be perceived as misleading or in conflict with the journal's academic standards will not be accepted.
- Separation of Content and Advertisements: Advertisements must be clearly distinguishable from the editorial content. They will be published in designated sections and will not interfere with or influence the editorial decisions or content.
- No Influence on Editorial Content: Advertisers are not allowed to influence or affect the content of the articles published in the journal. Editorial independence is a core principle upheld by African Journal of Poultry Farming.
4. Conflict of Interest and Financial Disclosures (specific to editors)
Editors at African Journal of Poultry Farming are required to disclose any financial or personal relationships that could influence their editorial decisions. This includes but is not limited to ownership interests, consulting roles, funding sources, or any other financial relationships with organizations related to the manuscript being reviewed.
Key Guidelines for Editors:
- Full Disclosure: Editors must disclose any conflicts of interest at the time of their appointment or whenever a potential conflict arises. This ensures that all editorial decisions are made impartially.
- Recusal: If an editor has a conflict of interest related to a manuscript, they must recuse themselves from handling that submission and notify the editorial team to ensure an unbiased review process.
- Transparency: Editors are encouraged to disclose their financial disclosures at the beginning of each manuscript’s review process to avoid any appearance of bias. The journal maintains an open and transparent process for identifying and managing conflicts of interest.
5. Publisher Policies
The publisher of African Journal of Poultry Farming plays a crucial role in supporting the integrity and ethical standards of the journal. The publisher ensures that all aspects of the publication process adhere to recognized standards of academic publishing. These policies ensure the journal operates under high ethical standards, maintaining transparency, fairness, and accountability.
- Handling Complaints: The publisher has a clear procedure for addressing complaints related to any aspect of the journal’s operation, including peer review, publication ethics, or the accuracy of the content. Complaints are addressed promptly, and corrective actions, including retractions or corrections, are implemented when necessary.
- Corrections and Retractions: If a significant error is identified in a published article, the publisher, in collaboration with the editorial board, will correct the article or retract it, ensuring that the integrity of the scientific record is maintained.
- Ethical Breaches: Any ethical breaches, including violations of publication ethics or academic misconduct, will be investigated according to COPE guidelines, with appropriate actions taken to uphold the journal's reputation and credibility.
6. Editorial Policies
The editorial policies of African Journal of Poultry Farming ensure a fair, transparent, and efficient editorial process that guarantees the quality of the published research. The editorial team is committed to selecting high-quality manuscripts that contribute significantly to the field of poultry farming and related areas.
- Manuscript Selection: Manuscripts are selected based on their scientific rigor, originality, relevance, and contribution to the field. Editors evaluate each submission without any bias or prejudice.
- Review Process: Editors assess the manuscript’s compliance with the journal’s standards before sending it for peer review. They ensure that the manuscript meets the technical and ethical guidelines required for publication.
- Responsibilities of Editors and Reviewers: Editors are responsible for managing the review process, ensuring that each manuscript is evaluated fairly and that reviewers provide constructive feedback. Reviewers must evaluate manuscripts based solely on scientific merit, free from personal bias.
7. Creative Commons License
All content published in African Journal of Poultry Farming is available under the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license, which allows for the free sharing, distribution, and reuse of the work, provided that proper attribution is given to the original authors and the journal. This policy aligns with African Journal of Poultry Farming's commitment to promoting open access and fostering the dissemination of scientific knowledge.
- Access and Distribution: The Creative Commons license ensures that articles published in African Journal of Poultry Farming are freely accessible to anyone with an internet connection, thus broadening the reach and impact of the research.
- Reuse of Work: Authors retain the rights to their work, and others can reuse the content as long as they cite the original article correctly. This allows for wider dissemination and enables others to build upon published research.
8. Peer Review Process
The peer review process is a cornerstone of academic publishing, and African Journal of Poultry Farming is committed to upholding a rigorous and transparent peer review process. All manuscripts submitted to the journal undergo peer review to ensure that only high-quality research is published.
- Selection of Reviewers: Reviewers are selected based on their expertise in the subject matter of the manuscript. The journal strives to select impartial and qualified experts to evaluate each manuscript.
- Evaluation Criteria: Reviewers assess the scientific quality, originality, clarity, and relevance of the research. They are also asked to evaluate the appropriateness of the methods, the quality of the data, and the validity of the conclusions.
- Feedback to Authors: Reviewers provide constructive feedback to authors, identifying areas for improvement or clarification. Authors are expected to revise their manuscripts in response to reviewer comments to improve the quality of their work.
9. COPE Recommendation for Plagiarism
In line with COPE’s recommendations, African Journal of Poultry Farming takes a strong stance against plagiarism in all its forms, including self-plagiarism. The journal uses plagiarism detection software to screen all submitted manuscripts and ensures that any instance of plagiarism is addressed immediately.
- Plagiarism Detection: All manuscripts submitted to African Journal of Poultry Farming are screened for plagiarism using tools like Turnitin or iThenticate. Any manuscript found to contain plagiarized content is rejected and the authors are informed of the violation.
- Handling Plagiarism: If plagiarism is detected in a published article, the journal will take corrective action, including issuing retractions or corrections. Authors involved in plagiarism will be subject to sanctions in accordance with COPE guidelines.
10. Editorial Process
The editorial process at African Journal of Poultry Farming is designed to be transparent, efficient, and fair. Authors are informed of the progress of their manuscript at each stage, from submission to final decision.
- Submission: Authors must submit their manuscripts via the journal’s online submission system. Submissions are acknowledged upon receipt, and authors are informed if their manuscript is suitable for peer review.
- Review and Decision: Once a manuscript passes the initial editorial assessment, it is sent out for peer review. After receiving reviewer feedback, the editor makes a decision regarding the manuscript’s acceptance, revision, or rejection.
- Final Publication: Upon acceptance, the manuscript undergoes a final round of proofreading and formatting before being published online and in print.
