At Synergy Publishers, we are committed to maintaining the highest standards of research ethics, academic integrity, and transparency in scholarly publishing. Our policies are guided by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) Core Practices and reflect our dedication to fostering responsible, ethical, and trustworthy publications. These guidelines apply to all authors, editors, reviewers, and other stakeholders involved in our journals. Non-compliance may result in manuscript rejection, retraction of published work, or notification to authors’ institutions.
This document outlines our policies on authorship, paper mills, artificial intelligence (AI), plagiarism, data transparency, and other modern ethical issues, providing clear guidance for authors to ensure compliance and uphold the integrity of the scholarly record.
1. Author Responsibilities
Authors are expected to ensure that their submissions are original, accurate, and ethically sound. They must submit only unpublished work and are prohibited from making simultaneous submissions to multiple journals. If the work has been disseminated previously, such as in the form of preprints or conference proceedings, authors are required to disclose this information and properly cite any overlapping content.
All sources, including the authors’ own prior publications, must be appropriately cited to avoid both plagiarism and self-plagiarism. Verbatim text must be enclosed in quotation marks and accompanied by full references. Authors are also responsible for maintaining the integrity of their data. They must ensure accuracy in reporting and avoid fabrication, falsification, or selective presentation of findings. Raw data or detailed methodologies should be made available upon request to allow independent verification.
Conflicts of interest, whether financial, professional, or personal, must be declared at the time of submission. Failure to disclose such conflicts can result in rejection or retraction. Authorship must be limited to individuals who meet the criteria established by the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE), which requires substantial contributions to the conception, design, analysis, drafting or revision of the work, as well as final approval and accountability. All authors must approve the final version of the manuscript, and any changes to authorship after submission require written consent from all contributors.
For studies involving human or animal subjects, authors must obtain appropriate ethical approvals and provide evidence of compliance with institutional and national standards. Informed consent must be documented for human participants, and animal studies must demonstrate ethical treatment in accordance with established guidelines.
As a best practice, authors should thoroughly verify all data and references before submission, use ORCID to transparently link contributions to their identity, and contact the editorial office immediately if any concerns or errors are discovered after submission.
2. Authorship and Contributorship Policy
Authorship must accurately reflect the real contributions of individuals to the research and writing process. In accordance with COPE and ICMJE guidelines, ghost, guest, and gift authorship are strictly prohibited. Ghost authorship occurs when contributors who played a significant role such as in writing or data analysis are omitted from the author list. Guest authorship involves individuals, often senior academics, who made little or no contribution, simply to enhance credibility. Gift authorship refers to the inclusion of individuals as a courtesy or favor, despite their lack of substantial involvement.
All listed authors must meet ICMJE authorship criteria. In addition, each submission must be accompanied by a CRediT contribution statement, which specifies the exact role of each author in the work. If there are suspicions of unethical authorship practices, the peer review process will be suspended while an investigation is conducted. Confirmed cases will require correction of the author list, and in severe instances, the manuscript may be rejected, and the matter referred to the authors’ institutions. Changes to authorship after submission are permitted only if all authors provide written consent and the editor approves the request.
Authors are strongly encouraged to ensure that all qualifying contributors are listed and that non-qualifying contributors are acknowledged appropriately. They should remain alert to red flags such as unexplained changes in the author list, mismatched writing styles, or unresponsive co-authors. Authorship disputes should be resolved internally before submission, and unresolved issues must be brought to the editor’s attention.
3. Policy on Paper Mills and Systematic Manipulation
Synergy Publishers strictly prohibits the submission of manuscripts produced by paper mills organizations that generate and sell fraudulent research papers. Such work is often characterized by fabricated data, plagiarized content, or manipulated images, all of which undermine research integrity.
Manuscripts suspected of being linked to paper mills will be subject to investigation, and outcomes may include rejection, retraction, or notification to relevant institutions. We actively support COPE’s United2Act initiative, which encourages collaboration among publishers to identify and combat paper mill fraud through editor training, improved detection tools, and coordinated action. If paper mill involvement is discovered after publication, the article will be retracted immediately, and the scholarly record will be updated accordingly.
Authors are responsible for submitting only authentic and original research. They should avoid engaging with third-party services that offer fabricated or manipulated content. If a co-author is suspected of involvement with paper mills, the submission must be withdrawn, and the editor should be informed. Authors should also familiarize themselves with the warning signs of fraudulent work, such as implausible data patterns or unnatural language in manuscripts.
4. Policy on Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Research and Publishing
Artificial intelligence tools, while useful for assisting in writing, editing, or analysis, raise important ethical considerations. AI tools cannot be listed as authors, as they cannot assume legal responsibility, declare conflicts of interest, or manage copyright.
If AI tools are used, their role must be clearly disclosed within the manuscript, typically in the Methods or Acknowledgments section. Authors must specify which tool was used and for what purpose, whether for language editing, statistical analysis, or image generation. Responsibility for all content remains with the human authors, who must ensure accuracy, originality, and ethical compliance. Undisclosed or inappropriate use of AI tools may result in rejection or retraction. Moreover, any use of AI in peer review or editorial decision-making processes must be transparent and conducted under human oversight.
Authors should be transparent about any AI use, verify the accuracy and originality of AI-assisted content, and ensure that any AI-generated data or images meet reproducibility standards. They are also encouraged to remain updated on evolving publishing policies regarding AI.
5. Plagiarism and Research Misconduct
Synergy Publishers enforces a zero-tolerance policy on plagiarism and research misconduct. All manuscripts are screened using plagiarism detection software such as Crossref Similarity Check. Any evidence of plagiarism, whether involving the work of others or self-plagiarism, will lead to rejection or retraction. Similarly, fabrication of data, falsification of results, or manipulation of images is considered serious misconduct. Failure to disclose conflicts of interest or to cite prior work appropriately is also treated as an ethical violation.
Authors are advised to use plagiarism detection tools before submission, cite all relevant sources (including their own), and be prepared to provide original data or images upon request to confirm the authenticity of their research.
6. Retractions and Corrections
To safeguard the scholarly record, Synergy Publishers follows COPE guidelines for corrections and retractions. Retractions are issued when work is found to be fraudulent, unethical, or unreliable, for instance due to fabricated data, plagiarism, or association with paper mills. Retracted articles remain publicly accessible but are clearly marked with a retraction notice.
Corrections (errata or corrigenda) are issued for minor errors that do not materially affect a study’s conclusions, such as typographical mistakes or incorrect author affiliations. When serious ethical or methodological concerns remain unresolved, an Expression of Concern may be issued. All updates are public, linked to the original article, and indexed to ensure clarity in the scholarly record.
Authors are expected to report any errors promptly and cooperate fully with investigations into potential issues.
7. Research Ethics – Human and Animal Subjects
All research involving human participants or animals must comply with the highest ethical standards. Authors conducting human research must obtain approval from an Institutional Review Board (IRB) or equivalent authority and secure informed consent from participants. Studies involving animals must follow national and institutional guidelines for animal welfare, with approvals such as IACUC (where applicable). Documentation of ethical approvals should be provided during the review process if requested.
Non-compliance with ethical requirements will result in rejection or retraction. Authors must include an ethics statement in their manuscript that details approval processes and participant consent. International standards, such as the Declaration of Helsinki, should be followed when applicable.
8. Appeals and Complaints
Synergy Publishers provides a transparent process for authors wishing to appeal editorial decisions or raise concerns. Appeals must include a clear and reasoned rebuttal supported by evidence and will be reviewed by the Editor-in-Chief or, if necessary, by an independent ethics committee. Complaints, including those regarding editorial handling or reviewer conduct, may be submitted confidentially to policy@synergypublishers.com.
Authors should submit appeals within thirty days of receiving a decision and can generally expect a response within four to six weeks, depending on the complexity of the issue.
9. Data Transparency and Reproducibility
Synergy Publishers promotes open science by encouraging authors to make their data publicly available. Authors are strongly encouraged to deposit research data in open repositories such as Zenodo or Figshare and to include a Data Availability Statement in their manuscripts. Methods and data must be described in sufficient detail to enable replication by other researchers.
Refusal to share data without valid ethical or legal reasons may lead to rejection. Authors should use persistent identifiers, such as DOIs, for datasets and clearly state any restrictions on data access.
10. Additional Ethical Policies
Synergy Publishers aligns with COPE’s 10 Core Practices while also addressing emerging ethical challenges in scholarly publishing. Unethical image manipulation, such as splicing or selective enhancement, is strictly prohibited, and authors must be prepared to provide original images upon request. Predatory publishing practices, such as citation manipulation or submission to questionable journals, must be avoided.
We are committed to promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion throughout the editorial process, ensuring fair treatment regardless of gender, ethnicity, or geography. Furthermore, Synergy Publishers adheres to principles of open access ethics, maintaining transparency in article processing charges (APCs) and ensuring compliance with funding mandates while safeguarding publication quality.
Authors are encouraged to remain informed through COPE resources, maintain meticulous records of their research, and engage in responsible publishing practices that contribute to a credible and trustworthy scholarly ecosystem.
Contact and Resources
For questions, clarifications, or to report ethical concerns, authors may contact our editorial office at policy@synergypublishers.com. Additional resources on publication ethics are available through the COPE website (https://publicationethics.org). By adhering to these guidelines, authors, editors, and reviewers contribute to the integrity and credibility of scholarly publishing at Synergy Publishers.
