Publishing Ethics Guidelines

Take advantage of the industry’s most comprehensive publishing ethics guidelines.

We believe that ethical publishing leads to a better science community, where everyone is valued and everyone is responsible for the work they do.

Follow our top 10 publishing ethics tips for authors

  1. Declare to your chosen journal that your manuscript is not published elsewhere
  2. Declare any conflicts of interest
  3. Check all co-authors meet criteria for authorship and ensure appropriate acknowledgements made in the manuscript
  4. Include appropriate funding statements in the manuscript
  5. Show informed consent and provide assurances that participants’ rights are protected*
  6. Register clinical trials*
  7. Explain how research using animals is conducted responsibly*
  8. Be alert to bias and follow guidelines for accurate and complete reporting of research
  9. Inform the journal if you subsequently find errors in your research
  10. Sign a copyright agreement

* Where appropriate

About the Publishing Ethics Guidelines

If you need more in-depth or specific information on ethics, the Publishing Ethics guidelines have everything you need.

First published by IJACT journal in 2012, these uniquely multi-disciplined Guidelines provide resources and practical advice on ethical concerns that arise in academic publishing for authors, researchers, editors, and other audiences.

The second edition includes guidance on whistle-blowers, animal research, and clinical research, particularly around clinical trial registration. The new edition also provides guidance on best practice for journals in human rights and confidentiality, and addresses how approaches differ between cultures.

Further Information

Further information related to publication ethics is available in the section on Licensing Info. This includes information on publishing copyrighted material within an IJACT journal article, obtaining permission to reproduce material published in an IJACT article, guidelines on plagiarism and defamation, and additional IJACT policies on dual publication and retractions.