Ethics Charter

Charter on Ethics in Scholarly Publishing

 

  1. Introduction

This Charter aims to ensure the integrity, transparency, and credibility of scientific publications. It addresses issues such as plagiarism, conflicts of interest, confidentiality, data manipulation, and the responsible and transparent use of artificial intelligence.

It applies to all individuals involved in the scholarly publishing process, including authors, publishers, reviewers, and contributors.

 

  1. General Principles

Publications must meet the following principles:

  • Original production in the literary, scientific or artistic domain.Respect for copyright.
  • Transparency in the use of tools, particularly artificial intelligence.
  • Appropriate acknowledgment of contributions.
  • Integrity in the presentation of data.

 

  1. Breach or Misconduct

 

  • Copyright

Authors must guarantee that:

  • Their work is original and does not infringe on copyright or other intellectual property rights.
  • Any material from another source (images, graphics, text excerpts, etc.) is used in accordance with copyright law or with the necessary permissions.

 

  • Use of Artificial Intelligence

The use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools is permitted as an occasional aid (e.g., image generation, linguistic revision), provided that:

  • Their use is clearly stated in the article at the beginning of the manuscript, in an introductory section note, or in a preface.
  • Sections generated by AI must be identified, queries specified, and tools used to list at the end of the manuscript.
  • The author remains responsible for the final content.

 

  • Plagiarism, Self-plagiarism, and Republication

The following are considered ethical violations:

  • Plagiarism: using the work of others (published or unpublished) without proper attribution or permission.
  • Self-plagiarism or republication: reusing one’s own previously published work — such as text or data — without proper citation or disclosure.. Republishing one's work in another language requires the permission of the copyright holder, unless the work was originally published under an open license allowing this. The authors agree not to submit an article that has been previously published in another journal or a new article that is based exclusively on work already published elsewhere.

 

  • Invalid or Inappropriate Attribution of Authorship
  • Author status should be reserved for individuals who have made a significant contribution to the intellectual content of the publication.
  • It is prohibited to assign author status to individuals who have not contributed or to accept this status without having made a real contribution.
  • Contributions from other individuals must be appropriately acknowledged.
  • Financial or institutional support must be acknowledged in accordance with the requirements of the funding agencies.

 

  1. Peer Review

Peer review is a fundamental pillar of scholarly publishing. It aims to ensure the quality, rigour, and relevance of scientific publications.

  • Objectives of Peer Review
  • Ensure the scientific validity, clarity, and originality of submitted work.
  • Provide constructive feedback to authors to improve the quality of their publications.
  • Maintain the credibility and reputation of journals and research institutions.

 

  • Ethical Principles

Reviewers must:

  • Be impartial: evaluate manuscripts solely on the basis of their scientific content, without personal, ideological, or institutional bias.
  • Respect confidentiality: not disclose or use for personal purposes any information contained in the manuscripts reviewed.
  • Declare any conflicts of interest: refrain from reviewing a manuscript if they have a personal, professional, or financial connection to the authors or the subject matter.
  • Provide constructive feedback: provide clear, respectful, and helpful comments aimed at improving the manuscript.

 

  • Responsibilities of Publishers

Publishers must:

  • Select competent and independent reviewers.
  • Ensure a fair, transparent, and confidential review process.
  • Make editorial decisions based on the reviews received, while respecting the principles of scientific integrity.
  • Take action in cases of suspected misconduct (plagiarism, data manipulation, etc.).

 

  • Responsibilities of Authors

Authors must :

  • Accept criticism constructively and respond transparently to reviewers' comments.
  • Do not attempt to influence the review process or identify reviewers.
  • Meet revision deadlines and provide clear, documented responses to requests for changes.

 

  • Types of Review
  • Single-blind review: the identity of the reviewers is concealed from the authors.
  • Double-blind review: the identities of the authors and reviewers are concealed from each other.
  • Open review: the identities of both parties may be known, depending on the journal's policies.

The journal Études Inuit Studies uses double-blind peer review.

 

  1. Conflicts of Interest and Confidentiality
  • Any situation that could influence the judgment or objectivity of an author, reviewer, or editor must be disclosed.
  • Reviewers must respect the confidentiality of submitted manuscripts and not use the information for personal purposes.

 

  1. Data Manipulation
  • Any falsification, fabrication, or inappropriate manipulation of data is strictly prohibited.
  • Results must be presented honestly, even if they do not confirm the initial hypotheses.

 

  1. Reporting and Handling Allegations of Misconduct

Anyone may report misconduct or misconduct described in Article 4 herein to the journal's Editorial Board. The process for handling allegations of misconduct is based on confidentiality and respect for complainants and those involved. The Editorial Board also follows the practices suggested by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).

The Editorial Board takes care to distinguish between cases of honest human error and cases of deliberate intent to commit fraud.

 

  1. Penalties and Remedies

Any breach of this Charter may result in:

  • Corrections deemed necessary to the manuscript.
  • Rejection of the manuscript or withdrawal of the publication.
  • Notification to the institutions concerned.
  • Disciplinary sanctions in accordance with the internal policies of the institution to which the author belongs. Laval University has established a framework for its members engaged in research and its dissemination: Politique sur la conduite responsable en recherche, en création et en innovation  (“Policy on Responsible Conduct in Research, Creation, and Innovation” version 2024, hereinafter referred to as the “Policy”). The editorial board reserves the right to report any breach or misconduct by a member of the ULaval community to the person responsible for responsible conduct in research and creation in accordance with the procedure established by the Policy.
  • The editorial board bases its work on the standards of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).

 

  1. Revision of the Charter

This Charter is subject to periodic revision without notice in order to adapt to changes in scholarly publishing practices and research ethics. It is advisable to refer to it frequently.

 

References