Publication ethics

Purpose

These regulations are intended to ensure honesty, transparency, and ethical standards in research and scientific publication activities. They apply to all authors, co-authors, reviewers, editors, and related parties involved in the publication process of the Journal of Science and Development Economics at Nam Can Tho University.

Responsibilities of authors

- Integrity: Authors must ensure that the manuscript is their own original research work, free from plagiarism, fabrication, or data falsification.

- Originality: The manuscript must not have been previously published or submitted elsewhere (except in cases of clear notification and approval).

- Proper citation: All sources of references, ideas, data, and images must be fully and accurately cited.

- Authorship and contribution: Only individuals who have made significant scholarly or academic contributions should be listed as authors. Other contributions must be acknowledged in the “Acknowledgements” section.

- Conflict of interest: Authors must truthfully disclose any potential conflicts of interest that may influence the research content (if any).

Responsibilities of Reviewers and Editors

- Objectivity and confidentiality: Reviewers and editors must evaluate manuscripts fairly and objectively, and must not disclose manuscript information to any third party.

- Reporting ethical violations: Reviewers and editors are responsible for notifying the Editorial Board of any detected plagiarism, data fabrication, or duplicate publication.

- Conflict of interest: Individuals must not participate in the review or editorial handling of manuscripts if they have close relationships with the authors or any other conflict of interest.

Ethical violations in publication

The following acts are strictly prohibited: Plagiarism (copying content without citation); Excessive self citation to boost personal metrics; Duplicate publication (publishing the same study in multiple venues without disclosure); Fabrication or dishonest alteration of data; Adding or omitting authors inconsistent with their actual contribution. If a violation is discovered after publication, the Editorial Board has the right to retract the article and publish the reason on the journal's website.

Conflict of Interest Policy

The journal requires all authors to disclose any potential conflicts of interest that could influence the interpretation of their work. A conflict of interest exists when an author, reviewer, or editor has financial, personal, or professional relationships that may bias their judgment.

Authors must declare all relevant relationships (such as funding, employment, consultancies, stock ownership, honoraria, or personal relationships) in a Conflict of Interest statement at the end of the manuscript.

If there are no conflicts of interest, authors should explicitly state:

“The authors declare no conflict of interest.”

Editors and reviewers are also required to disclose potential conflicts before handling a manuscript and to withdraw from the review process if a conflict exists.

The policy aims to maintain transparency and trust in the publication process and ensure that decisions are made solely based on the academic merit of the work.

Retraction and Correction Policy

1. Purpose

This policy aims to ensure the integrity, transparency, and reliability of the journal’s scientific record. The journal adheres to the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) guidelines for managing retractions, corrections, and withdrawals.

2. Corrections (Erratum or Corrigendum)

- Minor errors (such as typographical mistakes, mislabeled data, or incorrect author details) that do not alter the overall conclusions of the article may be corrected by publishing a Correction Notice.

- The correction will clearly describe the changes and will be linked to the original article.

- Corrections will appear in the next available issue of the journal.

3. Retractions

- A Retraction Notice will be issued when significant errors or ethical violations (e.g., data fabrication, plagiarism, duplicate publication, or unethical research conduct) invalidate the findings.

- Retracted articles remain accessible online but are clearly marked as “Retracted” to maintain the scientific record.

- The reason for retraction will be fully explained in the Retraction Notice.

4. Withdrawal (Before Publication)

- Manuscripts may be withdrawn before publication if ethical issues or duplicate submissions are identified.

- Authors must submit a written request explaining the reason for withdrawal.

- The editorial office will confirm the withdrawal decision in writing.

5. Decision and Oversight

All decisions regarding correction, retraction, or withdrawal are made by the Editor-in-Chief in consultation with the Editorial Board, following COPE guidelines.