Conflicts of Interest

SciFormat Publishing is dedicated to transparency and integrity in all its publications, including Contemporary Issues in Artificial Intelligence. Recognizing potential conflicts of interest (COI) is crucial to maintaining the trust of readers, authors, reviewers, and the broader academic community. A conflict of interest occurs when an individual's or organization's competing interests—financial, personal, or professional—could potentially influence their motivations or actions in their roles within the publication process.

For Authors

  • Disclosure Requirement: Authors are required to disclose any potential conflicts of interest when submitting their manuscripts. This disclosure aids the editorial decision-making process and, where relevant, may be published to inform readers.
  • Declaration Process: Conflicts of interest should be declared in the submission cover letter and included on the manuscript submission form through the journal's online peer-review system. Additionally, a COI statement should be included within the manuscript text, detailing any financial, personal, or professional interests that might be construed as influencing the work.
  • Default Disclosure Statement: If no conflicts are declared, the manuscript will include the statement: "The author(s) reported no potential conflicts of interest."

For Reviewers

  • Review Process Awareness: Reviewers must acquaint themselves with the journal’s peer review process and adhere to COPE's ethical guidelines.
  • COI Assessment: Prior to accepting a review assignment, reviewers should assess any personal or professional circumstances that might affect their ability to review the manuscript impartially. Any potential conflicts should be reported to the Editor or Handling Editor for consultation.
  • Confidentiality and Use of Information: Reviewers must not use information obtained during the review process for personal gain and should not share the manuscript with others without permission from SciFormat Publishing.

For Editorial Board Members and Editors

  • Publication Restrictions for Founders and Editors: Individuals in founding or editorial roles are prohibited from publishing their works in the journal they oversee to avoid self-publishing conflicts.
  • Recusal from Own Work: Editorial Board Members or Editors who submit their manuscripts to the journal must recuse themselves from the review and decision-making processes of their own submissions.
  • Decision-Making and Confidentiality: Decisions should be made objectively, based on the manuscript's significance, originality, clarity, and relevance to the journal's scope. All manuscript and review process details must be kept confidential.
  • Handling of COI: Editors with a potential conflict of interest regarding a submission must not participate in the review or decision-making processes for that manuscript. Information obtained through editorial work must not be used for personal advantage.

Implementation and Enforcement

  • Guidance and Resources: SciFormat Publishing provides resources and guidance on identifying and managing potential conflicts of interest, ensuring all parties are aware of their ethical responsibilities.
  • Monitoring and Compliance: The journal actively monitors compliance with its COI policy, taking appropriate actions to address any issues or breaches of policy.

Addressing Conflicts of Interest

  • Active Disclosure: Authors, reviewers, and editorial board members are encouraged to err on the side of full disclosure regarding any situation that might be perceived as a conflict of interest. This proactive approach ensures that any potential biases or conflicts are addressed openly and can be managed appropriately.
  • Editorial Actions: Upon identification of a potential conflict of interest, the editorial team will take necessary actions to mitigate its impact on the review and publication process. This may include assigning different reviewers, involving additional editorial board members in the decision-making process, or, in some cases, rejecting a submission if the conflict cannot be satisfactorily resolved.

Transparency with Readers

  • Publication of COI Statements: When relevant, disclosed conflicts of interest will be published alongside the article or book chapter to provide readers with a full understanding of the context in which the work was conducted and written. This transparency helps readers make informed judgments about the research presented.
  • Clear Guidelines: The journal’s website and submission guidelines will clearly outline the process for declaring conflicts of interest, ensuring that authors understand their responsibilities from the outset of their submission.

Enforcement and Sanctions

  • Policy Violations: Violations of the journal’s conflicts of interest policy may result in a range of sanctions, depending on the severity of the breach. This can include the retraction of a published article, prohibition of future submissions from the involved authors, and removal of editorial board members or reviewers who fail to disclose relevant conflicts.
  • Resolution Mechanisms: SciFormat Publishing has established mechanisms for resolving disputes or concerns related to conflicts of interest, including a clear process for appealing decisions or sanctions related to COI policy violations.

The integrity of Contemporary Issues in Artificial Intelligence and the trust of the academic and wider community depend on a robust and transparent approach to managing conflicts of interest. By adhering to these policies, SciFormat Publishing ensures that all research published in the journal is conducted and presented in an environment that prioritizes ethical standards, transparency, and the unbiased dissemination of knowledge. Our commitment to these principles supports the advancement of artificial intelligence research and its ethical application in society.