Publication Ethics

African Brain Journal is committed to upholding the highest standards of publication ethics. We adhere to guidelines set by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and ensure that all parties involved in the publication process—authors, reviewers, editors, and readers—maintain integrity, transparency, and accountability.

For Authors

1. Originality and Plagiarism

Authors must submit only original works that have not been published elsewhere or are under consideration by another journal. Proper citation and acknowledgment of sources are mandatory. Plagiarism, including self-plagiarism, is strictly prohibited.

2. Authorship and Contribution

Authorship should be limited to individuals who have made significant contributions to the study’s conception, design, execution, or interpretation. As an author or co-author, you share responsibility and accountability for the content of your article. All contributors must be acknowledged appropriately.

3. Data Integrity and Reproducibility
   Authors must present accurate and reliable data. Fabrication, falsification, or selective reporting of data is unethical. Authors should be prepared to share raw data if required for verification.
4. Conflict of Interest
   Authors must disclose any financial or personal relationships that could influence the study. A conflict-of-interest statement should be included in the manuscript.
5. Ethical Approval

Research involving human participants, animals, or sensitive data must have approval from an appropriate ethics committee. Authors should provide evidence of such approval when submitting their work.

6. Corrections and Retractions
   If an author discovers a significant error in their published work, they must notify the journal immediately to issue a correction or retraction as necessary.

For Reviewers

1. Confidentiality
   Reviewers must treat manuscripts as confidential documents and not disclose, distribute, or use the content for personal advantage.
2. Objectivity and Constructive Feedback
   Reviews should be conducted objectively, providing clear, constructive, and unbiased feedback to help authors improve their work.
3. Conflict of Interest
   Reviewers should decline review requests if they have any conflicts of interest with the manuscript or its authors.
4. Timeliness
   Reviewers should adhere to the given timelines to avoid unnecessary delays in the publication process.

For Editors

1. Fair and Transparent Decision-Making
   Editorial decisions must be based on the manuscript’s academic merit, originality, clarity, and relevance to the journal’s scope.
2. Confidentiality
   Editors must not disclose any information about submitted manuscripts to unauthorized parties.
3. Handling Ethical Concerns
   Editors should investigate any ethical concerns regarding submitted or published work and take appropriate action in accordance with COPE guidelines.
4. No Conflict of Interest
   Editors must recuse themselves from handling manuscripts where they have a conflict of interest.

For Readers

1. Respect for Intellectual Property
   Readers should use published content responsibly, citing appropriately and not misrepresenting or manipulating research findings.
2. Reporting Ethical Concerns
   Readers who identify ethical issues in published content should report them to the editorial team for appropriate action.