ICTACT Journals

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Email: ictacademy.journal@ictacademy.in

Publication Ethics and Malpractice Statement

ICTACT Journal on Soft Computing follows the Open Access model. The publication cost should be covered by the author’s institution or research funds. These Open Access charges replace subscription charges and allow the ICTACT Journal on Soft Computing to make the valuable published materials freely accessible to all interested online visitors, especially the researchers and young scholars from developing countries.

ICTACT Journal on Soft Computing is double blind peer reviewed online journal which is published by ICT Academy. It is a direct reflection of the quality of the work of the authors and the institutions that support them. Peer-reviewed articles support and embody the scientific method. It is therefore important to agree upon standards of expected ethical behavior for all parties involved in the act of publishing: the author, the journal editor, the peer reviewer, the publisher and the society of society-owned or sponsored journals.

ICTACT Journal on Soft Computing takes its duties of guardianship over all stages of publishing extremely seriously and we recognize our ethical and other responsibilities. ICTACT Journal on Soft Computing committed to ensuring that advertising, reprint or other commercial revenue has no impact or influence on editorial decisions. In addition, Editorial Board will assist in communications with other journals and/or publishers where this is useful to editors.

Duties of Reviewer:

Peer Review

Reviewers are responsible for deciding on the acceptance of the article for publication. All articles undergo double blind peer review process. Reviewers follow the review guidelines and decide on the articles on the grounds of originality, novelty and plagiarism. Author identity is kept confidential and not revealed to the reviewers. Also reviewers’ comments are confidential and will be made anonymous before passing to the authors.

Prompt Review

Reviewers on acceptance of reviewing the articles are requested to send their review comments promptly to enable the article publication without any delay. Also, if the reviewer feels he/she is unable to provide a prompt review or the subject of the article is beyond his/her scope, can inform the Editorial Committee and excuse himself / herself from the review process.

Confidentiality

Information, novel ideas or content obtained through double blind peer review are kept confidential and should not used for personal advantage.

Standards of Objectivity

Reviews are conducted objectively and comments are posted with supporting arguments. There shall be no personal criticism of the author.

Acknowledgment of Sources

Relevant published work that has not been cited by the author(s) is identified by the reviewers. Any statement that had been previously reported elsewhere should be accompanied by the relevant citation. A reviewer should also bring to the Editorial Committee’s attention any substantial similarity or overlap between the article under consideration and any other published work of which they have personal knowledge.

Conflict of Interest

Reviewers should not review manuscripts in which they have conflicts of interest resulting from competitive, collaborative, or other relationships or connections with any of the authors, companies, or institutions connected to the papers.

Duties of Author:

Article Standard

Authors should submit an accurate account of their original research as well as an objective discussion of its significance. Underlying data should be represented accurately in the paper. A paper should contain sufficient detail and references to permit others to replicate the work. Fabrication of results or knowingly inaccurate statements constitutes unethical behavior and is unacceptable.

Plagiarism

Authors are required to declare that the work is their own, not been plagiarized and not violating the copyrights. Taking the ideas and work of others without giving them credit is unfair and dishonest. Copying from someone else’s manuscript or even one of your own that has previously been published, without proper citation is considered plagiarism.

Redundant Publication

Author should not publish the same article in multiple journals or publication venues. Such redundant publication is generally considered to constitute unethical publishing behavior, and if discovered may result in a manuscript under consideration being rejected.

Acknowledgment of Sources

Proper acknowledgment of the work of others must always be given. Authors should cite publications that have been influential in determining the nature of the reported work.

The Corresponding Author

The Corresponding Author is the author responsible for all communications pertaining to journal for publication. The corresponding author should ensure that all appropriate co-authors are included in the paper, and that all co-authors have seen and approved the final version of the paper and agreed to proceed for publication.

Image Manipulation

Images in the articles accepted for publication will be thoroughly analyzed for any indication of manipulation. Hence, authors are always requested to supply the original image data in an editable format right at the beginning itself.

Disclosure and Conflicts Of Interest

If the project is financially supported by institution or organization, the authors should disclose the details in their manuscript.

Fundamental Errors in Published Works

Any significant error or inaccuracy discovered by the author in his/her own published work should be promptly notified to the Editorial Committee.

Duties of Editor:

Role

The Editorial Committee of ICTACT Journal on Soft Computing is responsible for deciding which of the articles submitted to the journal should be published. The Editorial Committee abides by certain policies formed by the Editorial Board and shall then be in force regarding libel, copyright infringement and plagiarism. The Committee’s decision may confer with other editors or reviewers in making this decision. The Editorial Committee of ICTACT Journal on Soft Computing may choose to publish special issues from subject experts.

Fair Play

Editorial decisions should be objective, autonomous and non-discriminatory against the geographical origins of the manuscript including the nationality, ethnicity, political beliefs, race, or religion of the authors.

Confidentiality

Editorial staff must not disclose any information related to a submitted manuscript to anyone other than the corresponding author, reviewers and other editorial staff. Also they should ensure that any unpublished material disclosed in a manuscript not be used by anyone who can access the manuscript.

Duties of the Publisher:

Handling of unethical publishing behavior

In cases of alleged or proven scientific misconduct, fraudulent publication or plagiarism, the publisher, in close collaboration with the editors, will take all appropriate measures to clarify the situation and to amend the article in question. This includes the prompt publication of an erratum, clarification or, in the most severe case, the retraction of the affected work. The publisher, together with the editors, shall take reasonable steps to identify and prevent the publication of papers where research misconduct has occurred, and under no circumstances encourage such misconduct or knowingly allow such misconduct to take place.

Access to journal content

The publisher is committed to the permanent availability and preservation of scholarly research and ensures accessibility by partnering with organizations and maintaining our own digital archive.