Ethical Principles and Publication Policy

The publication processes of the Journal of Sivas Cumhuriyet University Institute of Health Sciences are based in the fair production, development, and dissemination of knowledge within the framework of scientific methods.

Peer-reviewed articles are expected to adhere to rigorous scientific methods, ensuring objectivity. All parties involved in the publication process (publisher, editors, authors, reviewers, and readers) are required to comply with ethical standards for scientific production. In this context, the journal's policies on ‘publication ethics’ and ‘open access’ demand adherence to the ethical principles outlined in the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) guidelines, including the Code of Conduct and Best Practice Guidelines for Journal Editors and the COPE Best Practice Guidelines for Journal Editors.

If it is determined that an author has used fabricated or falsified data, the journal will report this to the author’s affiliated institution and reject the manuscript. The journal's editorial team and reviewers reserve the right to request the raw data used in the manuscript.

Ethical Responsibilities of the Publisher

Sivas Cumhuriyet University, the publisher of the Journal of Sivas Cumhuriyet University Institute of Health Sciences, is a nonprofit public educational institution committed to the dissemination of knowledge.

The journal's Administrative Committee oversees its Editorial Board. Depending on the article’s subject, the editor may assign additional experts as field editors to ensure specialized evaluations.

Responsibilities of the Editorial Board

The Editorial Board is responsible for all processes associated with articles submitted to the journal. This responsibility includes making decisions that prioritize public interest over personal gain.

• Editorial decisions are made independently, without influence from the publisher or external entities.

• The Editorial Board strives to improve and enhance the journal's quality continually.

• It defines and implements policies regarding publication, peer review, evaluation processes, and ethical principles.

• The board retains copyrights for published articles and safeguards authors’ intellectual property rights throughout the publication process.

• Measures are taken to prevent unethical practices, such as plagiarism and unethical citations.

• The board provides clear guidance for authors and reviewers regarding evaluation processes.

• Incentive policies are developed to support authors.

• Records of all articles are maintained electronically or in physical form.

Responsibilities of Editors

• Editors ensure clear communication with reviewers, authors, and readers.

• They prioritize articles that are original and contribute to the literature.

• Decisions on publication are based on originality, clarity, content validity, and reliability.

• Editors implement a transparent peer-review process while maintaining confidentiality and impartiality.

• Manuscripts are assigned to field editors and reviewers with expertise in the relevant area.

• Editors ensure that all editorial practices align with ethical guidelines, including the protection of personal data and intellectual property rights.

• Ethical violations, such as conflicts of interest or academic misconduct, are addressed promptly.

Responsibilities of Author

Authors submitting to the journal must adhere to the following principles:

• Manuscripts submitted to the journal must be original and not under review or published elsewhere.

• Proper citation and adherence to ethical principles in referencing sources are mandatory.

• Only individuals who have made substantial contributions to the manuscript should be listed as authors.

• Authors must provide raw data if requested during the evaluation process.

• Ethics committee approval must be documented for research involving human or animal subjects, and this approval must be clearly stated in the manuscript.

• Review articles do not require ethics committee approval, but this exemption should be explicitly mentioned in the manuscript.

• Authors must comply with copyright regulations and ensure their work aligns with international ethical guidelines.

Reporting Ethical Violations

Unethical behavior or practices by editors, reviewers, or authors can be reported to the journal at cusbid@cumhuriyet.edu.tr.