Ethical Oversight

Scientific Works (SW AzUAC) is committed to maintaining high standards of research integrity and ethical conduct in all research published by the journal. The journal follows internationally recognized principles of publication ethics, including relevant guidance from the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).

Authors are responsible for ensuring that their research complies with applicable ethical, legal, institutional, and professional requirements.

1. Ethical Approval

Research involving human participants, personal data, animals, or other activities requiring ethical review must have received appropriate approval from a relevant ethics committee, institutional review board, or other authorized body before the research was conducted.

Where applicable, authors should provide information about the ethics committee or institutional review board that approved the research, including the approval or reference number.

If ethical approval was not required, authors should provide an appropriate explanation where relevant.

2. Research Involving Human Participants

Research involving human participants must be conducted in accordance with applicable ethical standards and legal requirements.

Authors should ensure that participants have been treated with respect and that appropriate safeguards have been implemented to protect their rights, safety, privacy, and dignity.

Where applicable, informed consent must be obtained from participants before their involvement in the research.

3. Informed Consent

Where research involves identifiable individuals, authors should obtain appropriate informed consent for participation and, where applicable, for the publication of identifiable information, images, or other personal materials.

Authors should not publish information that could identify an individual without appropriate consent unless disclosure is legally and ethically justified.

4. Protection of Personal and Confidential Information

Authors must comply with applicable data protection and privacy requirements when collecting, storing, analyzing, and reporting personal or confidential information.

Personal information should be appropriately anonymized or protected before submission to Scientific Works (SW AzUAC) wherever possible.

5. Research Involving Animals

Research involving animals must comply with applicable laws, institutional requirements, and recognized standards for the ethical treatment and welfare of animals.

Authors should provide information about relevant ethical approval where applicable and should describe measures taken to minimize animal suffering and unnecessary use of animals.

6. Clinical and Other Regulated Research

Where applicable, clinical trials and other regulated research should comply with relevant ethical and regulatory requirements.

Authors should provide appropriate registration information or ethical approval details where required by the nature of the research.

7. Ethical Concerns During Peer Review

Editors and reviewers may raise ethical concerns regarding a submitted manuscript during the peer review process.

If an ethical concern is identified, Scientific Works (SW AzUAC) may request additional information or documentation from the authors and may suspend the editorial process while the matter is assessed.

Where necessary, the journal may seek advice from an appropriate independent expert, ethics committee, institution, or other relevant authority.

8. Ethical Concerns After Publication

If a credible ethical concern arises after publication, Scientific Works (SW AzUAC) will assess the available evidence and take appropriate action.

Depending on the nature and seriousness of the concern, the journal may publish a correction, Editor's Note, Expression of Concern, retraction, or other appropriate notice.

Where necessary, the journal may contact the relevant institution, ethics committee, research organization, or other appropriate authority.

9. Editorial Independence and Ethical Oversight

Ethical concerns will be handled independently of commercial, financial, or other interests.

Editors involved in an ethical investigation must disclose and appropriately manage any conflict of interest.

The journal will seek to ensure that ethical decisions are based on relevant evidence, applicable standards, and recognized principles of research integrity.

10. Responsibilities of Authors

Authors are responsible for:

  • obtaining required ethical approval before conducting research;

  • obtaining informed consent where applicable;

  • protecting participant privacy and confidentiality;

  • complying with applicable legal and institutional requirements;

  • accurately reporting ethical approval and consent information;

  • providing supporting documentation when reasonably requested by the journal.

Failure to comply with applicable ethical requirements may result in rejection of a manuscript or appropriate post-publication action.

Scientific Works (SW AzUAC) is committed to responsible ethical oversight and will address ethical concerns fairly, confidentially, and in accordance with applicable ethical standards and relevant COPE guidance.