Editorial Policies
Editorial Policies
NJTEP's editorial policies are grounded in internationally recognised standards for research integrity, including the guidelines of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE). Submission of a manuscript to NJTEP signifies that all authors agree to abide by these policies in full.
Authorship Requirements
Every author listed on a manuscript must have:
- Made a substantial and verifiable scientific contribution to the research or its presentation
- Reviewed and endorsed the intellectual content of the manuscript
- Approved the final version prior to submission
- Accepted accountability for their portion of the work and agreed to be identified as an author
Inclusivity of Contributors
NJTEP requires that all individuals who made genuine contributions to the study are named as authors. This includes:
- Lead and co-investigators who designed or conducted the research
- Individuals who collected, processed, or analysed data
- Students who performed a substantial part of the experimental or analytical work
- Technical and laboratory staff whose contributions were essential to the study outcomes
All listed authors must have sufficient knowledge of the work to be able to stand behind the accuracy of its results and conclusions.
Prohibition of Undeserved Authorship
Adding the name of any individual who did not make a genuine intellectual contribution — whether as a gesture of courtesy, in exchange for funding, or for any other reason — is considered "gift authorship" and is strictly prohibited under NJTEP's policies.
Consequence: Where gift or misrepresented authorship is identified, the manuscript may be rejected and the institutions of the parties involved may be notified.
Responsibilities of the Corresponding Author
The corresponding author serves as the principal liaison between the author team and the NJTEP Editorial Office. Their responsibilities include:
- Submission: Completing and submitting the manuscript through the NJTEP online portal and ensuring all co-author details are correctly included
- Accountability: Taking responsibility for the completeness and accuracy of all submission materials
- Communication: Acting as the main point of contact with the Editorial Office throughout the review and publication process
- Post-publication duties: Proofreading page proofs, responding to editorial queries, and handling any post-publication correspondence or correction requests
Competing Interests Policy
NJTEP requires transparent disclosure of all competing interests — financial or otherwise — that could have influenced the design, conduct, or reporting of the research. Disclosure does not disqualify a manuscript from publication; it equips readers to interpret the work in its proper context.
Financial Interests
Financial competing interests include, but are not limited to:
- Equity stakes or investments in organisations whose products or policies are addressed in the manuscript
- Consultancy arrangements, speaker fees, or funding received from relevant entities
- Patent interests or royalty relationships connected to the subject matter
Non-Financial Interests
Non-financial competing interests — such as significant personal, academic, or ideological relationships that might affect objectivity — must equally be declared in full.
How to Declare
All competing interests must be stated in the manuscript's Conflict of Interest Statement section. Where no competing interests exist, the statement should read: "The authors declare no competing interests."
Citation Policy
Accuracy and Completeness
Every reference must be accurate, complete, and formatted in accordance with the APA style set out in NJTEP's Author Guidelines. Authors are responsible for verifying that all cited works exist, are accurately represented, and are correctly attributed.
Digital and Online Sources
For online references:
- Provide a DOI where one is available (preferred over raw URLs)
- Confirm that all URLs and links are functional at the time of submission
- Ensure that links resolve to the original published source, not to unauthorised copies or repositories
Self-Citation
Authors may cite their own prior work where it is directly relevant to the manuscript. Self-citations must:
- Be genuinely necessary to support the research or contextualise the contribution
- Be kept proportionate — not constitute more than approximately 10–15% of the total reference list
- Not be used to artificially inflate personal or journal citation metrics
Unpublished and Personal Communications
Citation of unpublished work should be avoided unless essential. Where necessary:
- Work in preparation or under review elsewhere must not be cited as if published
- Reference as "unpublished data" or "personal communication," with the permission of the source and the date and contact details of the person concerned
Attribution and Plagiarism
- All cited material must be correctly attributed to its original source
- Direct quotations must appear within quotation marks with page references
- Paraphrased content requires citation even though it is not quoted verbatim
- Any form of misattribution or unacknowledged use of sources constitutes plagiarism and is strictly prohibited
Core Editorial Principles
NJTEP's editorial decisions and practices are guided by the following principles:
- Scientific Honesty: Authors must report their methods, data, and findings truthfully and without distortion or selective omission.
- Research Integrity: Misconduct — in any form — undermines scientific knowledge and damages the credibility of all researchers.
- Author Accountability: Every author shares responsibility for the accuracy, integrity, and ethical soundness of the published work.
- Transparency: All editorial policies and decisions are applied consistently and communicated openly.
- Impartial Review: All manuscripts receive thorough, unbiased evaluation on the basis of their scientific merit.
Agreement to Policies
By submitting a manuscript to NJTEP, all authors confirm that they have read and understood these Editorial Policies and agree to comply fully with every requirement stated herein.
Contact and Support
For questions regarding NJTEP's editorial policies, contact:
Email: njtepnip@gmail.com
Website: https://njtep.nipngr.org/index.php/njtep/about/contact
