Publication Ethics

INPAC Conference Proceedings is a scholarly publication managed by the Faculty of Syariah and Law, Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia, and is subject to a rigorous peer-review process. The proceedings uphold the highest standards of publication ethics and take proactive measures to prevent misconduct. Authors submitting articles to INPAC affirm that their work is original and free from plagiarism, in line with MyCite Selection Criteria, Elsevier Ethical Standards, and the COPE Best Practice Guidelines for Journal Editors.

Ethical Guideline for Conference Proceedings Publication

Ethical guidelines for publication in peer-reviewed conference proceedings are essential in building a coherent, credible, and respected body of knowledge. The publication of an article in the INPAC Conference Proceedings reflects not only the work of the authors but also the reputation of the institutions supporting them. Peer-reviewed articles play a crucial role in strengthening and disseminating scientific and scholarly methods.

Therefore, a clear set of ethical expectations must be upheld by authors, conference editors, reviewers, publishers, and the organising body.

As the publisher of INPAC Conference Proceedings, the Faculty of Syariah and Law at Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia acknowledges its responsibility to maintain ethical conduct and ensure compliance at all stages of publication.

The Responsibilities of Authors

In order to maintain the integrity and quality of research publications, authors are expected to adhere to ethical guidelines in all stages of their work. The following guidelines outline the duties of authors:

• Standards for reporting: Authors writing reports or conducting their own research are expected to provide an accurate and unbiased account of their work. The data underlying the research must be accurately presented in the paper, which should contain sufficient information and references to allow others to reproduce the work. Fraudulent or intentionally inaccurate statements are considered unethical and are not acceptable.
• Data Access and Retention: Authors are expected to provide the original data related to their manuscript for editorial review and should also be willing to make such data available to the public, where feasible, in accordance with the Sherpa Romeo statement and the ALPSP-STM Statement on Data and Databases. Additionally, authors must be prepared to keep the raw data for a reasonable period following publication.
• Originality and Plagiarism: INPAC expects authors to produce their own works in their entirety. Utilizing proper citation or quotation is required when using the works and/or words of others. Plagiarism can take a variety of forms, from representing another person's work as one's own, to copying or paraphrasing significant portions of another person's work without proper attribution, to claiming research conducted by others. Plagiarism in any form constitutes unethical publishing behaviour and is not acceptable. Authors should only submit original work that is not plagiarized and has not been previously published or is under consideration elsewhere. INPAC editors may use appropriate software to identify similarities between submitted manuscripts and existing literature. It is not permissible to submit fraudulent or knowingly inaccurate information. All work and/or words from other publications must be appropriately cited or quoted. For more information, please refer to the INPAC Plagiarism Policy.
• Multiple, Redundant or Concurrent Publication: In general, authors are advised not to publish manuscripts that describe essentially the same research in multiple journals or primary publications. Such action would be considered unethical publishing behaviour and is not acceptable. Simultaneous submission of the same manuscript to multiple conference proceedings is also deemed unacceptable.
• Acknowledgement of Sources: INPAC believes that it is critical to properly acknowledge the contributions of others. Authors are expected to properly cite publications that have had a significant impact on their research.
• Authorship of the Paper: Authorship should be limited to those who have made a significant contribution to the conception, implementation, or interpretation of the reported research findings. All co-authors who have made a significant contribution to the research findings should be listed. If others have made a significant contribution to certain aspects of the study, they should be acknowledged or identified as contributors. The corresponding author is responsible for ensuring that all appropriate co-authors are listed in the manuscript and that there are no inappropriate co-authors. In addition, the corresponding author should confirm that all co-authors have reviewed and approved the final manuscript and agree to its publication.
• Disclosure and Conflicts of Interest: It is important that authors disclose any potential conflicts of interest, including financial or other significant conflicts of interest that could affect the results or interpretation of their manuscript. In addition, authors should disclose in their manuscript all sources of financial support for the research project.
• Fundamental Errors in Published Works: If an author discovers an error or inaccuracy in his or her published work, he or she is responsible for promptly notifying and cooperating with the INPAC editor to retract or correct the work.
• Hazardous Materials: In cases where the research involves the use of chemicals, procedures, or devices that carry risks, it is the responsibility of the author to explicitly state these risks in the manuscript.
• Protection of Human Subjects: Research involving human subjects should comply with ethical guidelines such as the Declaration of Helsinki or the Belmont Report. Authors must ensure that the privacy, confidentiality, and dignity of participants are maintained throughout the study. The risk of harm to participants must be minimized, and the benefits of the research should outweigh the potential risks.
• Protection of Animal Subjects: Research involving animals should follow ethical guidelines such as the Animal Welfare Act 2015 and the National Institutes of Health Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals. Authors must ensure that animals are treated humanely and that their pain and suffering are minimized. Animals should be housed in a comfortable and safe environment and have access to food and water.

The Responsibilities of Editors

• Fair Play: In evaluating manuscripts, editors must commit to fair play by evaluating the intellectual content of submissions without regard to the race, gender, sexual orientation, religious beliefs, nationality, ethnicity, or political philosophy of the authors.
• Confidentiality: In accordance with publication ethics, the editor and all editorial board members are bound by strict confidentiality and should not disclose any information concerning a submitted manuscript to anyone other than the corresponding author, reviewers, potential reviewers, other editorial advisors, and the publisher, as deemed appropriate.
• Disclosure and Conflicts of Interest: An editor may use unpublished material from a submitted manuscript for his or her own research only with the explicit written permission of the author.
• Publication Decisions: The INPAC editorial board holds the responsibility of determining the articles that qualify for publication after a thorough review process. The decision must be based on the significance of the research to readers and researchers and on its validation. In making this decision, the Editorial Board must adhere to the conference proceedings' policies and legal obligations regarding libel, plagiarism, and copyright infringement. Collaboration with other editors or reviewers may be sought to facilitate the decision-making process.
• Review of Manuscripts: The editor is responsible for assessing the originality of each manuscript submitted. The editor should establish and use a fair and appropriate peer review process. The peer review procedures should be clearly explained to authors and indicate which parts of the conference proceedings will be subject to review. The editor should select reviewers who have the expertise required for the manuscripts and avoid reviewers with potential conflicts of interest.

The Responsibilities of Reviewers

• Contribution to Editorial Decisions: The peer review process assists the editor in deciding which manuscripts to publish and helps authors to improve the quality of their work through feedback from experts in the field.
• Promptness: If a selected peer reviewer feels that he or she does not have the necessary qualifications to evaluate the research of a manuscript or will not be able to complete the review in a timely manner, he or she should inform the editor and withdraw from the review process.
• Standards of Objectivity: The review process must be conducted objectively and without personal criticism of the author. Reviewers should express their views clearly with supporting arguments.
• Confidentiality: All manuscripts submitted for review must be considered confidential. It is imperative that these documents not be disclosed to or discussed with unauthorized persons unless permitted by the editor.
• Disclosure and Conflict of Interest: Any confidential information or concepts obtained during the peer review process should be kept confidential and not used for personal gain. Peer reviewers should avoid evaluating manuscripts in which they have conflicts of interest resulting from competitive, collaborative, or other relationships with any of the authors, companies, or institutions connected to the manuscripts.
• Source Acknowledgement: Reviewers must acknowledge any relevant published work not cited by the authors. If the reviewer points out an observation, derivation, or argument that has previously been reported, they must cite the appropriate source. If a reviewer is aware of substantial similarities or overlaps between the manuscript under review and any other published work, they must notify the INPAC editor.

Ethics on Post Publication

Amendments: Authors may request modifications to their published works for various reasons. These changes can fall into one of four categories: Erratum, Corrigendum, Retraction, or Addendum.

• Erratum: This refers to an official announcement of a significant error made by the conference proceedings during the article's production process that could impact the scientific integrity of the publication, or the reputation of the authors or the conference proceedings itself.
• Corrigendum: This is an official notice of a significant error made by the author(s) that could affect the scientific integrity of the publication, or the reputation of the authors or the conference proceedings itself.
• Retraction: This is a formal declaration that invalidates the findings of an article that contains major scientific errors or violations of professional ethics.
• Addendum: This is a supplement to an article that is published to provide additional information on the topic or results of the article that was not available at the time of publication.

INPAC Conference Proceedings places a high value on transparency, and we expect authors to adhere to ethical guidelines, avoid plagiarism, and disclose any conflicts of interest. We are committed to upholding the highest standards of publication ethics and will take appropriate action if ethical misconduct is suspected. If you have any questions or concerns regarding the publication ethics of INPAC, please contact us.