Ethical Guidelines
Authors submitting manuscripts to IJNGP are expected to adhere to ethical guidelines, including :
Plagiarism
If plagiarism is detected in the submitted manuscript, the editorial team will reach out to the authors to discuss and resolve the issue, aiming to eliminate plagiarism in the revised submission. Concurrent or secondary publication can be justified under certain conditions, such as when translations are involved or when the manuscript is intended for a different audience. Results should be presented with clarity and honesty, avoiding fabrication, falsification, or inappropriate data manipulation, including image-based manipulation.
Plagiarism, presenting others' data, text, or theories as one's own, is strictly prohibited. Proper acknowledgments (in text citations and references) must be given for all borrowed material, whether it is closely copied, summarised, or paraphrased. Verbatim copying requires quotation marks, and permissions must be obtained for copyrighted material. The journal may use plagiarism detection software to screen submissions.
Authors should ensure they have permissions for using questionnaires, surveys, and scales in their studies, where appropriate. Research and non-research articles, including opinion, review, and commentary pieces, must cite relevant and appropriate literature to support their claims. Excessive and inappropriate self-citation or coordinated self-citation among authors is strongly discouraged. Authors must avoid making untrue statements about individuals or companies or describing their behaviour in a way that could be seen as personal attacks or allegations.
Fragmentation in Research
Fragmentation should be minimised. Researchers conducting comprehensive study should organise their publications to provide cohesive accounts of specific aspects within their broader study. Excessive fragmentation not only consumes journal space unnecessarily but also complicates literature searches for readers.
Informed Consent
IJNGP emphasises on the importance of voluntary, well-informed consent from participants. This principle underscores the need for transparent communication between researchers and subjects. Obtaining consent involves disclosing essential information that could impact a person's decision to participate, including the study's objectives, potential outcomes, funding sources, data usage, anticipated benefits, risks, data security measures, and the level of confidentiality guaranteed to participants.
Consent is considered invalid if obtained after the completion of research or if participants lack the legal capacity to consent. Researchers are advised against pursuing studies where consent is coerced, such as by employers or governments. Consent is a continuous process, not a single event, and may require periodic reevaluation by researchers.
When using technical devices such as audio/visual recorders or cameras, participants must be informed about their capabilities and given the opportunity to decline their use. When gathering information researchers must respect the privacy of subjects and their relationships, ensuring that no information is obtained that subjects would not consent to disclose. Participants should be informed about the potential long-term use of their data, including unforeseen future uses or theoretical applications, as well as any plans to share or archive the data with colleagues, sponsors, or other interested parties.
Rights to Confidentiality and Anonymity
IJNGP considers confidentiality and anonymity for informants and research participants crucial in research. Researchers should proactively anticipate and mitigate potential breaches of confidentiality and anonymity. This includes evaluating the necessity of recording sensitive information, ensuring secure data storage, and employing techniques like anonymisation and pseudonyms in field notes and data dissemination. Researchers should also respect efforts by fellow researchers to preserve anonymity in their studies and research environments.
Maintaining Professional and Scholarly Integrity
Research inherently involves subjective elements, as factors like personal values, funding sources, and institutional affiliations that can influence the selection of topics and methodologies. Despite these potential biases, researchers should aim for objectivity and transparency regarding challenges to achieving it:
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Methodological Integrity: Researchers must avoid using methods that intentionally skew results or manipulate findings through selective reporting.
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Public Policy and Opinion: When research findings are likely to impact public policy or opinion, they should clearly outline the limitations and constraints of their conclusions and interpretations.
Conflict of Interest
Researchers must disclose any potential conflicts of interest that could affect their research, interpretations, or conclusions. This includes financial interests, affiliations, or personal biases that could influence their objectivity or the perception of their work.