Originality and responsible reporting
Submissions must represent original work, acknowledge relevant prior scholarship and describe evidence accurately. Plagiarism, fabricated or falsified results, inappropriate image manipulation, concealed duplicate publication and misleading authorship are not acceptable. Overlap with a thesis, working paper or preprint should be disclosed so that the editor can assess the relationship.
- Attribute ideas, quotations, figures and datasets.
- Do not selectively remove observations to conceal contrary findings.
- State analytical choices and relevant limitations.
- Avoid unwarranted causal claims or claims of institutional superiority.
Research involving people or confidential data
Authors are responsible for appropriate ethics approval or an explanation of why approval was not required. Report consent arrangements, protect confidential information and explain relevant data-use permissions. A public institutional name does not remove obligations relating to personal or restricted research data.
Responding to concerns
The editorial office considers documented concerns about submitted or published work. The process may include requesting explanations, reviewing evidence, consulting independent expertise and contacting an institution when necessary. Outcomes may include no action, correction, rejection, expression of concern or retraction, with a proportionate explanation for the record. Authors should have a reasonable opportunity to respond.