Publication ethics

EWA Publishing supports its reviewers by providing clear guidelines and resources to uphold ethical standards and review quality. Editors, reviewers, organisers, and authors are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the specific policies of the series.

This policy is crafted to reflect EWA Publishing’s dedication to the advancement of knowledge through ethical and transparent peer-review practices, supporting our editors, reviewers, organisers, and authors in contributing to the integrity of the scholarly record.

Authors' responsibilities

Originality and authorship

Authors must ensure that their submissions are original works and have not been published elsewhere in substantially the same form. All authors listed on a manuscript must have made a significant contribution to the research and its writing. Plagiarism, in any form, is strictly prohibited.

Acknowledgment of contributors

Individuals who contributed to the work but do not meet authorship criteria should be listed in the acknowledgments section.

Accuracy and honesty

Authors are responsible for the accuracy and completeness of the data and information presented in their manuscripts. Falsification, fabrication, or misrepresentation of research results is considered serious misconduct.

Citation and referencing

All sources of information and ideas must be properly cited and referenced.

Multiple submissions and duplicate publication

Authors should not submit the same manuscript to multiple conferences or publishers simultaneously, nor should they republish their own previously published work without appropriate justification and disclosure.

Disclosure of conflicts of interest

Authors are obligated to disclose any and all potential conflicts of interest that might have the potential to exert an influence, either directly or indirectly, on the interpretation, conduct, or reporting of their research. This includes financial interests, personal relationships, or professional affiliations that could introduce bias. Failure to disclose conflicts of interest may lead to the reconsideration or retraction of the published work.

For more information about the authors' policies, please refer to the Policies for authors.

Reviewers' responsibilities

Objectivity and confidentiality

Reviewers are expected to evaluate manuscripts objectively and without bias. They must keep the contents of the manuscripts confidential and not use the information for personal gain or disclose it to others.

Timeliness and thoroughness

Reviews should be completed in a timely manner and provide comprehensive and constructive feedback to assist authors in improving their manuscripts.

Declaration of conflicts of interest

Reviewers must disclose any conflicts of interest that could compromise their ability to provide an impartial review.

For more information about the reviewers' policies, please refer to the Policies for reviewers.

Data sharing and reproducibility

Data sharing

Authors are encouraged to make their research data publicly available to facilitate verification and replication of their findings. The following guidelines apply:

• Data Availability: Authors should provide access to all data necessary to support the conclusions of their study. This includes raw data, processed data, and any relevant metadata.
• Data Repositories: Data should be deposited in a recognized public repository where applicable.
• Access Information: Authors must include a data availability statement in their manuscript, specifying where the data can be accessed and any restrictions to access, if applicable.
• Exceptions: If data cannot be shared due to ethical, legal, or privacy concerns, authors must provide a detailed explanation in their data availability statement and describe any steps taken to address these issues.

Reproducibility

Authors must ensure that their research is reproducible. The following practices are required:

• Methodological Details: Provide a detailed description of the methods and procedures used in the research to allow others to replicate the study. This includes specifying equipment, software, and protocols.
• Code and Algorithms: When applicable, authors should share any software code, algorithms, or computational models used in their research. Code should be deposited in a public repository or included as supplementary material.
• Reproducibility Statement: Include a statement in the manuscript indicating whether the study's findings have been independently reproduced, and if so, provide details. If not, describe any steps taken to ensure reproducibility.

Supplementary materials

Authors are encouraged to provide supplementary materials that enhance the transparency and reproducibility of their research. These materials may include:

• Raw data files.
• Detailed protocols and procedures.
• Software code and scripts.
• Additional figures, tables, or information that supports the research.

Review process

During review, the proceedings may request access to data, code, or supplementary materials to verify validity and reproducibility.

Enforcement

If concerns arise regarding compliance, the proceedings reserve the right to request additional information, retract the publication, or notify relevant institutions or funding agencies as appropriate.

Handling complaints and appeals

Submission of complaints

Complaints must be submitted in writing to the Editorial Office via the official contact email, including a detailed description of the issue, relevant evidence, and the desired resolution.

Investigation and resolution

The Editorial Office, in consultation with the conference organisers, will review the complaint and communicate the outcome within a reasonable timeframe. Possible outcomes include upholding the original decision, correcting errors, or, where necessary, retracting published content.

Appeals

If the complainant is not satisfied with the resolution, they may submit an appeal with additional evidence. The appeal will be reviewed by a senior editorial member not involved in the original decision, whose decision is final.

Ethical oversight

Research involving human participants

Comprehensive ethical guidelines must be strictly followed when conducting research involving human participants. This includes obtaining informed consent, ensuring privacy and confidentiality, and minimizing any potential risks or harm.

Animal research

All animal research undergoes rigorous ethical review to guarantee the welfare and proper treatment of the animals involved, in line with recognized ethical standards.

Data collection and processing

Data must be collected and processed with integrity, accuracy, and transparency, obtained legally and ethically, and handled in a way that respects the rights and interests of all concerned.

Research methods

Only ethical, valid, and reliable research approaches should be employed, and any questionable or unethical research practices are thoroughly examined and discouraged.

Publication process

The authenticity, originality, and ethical soundness of submitted works must be ensured. Plagiarism and unethical manipulation of research results are strictly prohibited.

Review and supervision

Robust review and supervision mechanisms have been established to monitor and evaluate the ethical compliance of research and publication activities.

Handling of violations

Prompt action will be taken in the event of ethical violations, which may include retraction, sanctions against responsible parties, and public notification.

Adherence to international standards

We remain committed to complying with international and professional ethical standards in research and publication.

Intellectual property

Intellectual property rights are held in high regard. Violations such as plagiarism, unauthorised use of copyrighted materials, or infringement of patents will not be tolerated and may result in immediate rejection, legal action, or public notification.

Post-publication Discussion and Correction Policy

Corrections:

• Erratum: Issued for errors introduced during production (e.g., typographical or formatting issues) that do not affect scientific content.
• Corrigendum: Issued at the request of authors to correct post-publication errors that do not alter overall conclusions.
• Retraction: Issued for severe ethical misconduct or fundamental flaws that undermine the validity of the findings.

Declaration of interests

Transparency is fundamental to maintaining trust in the scientific process. A “declaration of interests” section must be completed by all authors, disclosing any financial or non-financial interests that could impact or appear to impact objectivity or the content of the article.

Financial competing interests

• Funding: Research support from organisations that may gain or lose financially through this publication, including the funder’s role, must be disclosed.
• Employment: Any current, recent, or anticipated employment by such organisations must be disclosed.
• Personal financial interests: Ownership of stocks, shares, consultation fees, or patents that may be financially impacted by the publication must be disclosed. For patents, include the applicant, inventor(s), application number, status, and the aspect of the manuscript covered.
• Threshold for disclosure: While no universal threshold exists, any financial interest that could cause embarrassment if publicly known after publication should be disclosed.
• Exclusions: Diversified mutual funds or investment trusts are not considered competing financial interests.

Non-financial competing interests

Non-financial competing interests may include unpaid roles or relationships that could influence the publication process, such as membership in government or advocacy organisations, unpaid advisory positions, or acting as an expert witness.

Digital preservation

EWA Publishing collaborates with digital preservation organisations such as Portico to ensure the long-term accessibility and preservation of authenticated content. This commitment guarantees that published proceedings remain securely archived and accessible to the scholarly community over time.