PUBLICATION ETHICS

Publication Ethics and Malpractice Statement

Kalyanamitra: Journal of Archaeological Resource Management is committed to maintaining the highest standards of academic integrity and ethical conduct in scholarly publishing. This Publication Ethics and Malpractice Statement follows the guidelines and best practices established by the Committee on Publication Ethics and other internationally recognized publishing standards.

This policy outlines the ethical responsibilities of all parties involved in the publication process, including authors, editors, reviewers, and the publisher. The purpose of this policy is to ensure that the editorial process is conducted transparently, objectively, and fairly, while preventing unethical practices such as plagiarism, data fabrication, duplicate publication, and undisclosed conflicts of interest.

As an academic journal focusing on archaeology, cultural heritage, and archaeological resource management, Kalyanamitra Journal supports the dissemination of high-quality scientific knowledge and aims to maintain the trust of the global scholarly community.

1. Ethical Responsibilities of Authors

Authors are primarily responsible for ensuring that the manuscripts they submit represent original research and meet internationally accepted academic standards.

1.1 Originality and Plagiarism

Authors must ensure that their manuscripts are entirely original works. If authors have used the work or ideas of others, these must be properly cited or quoted.

All submitted manuscripts are subject to plagiarism detection using software such as Turnitin. Manuscripts that show significant similarity with previously published works may be rejected or returned to the authors for revision.

Plagiarism in any form constitutes unethical publishing behavior and is unacceptable.

1.2 Multiple, Redundant, or Concurrent Publication

Authors should not submit the same manuscript simultaneously to more than one journal. Submitting the same manuscript to multiple journals at the same time is considered unethical and unacceptable.

Similarly, authors should not publish manuscripts describing essentially the same research in more than one journal or primary publication.

If any part of the manuscript has been published previously, the author must clearly inform the editor during the submission process.

1.3 Data Access and Retention

Authors may be required to provide the raw data related to their research for editorial review. Authors should ensure that such data are accessible and retained for a reasonable period after publication.

Transparency in research data is essential to ensure the reliability and reproducibility of scientific research.

1.4 Authorship of the Manuscript

Authorship should be limited to individuals who have made significant contributions to the conception, design, execution, or interpretation of the reported study.

All individuals who have made substantial contributions should be listed as co-authors. Those who contributed to the research but do not meet the criteria for authorship should be acknowledged in the acknowledgments section.

The corresponding author is responsible for ensuring that all co-authors have approved the final version of the manuscript and agreed to its submission for publication.

1.5 Disclosure of Conflicts of Interest

Authors must disclose any financial or personal relationships that could influence or bias the interpretation of their work.

Potential conflicts of interest may include financial support, institutional affiliations, or personal relationships that may affect the research outcomes.

If there are no conflicts of interest, authors should explicitly state that the research was conducted without any conflict of interest.

1.6 Fundamental Errors in Published Works

If an author discovers a significant error or inaccuracy in their published work, it is the author's obligation to promptly notify the journal editor and cooperate with the editor to retract or correct the paper.

Maintaining the accuracy of the scientific record is a fundamental responsibility of authors.

2. Ethical Responsibilities of Editors

Editors play a crucial role in maintaining the quality and integrity of the scholarly publication process.

2.1 Publication Decisions

Editors are responsible for deciding which manuscripts submitted to the journal should be published. The decision should be based on the manuscript’s academic merit, originality, clarity, and relevance to the journal's scope.

Editorial decisions must not be influenced by the authors' race, gender, sexual orientation, religious belief, ethnic origin, citizenship, or political philosophy.

2.2 Confidentiality

Editors must ensure that all information regarding submitted manuscripts is kept confidential. Information about manuscripts should not be disclosed to anyone other than the corresponding author, reviewers, potential reviewers, and other editorial advisers as appropriate.

2.3 Disclosure and Conflicts of Interest

Editors should not use unpublished materials disclosed in a submitted manuscript for their own research without the express written consent of the author.

If editors have conflicts of interest regarding a manuscript, they should withdraw from the editorial decision-making process.

2.4 Fair Play

Editors must evaluate manuscripts for their intellectual content without regard to the authors’ background, including nationality, gender, institutional affiliation, or personal beliefs.

Fair and unbiased editorial evaluation is essential for maintaining the credibility of the journal.

3. Ethical Responsibilities of Reviewers

Peer reviewers play a vital role in ensuring the quality of published research.

3.1 Contribution to Editorial Decisions

Peer review assists editors in making editorial decisions and helps authors improve the quality of their manuscripts through constructive feedback.

3.2 Promptness

Reviewers should complete their reviews within the time frame requested by the journal. If a reviewer feels unqualified to review the research or knows that prompt review will be impossible, they should inform the editor and decline the review invitation.

3.3 Confidentiality

Manuscripts received for review must be treated as confidential documents. They must not be shared or discussed with others without authorization from the editor.

3.4 Objectivity

Reviews should be conducted objectively. Personal criticism of the author is inappropriate. Reviewers should express their views clearly and support their arguments with evidence.

3.5 Acknowledgement of Sources

Reviewers should identify relevant published work that has not been cited by the authors. Any substantial similarity between the manuscript under consideration and other published works should be reported to the editor.

3.6 Disclosure and Conflict of Interest

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

4. Ethical Responsibilities of the Publisher

The publisher works closely with the editorial team to ensure that ethical standards in publishing are upheld.

The publisher supports the editorial board in addressing allegations of publication misconduct, including plagiarism, data fabrication, falsification, and duplicate publication.

If ethical violations are confirmed, appropriate actions may include:

publication of corrections
expressions of concern
retraction of the article

These actions are taken to maintain the integrity of the scholarly record.

5. Allegations of Research Misconduct

When allegations of research misconduct arise, the journal will conduct a thorough investigation following internationally recognized ethical guidelines.

The editorial team may communicate with authors, reviewers, and relevant institutions during the investigation process.

If misconduct is confirmed, the journal may take appropriate actions such as rejecting the manuscript, retracting published articles, or notifying the author's institution.

6. Corrections, Retractions, and Expressions of Concern

If significant errors or ethical issues are discovered in a published article, the journal will take corrective measures to preserve the integrity of the academic record.

Possible actions include:

Correction for minor errors
Retraction for serious ethical violations or unreliable findings
Expression of Concern if an investigation is ongoing but concerns have been raised

All corrections and retractions will be clearly identified and transparently communicated.

7. Ethical Oversight

The journal supports responsible research practices, including research involving human participants, communities, and cultural heritage resources.

Authors must ensure that research involving human participants has received appropriate ethical approval from relevant institutional review boards or ethics committees.

For archaeological and cultural heritage research, authors must ensure that all research activities comply with relevant legal and ethical regulations.

8. Commitment to Academic Integrity

Kalyanamitra: Journal of Archaeological Resource Management is dedicated to promoting ethical publishing practices and academic integrity.

By adhering to these publication ethics guidelines, the journal aims to foster a transparent, fair, and trustworthy scholarly communication environment for researchers, academics, and the global scientific community.