Publication Ethics

The Sulaimani Dental Journal (Sulaimani Dent J) is committed to maintaining the highest standards of integrity, transparency, and ethical publishing practices.

As part of our commitment to advancing responsible research practices, the Sulaimani Dental Journal proudly endorses the principles of the San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment (DORA). We believe that the evaluation of research should be based on its intrinsic quality, scientific rigor, and real-world impact, rather than on journal-based metrics such as the Journal Impact Factor. Our editorial policies promote fair and transparent research assessment. We encourage authors, reviewers, and institutions to consider a diverse range of indicators when evaluating research outputs, including methodological soundness, data availability, innovation, and contribution to clinical and scientific knowledge. By aligning with DORA, the Sulaimani Dental Journal reaffirms its commitment to fostering a research culture that prioritizes quality over quantity and integrity over prestige.

 The journal adheres to the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) guidelines to prevent misconduct and ensure the credibility of published research.

1. Responsibilities of Authors

• Originality & Plagiarism: Authors must submit only original work. Plagiarism, data fabrication, or falsification will result in immediate rejection or retraction if discovered post-publication.
• Authorship Criteria: All authors must have substantially contributed to the research. Ghostwriting, honorary authorship, or undisclosed contributors are strictly prohibited.
• Multiple or Redundant Submissions: Manuscripts must not be submitted to multiple journals simultaneously or previously published elsewhere.
• Conflict of Interest Disclosure: Authors must declare any financial, institutional, or personal conflicts of interest that could influence the research.
• Ethical Approval & Patient Consent: Studies involving humans or animals must have ethical approval from an accredited Institutional Review Board (IRB) and obtain informed consent from participants.

2. Responsibilities of Reviewers

• Confidentiality: Reviewers must keep all manuscript details confidential and should not discuss or share them with unauthorized parties.
• Objectivity & Constructive Feedback: Reviews must be fair, unbiased, and constructive, providing helpful insights for authors to improve their work.
• Conflict of Interest: Reviewers should decline to review if they have any financial, institutional, or personal connections with the authors that could influence their judgment.
• Timely Review: Reviewers should complete evaluations within the timeframe to ensure a smooth publication process.

3. Responsibilities of Editors

• Fair Decision-Making: Editors will make decisions based on academic merit, originality, and ethical integrity without bias or external influence.
• Handling of Misconduct: In cases of suspected plagiarism, data manipulation, or ethical violations, Sulaimani Dental Journal follows COPE’s guidelines to investigate and take appropriate action, including correction or retraction.
• Confidentiality & Conflict of Interest: Editors will not use unpublished information for their personal research and will avoid handling manuscripts where a conflict of interest exists.

4. Retraction & Corrections

Sulaimani Dental Journal reserves the right to retract or correct published articles if:

• Significant errors or ethical violations are discovered post-publication.
• Plagiarism, duplicate publication, or data falsification is identified.
• Authors request corrections for unintentional mistakes.

5. Ethical Complaint Process

Anyone can report ethical concerns regarding a published article by contacting the journal editorial office. The editorial team will conduct an independent review and take necessary actions in accordance with COPE guidelines.

By adhering to these principles, Sulaimani Dental Journal ensures the credibility, integrity, and ethical responsibility of all published research.