Publication Ethics

The International Journal of Dental Discovery and Research (IJDDR) is committed to maintaining the highest standards of ethical conduct and academic integrity in scholarly publishing. The journal strictly adheres to internationally accepted ethical guidelines and best practices recommended by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE). All parties involved in the publication process—including authors, editors, reviewers, and the publisher—are expected to comply with these ethical principles.

1. Ethical Responsibilities of Authors

Authors submitting manuscripts to IJDDR must ensure that:

  • The work is original, unpublished, and not under consideration elsewhere.

  • All data presented in the manuscript are accurate, honest, and verifiable.

  • Proper acknowledgment is given to all sources, and plagiarism in any form is strictly prohibited.

  • Authorship is limited to individuals who have made significant intellectual contributions to the study.

  • All contributors who do not meet authorship criteria are appropriately acknowledged.

  • Any conflict of interest, financial or non-financial, is clearly disclosed.

  • Research involving human participants includes ethical committee approval and informed consent.

  • Animal studies comply with internationally recognized ethical standards.

2. Ethical Responsibilities of Editors

Editors of IJDDR are responsible for:

  • Making publication decisions based solely on scientific merit, originality, clarity, and relevance.

  • Ensuring a fair, unbiased, and confidential peer review process.

  • Maintaining editorial independence and avoiding conflicts of interest.

  • Taking appropriate action in cases of suspected ethical misconduct, including plagiarism, data falsification, or duplicate publication.

  • Following COPE guidelines when handling ethical complaints, corrections, or retractions.

3. Ethical Responsibilities of Reviewers

Reviewers play a vital role in maintaining publication quality and integrity. They are expected to:

  • Conduct reviews objectively, constructively, and within the agreed timeframe.

  • Treat manuscripts as confidential documents.

  • Identify relevant published work not cited by the authors.

  • Declare any conflict of interest and decline review when necessary.

  • Refrain from using unpublished material for personal research purposes.

4. Peer Review Integrity

IJDDR follows a double-blind peer review process to ensure transparency, impartiality, and academic rigor. The identities of authors and reviewers remain confidential throughout the review process to prevent bias and ensure fair evaluation.

5. Plagiarism, Fabrication, and Falsification

The journal maintains a zero-tolerance policy toward:

  • Plagiarism

  • Self-plagiarism

  • Data fabrication or falsification

  • Duplicate or redundant publication

All manuscripts are screened using plagiarism detection software. Proven misconduct may result in rejection, retraction, notification to authors’ institutions, and other corrective actions in line with COPE recommendations.

6. Conflicts of Interest

Authors, reviewers, and editors must disclose any potential conflicts of interest that could influence the interpretation or evaluation of the manuscript. Transparency in disclosure is essential to maintain trust in the scholarly record.

7. Corrections, Retractions, and Expressions of Concern

IJDDR reserves the right to publish corrections, retractions, or expressions of concern if ethical issues are identified after publication. Such actions will be taken in accordance with COPE guidelines to maintain the integrity of the academic record.

8. Data Sharing and Reproducibility

Authors are encouraged to maintain transparency by retaining research data and making it available upon reasonable request. Data sharing enhances reproducibility and scientific credibility.

9. Complaints and Appeals

Authors have the right to appeal editorial decisions or lodge complaints regarding ethical concerns. All appeals and complaints will be handled fairly, confidentially, and in a timely manner, following established ethical procedures.

10. Compliance with International Standards

The publication ethics policy of IJDDR aligns with international best practices and ethical frameworks recognized by major indexing and abstracting databases, including Scopus.