Publication Ethics

  • COPE compliance

Southern Cross Academic Publishing is fully committed to upholding the highest international standards of publication ethics. We follow the guidelines and best practices established by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) to ensure transparency, fairness, and integrity throughout every stage of the publishing process.

Our editorial team, reviewers, and authors are expected to adhere to COPE principles, which guide responsible behaviour in areas such as authorship, peer review, conflicts of interest, data integrity, plagiarism, corrections, and retractions. These standards help ensure that all published work meets the ethical expectations of the global academic community.

We apply COPE-aligned procedures for handling concerns related to research misconduct, ethical breaches, or disputes. This includes clear processes for managing allegations, conducting investigations, issuing corrections or retractions when needed, and maintaining the integrity of the scholarly record.

By embracing COPE compliance, Southern Cross Academic Publishing reinforces its commitment to ethical publishing, builds trust with researchers worldwide, and supports a culture of honesty, accountability, and respect within scholarly communication.

  • Plagiarism policy

Southern Cross Academic Publishing maintains a strict zero tolerance policy toward plagiarism in any form. We are committed to protecting the integrity of the scholarly record and ensuring that all published work reflects original, ethical, and properly attributed research.

All manuscripts submitted to our journals are screened using plagiarism detection software and are assessed by editors and peer reviewers for originality, proper citation, and responsible use of sources. Authors must ensure that all ideas, text, data, images, and materials taken from other works are clearly acknowledged and referenced according to accepted academic standards.

The following are considered forms of plagiarism and are not permitted:

  • Direct plagiarism: copying text word-for-word without citation.
  • Self-plagiarism: reusing significant parts of one’s own previously published work without proper acknowledgement.
  • Mosaic or patchwork plagiarism: blending copied material with original writing without clear citation.
  • Improper paraphrasing: rephrasing another author’s ideas too closely without appropriate attribution.
  • Data or image plagiarism: using data, figures, tables, or images without permission or credit.

If plagiarism is detected before publication, the manuscript will be immediately rejected. If detected after publication, we may issue corrections, retractions, or other actions in accordance with COPE guidelines.

We encourage authors to review their work carefully prior to submission and to maintain the highest standards of academic honesty. By submitting a manuscript, authors affirm that their work is original and that all sources have been appropriately cited.

  • Retraction & correction policy

Southern Cross Academic Publishing is committed to maintaining the integrity, transparency, and accuracy of the scholarly record. When errors or ethical concerns arise, we follow clear, COPE-aligned procedures to ensure that appropriate actions are taken promptly and responsibly.

Corrections

Corrections are issued when a published article contains an honest error such as minor data mistakes, typographical errors, or clarifications that does not compromise the overall validity of the research. Corrections are published as an official notice, linked to the original article, ensuring transparency for readers and researchers.

Retractions

Retractions are issued when serious issues are identified that significantly undermine the reliability, ethical standing, or integrity of the work. Grounds for retraction may include, but are not limited to:

  • Plagiarism
  • Data fabrication or falsification
  • Unethical research practices
  • Major errors that invalidate the study’s findings
  • Author disputes affecting the authenticity of the work
  • Duplicate or redundant publication

Retraction notices are published openly, clearly labelled as retractions, and linked to the original article. The original article remains accessible but is prominently marked as retracted to preserve the scholarly record while informing readers of the issue.

Process

All concerns or allegations regarding published work are investigated by the editorial team in accordance with COPE guidelines. Authors are given an opportunity to respond, and decisions are made based on evidence, ethical standards, and the best interest of the academic community.

Commitment to Integrity

Our retraction and correction procedures aim to uphold academic honesty, protect readers from unreliable findings, and maintain the trust placed in Southern Cross Academic Publishing as a responsible Open Access publisher.

  • Authorship criteria

Southern Cross Academic Publishing follows internationally recognised standards, including COPE and ICMJE guidelines, to ensure that authorship is assigned fairly, transparently, and based on genuine scholarly contribution.

Authorship should reflect substantial intellectual involvement in the work. To qualify as an author, an individual must meet all of the following criteria:

  1. Significant contribution to at least one major aspect of the research such as study design, data collection, analysis, interpretation of results, or development of the manuscript’s core ideas.
  2. Active participation in drafting or critically revising the manuscript contributing intellectually meaningful feedback, writing, or revisions.
  3. Final approval of the version to be published ensuring accuracy, integrity, and confidence in the final manuscript.
  4. Agreement to take responsibility for the work including being accountable for any part of the research and addressing questions related to accuracy or ethical considerations.

Individuals who contribute to the research but do not meet all authorship criteria such as providing technical help, general supervision, editing assistance, or funding support should be acknowledged appropriately in the Acknowledgements section, with their permission. Ghost authorship, honorary authorship, and guest authorship are strictly prohibited.

All authors must disclose any potential conflicts of interest, agree on the author order before submission, and ensure that their contributions are accurately represented.

By upholding clear authorship criteria, Southern Cross Academic Publishing promotes fairness, transparency, and integrity within the scholarly community.

  • Data sharing policy

Southern Cross Academic Publishing supports transparency, reproducibility, and the responsible sharing of research data. We encourage authors to make the data underlying their findings openly available whenever possible, unless restricted by legal, ethical, or confidentiality considerations.

Commitment to Open Data

Authors are encouraged to deposit datasets, code, and supplementary materials in trusted repositories that provide persistent identifiers (such as DOIs). These include institutional repositories, subject specific databases, or established open data platforms. Links to these datasets should be included in the manuscript’s Data Availability Statement.

Data Availability Statement

All submissions must include a Data Availability Statement clearly describing:

  • Where the data can be accessed, or
  • Why data cannot be shared (e.g., privacy restrictions, sensitive information, third-party ownership).

This requirement promotes transparency and helps readers understand how to access or evaluate the underlying research.

  • Ethical and Legal Considerations

Southern Cross Academic Publishing is committed to ensuring that all research we publish complies with the highest ethical and legal standards. Authors, reviewers, and editors must uphold responsible research practices that protect the rights, safety, and dignity of individuals, communities, and institutions involved in scholarly work.

Ethical Compliance

Authors are required to confirm that all research involving human participants, animals, or sensitive data has received appropriate ethical approval from a recognised ethics committee or institutional review board. Manuscripts must clearly state the approval details, including reference numbers when applicable. Studies must be conducted in accordance with relevant national and international ethical guidelines.

Informed Consent

Where research involves human participants, authors must ensure that informed consent was obtained and documented. For studies using identifiable information, images, or personal data, explicit consent must be secured before publication. Authors are responsible for ensuring that consent procedures comply with local regulations and ethical norms.

Legal Responsibilities

Authors must ensure that their submissions do not violate copyright, data protection laws, or intellectual property rights. Any use of third-party materials such as figures, images, or datasets must be accompanied by documented permission or fall within legally acceptable use.

Confidentiality and Anonymity

Where applicable, authors must take care to anonymise sensitive information to protect participants’ privacy. Editors and reviewers also maintain strict confidentiality regarding the content of submitted manuscripts and any associated data.

Integrity of the Scholarly Record

Southern Cross Academic Publishing follows COPE-aligned procedures for handling allegations of ethical misconduct, including falsification, fabrication, plagiarism, or breaches of legal requirements. We are committed to taking appropriate action including issuing corrections or retractions to preserve the reliability of the scholarly record.

Data sharing must comply with:

  • Privacy laws and regulations
  • Ethical approvals and consent agreements
  • Institutional or disciplinary guidelines
  • Sensitive or confidential data should be anonymised or shared only in controlled-access environments where appropriate.
  • Supporting Reproducible Research

By encouraging responsible data sharing, Southern Cross Academic Publishing aims to strengthen the credibility of published research, enable independent verification of findings, and advance the global culture of Open Science.

  • Conflicts of interest

Southern Cross Academic Publishing is committed to maintaining transparency, fairness, and integrity throughout the editorial and peer-review process. All authors, reviewers, and editors are required to disclose any actual, potential, or perceived conflicts of interest that may influence the objectivity or credibility of a submitted manuscript.

For Authors

Authors must declare any financial, personal, institutional, or professional relationships that could be viewed as influencing the research or its interpretation. Examples include:

  • Funding sources or sponsorships
  • Employment or consultancy roles
  • Ownership of patents, products, or intellectual property
  • Personal relationships or academic competition
  • Any financial interests related to the study’s outcomes

A Conflict-of-Interest Statement must be included in the manuscript. If no conflicts exist, authors should state this explicitly.

For Reviewers

Reviewers must recuse themselves if they have:

  • A close personal or professional relationship with the authors
  • A financial interest in the research outcomes
  • Recent or ongoing collaboration with the authors
  • Any situation that could compromise impartiality

Reviewers are expected to provide unbiased, confidential, and constructive evaluations.

For Editors

Editors must not handle manuscripts if they have any conflict that could influence their decision making. In such cases, the manuscript will be reassigned to an independent editor to ensure fairness and integrity.

Commitment to Transparency

All disclosed conflicts are assessed to determine whether they affect the reliability of the research. Undisclosed conflicts identified after publication may result in corrections or other COPE-aligned actions.

By requiring transparent declarations from all participants, Southern Cross Academic Publishing ensures a trustworthy and ethical publishing environment where scholarly work is evaluated solely on its academic merit.

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Complaints & Appeals Policy

Southern Cross Academic Publishing is committed to addressing complaints and appeals fairly, transparently, and in accordance with the principles and guidance of COPE. We recognise the importance of providing clear mechanisms for raising concerns related to editorial decisions, publication ethics, and the integrity of the scholarly record.

Scope of Complaints

Complaints may be submitted by authors, reviewers, readers, or other stakeholders and may relate to, but are not limited to:

  • Editorial decisions or delays in the peer review process
  • Alleged ethical misconduct, including plagiarism or data integrity concerns
  • Conflicts of interest not properly managed
  • Concerns regarding editorial or reviewer behaviour
  • Issues related to corrections, retractions, or expressions of concern
How to Submit a Complaint

All complaints must be submitted in writing and should include sufficient detail and supporting evidence where applicable. Complaints should be directed to the publisher using the official contact details provided on the website.

Upon receipt, all complaints are acknowledged and handled confidentially.

Handling of Complaints

Complaints are reviewed objectively and without prejudice. The publisher will:

  • Assess whether the complaint falls within the scope of publication ethics or editorial oversight
  • Conduct an appropriate investigation, consulting editors or relevant parties when necessary
  • Follow COPE-aligned procedures for handling ethical concerns and disputes
  • Communicate the outcome to the complainant in a timely and transparent manner

Where a complaint involves an editor or editorial decision, the matter may be reviewed by an independent editor or an appropriate publisher representative to ensure fairness.

Appeals Against Editorial Decisions

Authors have the right to appeal editorial decisions if they believe that a decision was based on a procedural error, factual misunderstanding, or ethical concern.

Appeals must:

  • Be submitted in writing
  • Clearly explain the grounds for appeal
  • Provide any relevant supporting information

Appeals are reviewed independently and objectively. While all appeals are carefully considered, decisions reached following a thorough review process are final.

Commitment to Fairness

Southern Cross Academic Publishing ensures that all complaints and appeals are handled respectfully, confidentially, and without discrimination. Retaliation against individuals who raise concerns in good faith is not tolerated.

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Editorial Independence Statement

Southern Cross Academic Publishing is committed to safeguarding the editorial independence of all journals published under its imprint. Editorial decisions are made solely on the basis of scholarly merit, originality, relevance to the journal’s scope, and adherence to ethical standards.

The publisher does not influence, interfere with, or override editorial decisions regarding the acceptance, revision, or rejection of manuscripts. Editors are granted full authority and independence in managing the peer review process and making final publication decisions.

Commercial considerations, institutional affiliations, funding sources, or external pressures do not affect editorial decision-making. Any potential conflicts of interest involving editors are managed transparently to ensure fairness and integrity in the editorial process.

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COPE Core Practices Alignment

Southern Cross Academic Publishing is committed to upholding the highest standards of ethical scholarly publishing and aligns its policies and procedures with the Core Practices established by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).

The publisher’s ethical framework, as outlined across its Publication Ethics, Editorial Standards, and Legal Policies, collectively implements the COPE Core Practices, including but not limited to:

  • Ethical oversight and responsible management of the scholarly record
  • Editorial independence and transparent decision-making
  • Fair, unbiased, and confidential peer review
  • Clear authorship and contributorship criteria
  • Identification and management of conflicts of interest
  • Handling of allegations of misconduct in accordance with COPE guidance
  • Transparent procedures for corrections, retractions, and expressions of concern
  • Protection of research participants, data integrity, and reproducibility
  • Respect for intellectual property, copyright, and licensing
  • Accessible mechanisms for complaints and appeals

These policies are applied consistently across all journals published by Southern Cross Academic Publishing and are regularly reviewed to ensure continued alignment with evolving best practices in scholarly publishing.

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Ethics Contact Information

Southern Cross Academic Publishing is committed to transparency, accountability, and the responsible handling of ethical concerns. All enquiries, concerns, or reports related to publication ethics, editorial conduct, research integrity, or alleged misconduct are handled confidentially and in accordance with COPE-aligned procedures.

Stakeholders, including authors, reviewers, readers, and institutions, may contact the publisher regarding ethical matters by email:

Ethics Contact Email:
[email protected]

Correspondence sent to this address is reviewed by the appropriate publisher representatives and, where necessary, referred to editors or independent parties to ensure objective and fair resolution. All communications are treated with confidentiality and managed without retaliation against individuals who raise concerns in good faith.

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