Research Integrity & Editorial Safeguards

The Journal of Techniques is committed to maintaining the highest standards of research integrity, editorial independence, and publication ethics, in alignment with COPE Core Practices and international best practices in scholarly publishing.

Integrity assurance at the journal is treated as a continuous process, spanning pre-submission screening, peer review, publication, and post-publication stewardship.

1. Pre-Publication Integrity Screening

All new submissions undergo structured integrity checks prior to and during peer review. These checks are designed to identify potential risks related to fabricated content, inappropriate citation practices, and undisclosed publication concerns.

• Verification of reference validity and resolvability to detect fabricated or non-existent citations
• Review of citation patterns to identify excessive self-citation or concentrated citation clusters
• Author-level checks, including review of prior publications and publicly documented concerns where applicable
• Assessment of submission metadata and manuscript structure for inconsistencies requiring editorial attention

These checks support editors in making informed decisions and do not replace expert peer review.

2. Peer Review & Editorial Oversight

• Independent reviewer selection and identity verification
• Monitoring for anomalous peer review patterns (e.g., unusually rapid or non-specific reviews)
• Editorial assessment of reviewer reports for relevance, rigor, and substance
• Clear and enforced policies governing authorship changes and author-suggested reviewers

Guest-edited collections and special issues are subject to enhanced editorial oversight, recognizing their higher risk profile across the scholarly publishing ecosystem.

3. Post-Publication Monitoring & Stewardship

The Journal of Techniques recognizes its responsibility to safeguard the scholarly record after publication.

• Continuous monitoring of published articles for public commentary on PubPeer
• Periodic review of retraction databases (including Retraction Watch) for author-level concerns
• Editorial evaluation of post-publication signals in line with COPE guidance on corrections, expressions of concern, and retractions

Where concerns arise, the journal follows established COPE workflows to ensure fair investigation, author engagement, and transparent outcomes.

4. Custom Integrity Monitoring Tools

To support these integrity processes, the journal has developed custom internal tools designed specifically for editorial use.

• Automated monitoring of published articles for new PubPeer comments
• Screening of newly submitted manuscripts against public integrity signals linked to authors’ prior work
• Verification of reference validity and detection of anomalous citation patterns
• Flagging of manuscripts that may require enhanced editorial review

These systems are editorial support tools, not automated decision-makers. All final decisions remain with the journal’s editors, informed by expert judgment and established ethical guidelines.

5. Research Integrity Officer (RIO)

The Journal of Techniques has designated a Research Integrity Officer (RIO) to provide independent oversight of the journal's ethical standards and integrity processes.

The Research Integrity Officer is responsible for:

• Overseeing pre-publication and post-publication integrity screening procedures;
• Serving as the primary point of contact for allegations of research misconduct, authorship disputes, and ethical concerns;
• Ensuring the journal's policies remain aligned with COPE Core Practices and current international standards in scholarly publishing;
• Coordinating with the Editor-in-Chief on escalated cases involving potential corrections, expressions of concern, or retractions;
• Conducting periodic reviews of the journal's integrity frameworks and recommending updates as necessary.

The Research Integrity Officer operates independently of the editorial decision-making process to ensure impartiality.

Contact: [email protected]

The journal regularly reviews and updates its integrity practices in response to emerging risks, updated COPE guidance, and feedback from the scholarly community. By combining editorial expertise, transparent governance, and targeted technical support, the Journal of Techniques aims to proactively identify and address integrity risks before they impact the scholarly record or indexing status.