General Guidelines

The responsibility of editors and publishers in maintaining the integrity of academic and scientific research is paramount. Any form of misconduct can have detrimental effects on the research community, leading to:

• A widespread loss of confidence in academic journals and research outputs.
• Potential harm to the careers of individuals, including those unknowingly associated with unethical acts, such as co-authors and journal editors, whose reputations might suffer as a result.
• Negative impacts on the reputation of institutions.
• The distortion of the scientific evidence base through the dissemination of incorrect data and conclusions.
• The inefficient use of time, resources, and funding.

Furthermore, the implications extend beyond the research community:

• Public policies and practices may rely on compromised research findings.
• The health of patients could be endangered by actions based on misleading research.
• The funding of deceitful research represents a misuse of public funds.

To mitigate these risks, 'CrossLink Studies' mandates that authors adhere to all relevant ethical guidelines provided by their respective institutions and funding agencies. This includes ensuring transparency about the research process, funding sources, conflicts of interest, and participant consent. These stipulations are thoroughly detailed on the Editorial Policies page of the 'CrossLink Studies' Journal Gateway and should be echoed in the submission guidelines of your journal. Any violations of these ethical standards should be thoroughly investigated by the respective institutions, and the journal's Editor is expected to collaborate with 'CrossLink Studies' to rectify the academic record as needed.