Code of Ethics
This journal observes ethical standards in relation to the publication of manuscripts, thereby declaring its commitment to the exclusion of inappropriate conduct in the scope of its activity. To this end, it takes as a model the criteria provided by the Code of Conduct and Best-Practice for Journal Editors (Committee on Publication Ethics, 2014)
Editors' duties
1. Publication decisions
The editors will be responsible for the decision as whether to publish the manuscripts that the journal receives. Manuscripts must be evaluated impartially and fairly, without taking into account the race, gender, sexual orientation, religious beliefs, ethnic origin, nationality or political ideas of the authors. The decision to publish a manuscript will be based on the importance of the article itself, its originality, and its clarity, as well as the validity of the study and its relevance to the purposes of the journal. Naturally, it will also be taken into account whether the work complies with legal requirements in relation to the good name of people and institutions, in relation to copyright and plagiarism.
2. Confidentiality
Neither the editors nor other members of the journal's team, nor people who collaborate in its activities, are to reveal any information about the manuscripts received to anyone other than the author or reviewers, and always only insofar as this is strictly necessary to fulfil the purposes of the proposed activity, and with due prudence.
3. Conflicts of interest
Unpublished material appearing in received manuscripts should not be used by editors for their own research without first obtaining written permission from the author.
Duties of the evaluators
1. Cooperation with editorial decisions
The objective of the expert evaluations of the manuscripts received is to help the editors select the manuscripts apt for publication, thus contributing to the taking of good decisions on the articles to be published in the journal, in addition to collaborating on the improvement of their quality.
2. Diligence
Any expert selected to evaluate a manuscript who does not consider himself competent to do so, or who would not be able to carry out the evaluation in a diligent way, is to inform the editors and decline the evaluation.
3. Confidentiality
Manuscripts received for evaluation should be handled as confidential documents. They should not be used or discussed publicly, unless authorized by the editors.
4. Objectivity criteria.
The evaluators are to carry out their task objectively. Personal criticisms are not acceptable. It is the duty of the evaluators to express their judgments clearly and in a well-reasoned manner.
5. Verification of sources
It is the duty of the reviewers to verify the existence of published works referred to in the manuscript but not cited in the corresponding bibliographic references section. They are also to indicate any observations or arguments appearing in the manuscript that lack their corresponding bibliographic citations.
Reviewers should inform the editors of any significant similarities or overlaps between the manuscript and any other publications of which they are aware.
6. Conflicts of interest
Information or ideas obtained due to the privilege of evaluating manuscripts must be kept confidential and, therefore, cannot be used for personal gain. Evaluators are to refrain from judging manuscripts in relation to which they have a conflict of interest as a result of competitive, collaborative or other relationships, or links to authors, institutions or companies related to the manuscripts.
Duties of the authors
1. Compliance with quality requirements
The authors must present original research and a clear and precise exposition of the work carried out, as well as an objective discussion of its importance. The data that support the work must be clearly reflected in the manuscript. The manuscript must have well-detailed references, in such a way that other authors will be able to replicate the research and verify the results. Any false or intentionally inaccurate statement will be deemed unethical and will be grounds for exclusion.
2. Access to the work's data
Authors should be prepared to provide their research data together with the manuscript for editorial evaluation purposes. If necessary, they should also make said data public. In any case, it is understood that it is the researchers' obligation to make said data available to the scientific community, provided that the participants' confidentiality is guaranteed and institutional rights are not jeopardized.
3. Originality, plagiarism and sources
Manuscripts must be original works, referencing, by means of the pertinent citations, the work of other authors. Likewise, the works of authors who have been critical in defining the nature and objectives of the work must be cited and referred to.
4. Multiple, superfluous or simultaneous publication.
Generally speaking, papers that describe essentially the same research should not be published in more than one journal. Likewise, the same work should not be submitted to multiple journals. These will also be grounds for exclusion.
Manuscripts that have already been published in other journals should not be sent. The same manuscript should not be sent to another journal when it is in the evaluation period of one - all this without prejudice to the fact that the author maintains at all times full copyright in relation to the published work and, therefore, to its reproduction and transmission, as he deems fit.
5. Authorship of the article
Authorship attribution should be limited to those people who have contributed in a significant way to the conception, production or interpretation of the work. All persons who have done so must appear as co-authors.
The main author is obliged to guarantee that only said persons appear as co-authors and no others. He/she is also obliged to submit the latest version of the article for the approval of the co-authors and to obtain their authorization for its publication.
6. Conflicts of interest
The authors must declare the sources of funding for their work and must endeavour to avoid any conflicts of interest that may affect their work's results or interpretations of their conclusions.
7. Fundamental errors in the published work
In the event that the author discovers important error or inaccuracy in his published work, he has the duty to diligently inform the editors of this and to cooperate to correct them, or, where applicable, rectify what has been published.
