Research and Publication Ethics Policies

The CMU Journal of Science (CMUJS) is committed to maintaining the highest standards of integrity, transparency, and accountability in scholarly publishing. The journal recognizes that ethical research and responsible publication practices are essential to preserving trust in scientific communication and ensuring that published works contribute meaningfully to the advancement of knowledge.

CMUJS follows internationally recognized principles of publication ethics, including the guidelines and recommendations of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), as well as other applicable standards for responsible research and scholarly publishing. All authors, editors, reviewers, and other stakeholders involved in the publication process are expected to uphold ethical conduct and demonstrate honesty, fairness, and professionalism.

CMUJS recognizes the importance of ethical oversight in research involving human participants, animals, sensitive information, or culturally significant resources. Authors must ensure that their studies comply with relevant ethical standards and institutional requirements. Where applicable, manuscripts must include statements regarding ethics approval, informed consent, and compliance with applicable regulations.

The journal requires authors, editors, and reviewers to disclose any potential conflicts of interest that may influence the research, review process, or editorial decision. Transparency regarding funding sources, institutional affiliations, and other relationships is essential to maintaining confidence in the integrity of published research.

The journal also follows appropriate procedures when addressing allegations of misconduct. Concerns regarding ethical violations may be investigated by the Editorial Office following established principles of fairness, confidentiality, and due process. Depending on the outcome of investigations, CMUJS may issue corrections, expressions of concern, or retractions when necessary.

Publication Ethics and Allegations of Research Misconduct Statement

CMU Journal of Science is committed to publishing quality research outputs that adhere to thorough double-blind peer review and strict ethical, procedural processes to ensure the publication of high-quality articles from all academic disciplines.

Prescribed policies and procedures in accordance with COPE’s guidelines are necessarily taken into action in the event in which CMU Journal of science is aware of any research misconduct, including plagiarism, citation manipulation, data falsification/fabrication, and among others. In no case, CMU Journal of Science and its editors allow unethical research practices and misconducts.

 

 Authorship and Contributorship

CMU Journal of Science follows the guidelines of the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE) for the authorship and contributorship qualifications of a submitted manuscript. According to ICMJE, to be recorded as an author, an individual must satisfy the following:

• Substantial contributions to the conception or design of the work; or the acquisition, analysis, or interpretation of data for the work; AND
• Drafting the work or revising it critically for important intellectual content; AND
• Final approval of the version to be published; AND
• Agreement to be accountable for all aspects of the work in ensuring that questions related to the accuracy or integrity of any part of the work are appropriately investigated and resolved.

Individuals of which work did not qualify for authorship can still be named in the acknowledgment section of the paper. Moreover, the listed corresponding author should be the point of contact between the Journal and other authors of the submitted manuscript during the preliminary assessment, peer review, and publication processes. The corresponding author ensures that his/her co-authors are well-informed and involved with the reviews and critiques of their peer reviewers and major decisions regarding the publication of the manuscript.

A more detailed guidelines on authorship and Contributorship criteria can be accessed through ICMJE official website-Defining the Role of Authors and Contributors.

 

Complaints and Appeals

CMU Journal of Science and its Editorial Board is dedicated to bringing authors and contributors necessary publication services and fairness in dealing with complaints following the appropriate regulation in handling complaints and appeals as reflected in the COPE’s guidelines.

Authors and readers can also directly contact CMUJS through journalofscience@cmu.edu.ph to promptly communicate any issues directly to the CMUJS Editorial office.

 

 Conflict of Interest

Authors of the submitted manuscript should declare a “no conflict of interest” statement on their paper to justify any circumstances or interests that may inappropriately influence their research. Furthermore, authors should acknowledge their funding agencies and state if it has a role in the conducted study specifically in the design, collection, analyses, and final decision on the publication of the results.

 

 Plagiarism Policy 

All submitted articles in CMU Journal Science undergone preliminary assessment which includes plagiarism and grammar check. A submitted manuscript must satisfy the plagiarism detection test score of at least 85 % for originality or not more than 15% similarity index otherwise, it will be advised for revision and resubmission.

 

Responsibilities of Editors

Editors of the CMU Journal of Science (CMUJS) are responsible for maintaining the quality, integrity, and academic standards of the journal. Editorial decisions must be based on scholarly merit, originality, relevance, methodological quality, and contribution to knowledge, without discrimination based on an author’s identity, institutional affiliation, nationality, gender, ethnicity, religion, political views, or other personal characteristics.

Editors shall evaluate submitted manuscripts objectively and ensure that all manuscripts receive fair and appropriate consideration. Editorial decisions shall not be influenced by commercial interests, institutional pressures, personal relationships, or any factor unrelated to the scientific quality of the submission.

Editors shall identify and manage potential conflicts of interest involving authors, reviewers, and editorial members. When an editor has a personal, professional, or financial relationship that may affect impartial judgment, the manuscript shall be transferred to another qualified editor.

 

Responsibilities of Authors

Authors submitting manuscripts to CMU Journal of Science (CMUJS) are expected to uphold the highest standards of research integrity and responsible scholarly communication.

Authors must ensure that submitted manuscripts represent original work and that all sources of information, ideas, methods, and data obtained from other studies are appropriately acknowledged and cited. Authors must not submit manuscripts that have been published previously or are simultaneously under consideration by another journal.

Authors are responsible for ensuring the accuracy and reliability of the information presented in their manuscripts. Research findings must be reported honestly and transparently. Authors must avoid fabrication, falsification, manipulation, selective reporting, or any practice that may misrepresent research outcomes.

All individuals listed as authors must have made significant intellectual or scholarly contributions to the research and manuscript preparation. Authors must agree on authorship order and ensure that all qualified contributors are properly recognized. Individuals who contributed to the study but do not meet authorship criteria should be acknowledged appropriately.

Authors must cooperate with editorial requests during the review and publication process. They should respond to reviewer comments professionally and provide clear explanations of revisions made. Authors must promptly notify the journal if errors are discovered in submitted or published manuscripts and cooperate in issuing corrections when necessary.

Authors are also responsible for complying with CMUJS policies regarding plagiarism, data availability, artificial intelligence use, copyright, licensing, and other publication requirements.

 

Responsibilities of Reviewers

Reviewers play an essential role in maintaining the scientific quality and integrity of the CMU Journal of Science (CMUJS). Reviewers are expected to provide objective, constructive, and timely evaluations that assist editors in making informed publication decisions and help authors improve their manuscripts.

Reviewers must evaluate manuscripts based on scientific quality, originality, relevance, methodological rigor, clarity, ethical compliance, and contribution to the field. Reviews should provide constructive comments supported by appropriate reasoning and should avoid personal criticism or biased judgments.

Reviewers must maintain strict confidentiality regarding all information obtained during the peer-review process. Manuscripts under review must not be shared, discussed, or used for personal advantage without authorization from the editorial office.

Reviewers must disclose any potential conflicts of interest that may affect their ability to provide an impartial evaluation. Reviewers should decline assignments when they have personal, professional, financial, or academic relationships with the authors or research that may compromise objectivity.

Reviewers should complete evaluations within the agreed timeframe and inform the editorial office immediately if they are unable to complete the review. If additional expertise is required, reviewers should communicate this need to the editor.

By participating in peer review, reviewers contribute to maintaining the reliability, credibility, and advancement of scholarly communication.

 

Ethical Complaints 

Concerns regarding plagiarism, research misconduct, authorship disputes, or other ethical issues may be reported to the Office. CMUJS evaluates such concerns carefully and follows appropriate procedures consistent with publication ethics standards.

The journal aims to resolve complaints promptly while protecting the confidentiality and rights of all individuals involved.