International Journal of the Analytic Hierarchy Process is an Open Access journal which means that all content is freely available without charge to the user or his/her institution. Users are allowed to read, download, copy, distribute, print, search, or link to the full texts of the articles, or use them for any other lawful purpose, without asking prior permission from the publisher or the author. This is in accordance with the BOAI definition of Open Access
IJAHP Publication Ethics and Malpractice Policy
The articles published in the “International Journal of the Analytic Hierarchy Process†(IJAHP), adheres to the highest standard of ethics of publication of scholarly research work. IJAHP publication ethics policy is guided by COPE’s Best Practice Guidelines for Journal Editors. It is necessary that all parties involved in publishing process: the authors and the editorial committee agree to abide by the highest standards of ethical behavior of research publication.
Duties of the Journal
Publication decisions
The editor in chief and associate editors are the ultimate responsible for deciding which of the articles submitted should be published. The decision is based on the recommendation of the associate editors and reviewers. IJAHP articles abide by legal requirements as shall then be in force regarding libel, copyright infringement and plagiarism. The editor in chief confers with the editorial team, board at large and reviewers in making this decision. Moreover, for the publication of an article, a specific editor is assigned to coordinate the peer review process and provide a recommendation/decision on the article.
Non-Discrimination
The editorial teams, board members and reviewers evaluate manuscripts for intellectual content without regard to race, gender, sexual orientation, religious belief, ethnic origin, citizenship, or political philosophy of the authors. Furthermore, the peer review process is double-blind to ensure its fairness.
Confidentiality
The editor in chief, associated editors, editorial board and reviewers must not disclose any information about a submitted manuscript to anyone other than the corresponding author, reviewers, potential reviewers, and editorial team, as appropriate.
Disclosure and conflicts of interest
Unpublished materials disclosed in a submitted manuscript must not be used by any of the editorial team, board members and reviewers in their own research.
Duties of Reviewers
Contribution to Editorial Decisions
IJAHP uses a double-blind review process. The reviewers advise the assigned editor(s) in making the editorial decision. IJAHP editors communicates with authors, as required, and helps them in improving quality of their research paper.
Promptness
IJAHP editors are committed to provide timely review to the authors. If a reviewer does not submit his/her report in a timely manner, the paper is immediately sent to another qualified reviewer.
Confidentiality
Manuscript content is treated with at most confidentiality. IJAHP uses a double blind process. Except for the journal editorial team, editorial board at large and reviewers, they cannot discuss submitted papers with any other person, including the authors.
Standards of Objectivity
The reviewers are required to evaluate papers based on the content. The review comment must be respectful of authors. The reviewers are required to justify their decision and recommendation.
Acknowledgement of Sources
Reviewers should identify relevant published work that has not been cited by the authors. Any statement that an observation, derivation, or argument had been previously reported should be accompanied by the relevant citation. A reviewer should also call to the editor's attention any substantial similarity or overlap between the manuscript under consideration and any other published paper of which they have personal knowledge.
Disclosure and Conflict of Interest
Privileged information or ideas obtained through peer review must be kept confidential and not used for personal advantage. Reviewers should not consider manuscripts in which they have conflicts of interest resulting from competitive, collaborative, or other relationships or connections with any of the authors, companies, or institutions connected to the papers.
Duties of Authors
Reporting standards
Authors should present an accurate account of the work performed as well as an objective discussion of its significance. Underlying data should be represented accurately in the paper. A paper should contain sufficient detail and references to permit others to replicate the work wherever possible. Fraudulent or knowingly inaccurate statements constitute unethical behavior and are unacceptable.
Data Access and Retention
Authors may be asked to provide the raw data in connection with a paper for editorial review. They should be prepared to provide such data within reasonable time.
Originality and Plagiarism
The authors should ensure that they have written entirely original works, and if the authors have used the work and/or words of others that this has been appropriately cited or quoted. IJAHP uses special software to check plagiarism. Papers found with such problems are automatically rejected and authors are so advised.
Multiple, Redundant or Concurrent Publication
When a paper is submitted for possible publication, the submitting author makes a written statement that the paper has not been published not it is currently under publication with any other journal. Simultaneous submission is considered unethical and is therefore unacceptable.
Acknowledgement of Sources
Proper acknowledgment of the work of others is required. Authors must cite publications that have led to the authors’ current research.
Authorship of the Paper
Authorship should be limited to those who have made a significant contribution to the research reported in the manuscript. The corresponding author has a responsibility to keep co-authors posted with the review process. If accepted, all authors are required to give a signed statement that the research work is their original research work.
Hazards and Human or Animal Subjects
If the work involves chemicals, procedures or equipment that have any unusual hazards inherent in their use, the author must clearly identify these in the manuscript.
Disclosure and Conflicts of Interest
All authors should disclose in their manuscript any financial or other substantive conflict of interest that might be construed to influence the results or interpretation of their manuscript. All sources of financial support for the project should be disclosed.
Fundamental errors in published works
When an author discovers a significant error or inaccuracy in his/her own published work, it is the author’s obligation to promptly notify the journal editor or publisher and cooperate with the editor to retract or correct the paper.