Ethical Policy
Commitment to Research Integrity and Ethical Practice
Innovations in STEAM: Research & Education journal is committed to advancing responsible research and education practices, ensuring that all published work adheres to internationally recognized standards of research integrity and publication ethics.
- Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE): https://publicationethics.org/core-practices
- International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE): https://www.icmje.org/recommendations/
- ARRIVE Guidelines for Animal Research: https://arriveguidelines.org/
- Declaration of Helsinki (Human Research Ethics): https://www.wma.net/policies-post/wma-declaration-of-helsinki-ethical-principles-for-medical-research-involving-human-subjects/
- World Association of Medical Editors (WAME)
- UNESCO Universal Declaration on Bioethics and Human Rights: https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000146180
- UNESCO Recommendation on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence: https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000381137
- DOAJ Editorial Policies: https://doaj.org/publishers
- Scopus Content Policy: https://www.elsevier.com/solutions/scopus/how-scopus-works/content/content-policy-and-selection
- Clarivate Journal Evaluation Standards: https://clarivate.com/webofsciencegroup/journal-evaluation-process-and-selection-criteria/
Research Involving Humans
- Must comply with the Declaration of Helsinki and national ethical standards.
- Requires approval from an Institutional Review Board (IRB) or Ethics Committee, including approval ID and institution name.
- Written informed consent must be obtained from all participants.
- Protect participant privacy, dignity, and confidentiality, especially minors or vulnerable populations.
- All case reports and series should follow the CARE guidelines: https://www.care-statement.org/
Research Involving Animals
- Approval must be obtained from an Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) or equivalent.
- Follow ARRIVE 2.0 Guidelines: https://arriveguidelines.org/
- Ensure humane handling, adequate housing, and minimal suffering.
- Clearly justify animal use and include humane endpoints.
Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences Ethics
- Research must ensure respect, fairness, and consent in all cultural, artistic, or social interactions.
- Obtain informed consent for interviews, oral histories, or community studies.
- Acknowledge intellectual property and cultural ownership of creative materials.
- Avoid cultural bias, misrepresentation, or exploitation.
AI, Computational, and Digital Research Ethics
- Authors must disclose the use of AI tools (ChatGPT, DALL·E, etc.) and describe their exact role.
- Comply with UNESCO AI Ethics Framework and EU AI Guidelines.
- Responsibility for all data and conclusions remains with human authors.
- AI tools cannot be credited as authors.
Data and Dataset Ethics (DOAJ-Compliant Policy)
The journal supports open and ethical sharing of datasets that contribute to research transparency and reproducibility. Authors must ensure shared data comply with privacy, consent, and intellectual property rights, particularly when derived from human participants or culturally sensitive sources. Follow FAIR Data Principles: https://www.go-fair.org/fair-principles/
Plagiarism and AI Policy
- Plagiarism complaints are handled under the HEC Anti-Plagiarism Policy.
- Authors must disclose the use of AI tools. Misuse is handled under the HEC Generative AI Policy.
