Publication Ethics Policy for the Monograph Series
“Scientific Library” and “Historical Library”
of the Institute of Aviation
Contents
- Purpose and Scope of the Document
- General Principles of Publication Ethics
- Responsibilities of the Publisher
- Responsibilities of Authors
- Responsibilities of Reviewers
- Procedures for Handling Alleged Violations of Publication Ethics
- Specific Cases of Publication Ethics Misconduct
- Corrections and Post-Publication Actions
- Final Provisions
1. Purpose and Scope of the Document
This Publication Ethics Policy defines the standards governing the publishing process for works published in the Scientific Library and Historical Library series. Its purpose is to ensure a transparent, reliable, and trustworthy publishing process founded on the principles of research integrity, accountability, and respect for intellectual property rights.
The Scientific Library of the Institute of Aviation series is dedicated to publishing original scientific and scientific-technical monographs presenting research results, analyses, and achievements in the fields of aviation, astronautics, and related disciplines. Publications submitted to this series are subject to a publication qualification procedure that includes editorial assessment and scholarly peer review conducted in accordance with applicable publication ethics standards.
The Publisher also publishes the Historical Library of the Institute of Aviation series, devoted to the history of aviation, the activities of the Institute, and the promotion of knowledge concerning the heritage of Polish aviation and space sciences. Decisions concerning the inclusion of publications in this series are made by the Editorial Board. Due to the nature of the works published, historical monographs are generally not subject to mandatory scholarly peer review. In justified cases, the Editorial Board may seek expert opinions or consult specialists in aviation history and related disciplines. Regardless of the publication qualification procedure applied, authors are required to comply with all publication ethics principles set forth in this document.
This document has been developed with due regard to internationally recognized publication ethics standards, particularly the guidelines of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE). The Publisher is guided primarily by the principles set forth in the COPE Core Practices and, where violations of publication ethics are suspected, applies relevant COPE-recommended procedures adapted to the specific nature of monograph publishing.
The provisions of this Publication Ethics Policy apply to all participants in the publishing process, including authors, reviewers (where appointed), members of the Editorial Board, and the Publisher. All individuals involved in the preparation, evaluation, and publication of monographs are required to comply with these principles and cooperate in maintaining the highest standards of publication ethics, research integrity, and the credibility of published works.
2. General Principles of Publication Ethics
Research integrity, academic honesty, transparency, and accountability constitute the foundation of the publishing process of the Scientific Library series. All publishing decisions are made solely on the basis of scholarly merit, academic quality, originality, and consistency with the scope and objectives of the series.
Authors are required to present research results accurately, comprehensively, and in a manner consistent with the actual conduct of the research. Fabrication, falsification, or selective presentation of data that distorts research findings or their interpretation is unacceptable. All materials used, including data, illustrations, photographs, charts, and tables, should faithfully reflect the research conducted, and research and analytical methods should be described sufficiently to allow assessment of their reliability.
Respect for intellectual property rights and the scholarly contributions of other researchers is an integral component of academic integrity. Authors must accurately document all sources used and properly acknowledge the authorship of all materials derived from the work of others. Plagiarism, self-plagiarism, inappropriate attribution of authorship, and other forms of research misconduct constitute violations of publication ethics.
The publishing process is conducted in accordance with the principles of impartiality, confidentiality, and transparency. The Publisher ensures equal treatment of all submitted monographs regardless of nationality, ethnic origin, gender, age, disability, religion, political beliefs, sexual orientation, institutional affiliation, or any other characteristic unrelated to the scholarly value of the publication.
All participants in the publishing process are required to disclose circumstances that may give rise to a conflict of interest or create the appearance of affecting their impartiality. A conflict of interest does not automatically preclude participation in the publishing process but must be disclosed and appropriately managed by the Publisher.
Where a violation of publication ethics is suspected, the Publisher conducts an investigation in accordance with the principles of impartiality, confidentiality, and the right of all parties to present explanations. Proceedings are conducted in accordance with the procedures described in this document and taking into account current recommendations issued by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).
3. Responsibilities of the Publisher
The Publisher is responsible for organizing and conducting the publishing process in accordance with publication ethics principles and the recognized standards of scholarly communication. Its role is to ensure a reliable, transparent, and independent evaluation process for submitted monographs and to make publishing decisions in accordance with principles of impartiality, confidentiality, and accountability.
Each submitted monograph is subject to independent scholarly peer review conducted by experts with appropriate competence in the relevant field. The Publisher appoints reviewers in accordance with principles of impartiality and with due consideration of potential conflicts of interest, safeguarding the independence of the review process and preventing any attempts to influence its course or outcomes.
The Publisher ensures the confidentiality of all materials submitted for publication. Access to monographs and related documentation is restricted to individuals involved in the publishing process to the extent necessary for the performance of their duties. Information concerning authors, reviewers, and the publishing process is protected in accordance with applicable legal requirements.
The Publisher respects the moral rights of authors and uses submitted works exclusively in accordance with publishing agreements and applicable law.
In order to protect the integrity of publications, the Publisher undertakes measures aimed at detecting and addressing research misconduct, including plagiarism, self-plagiarism, data fabrication or falsification, manipulation of visual materials, authorship irregularities, undisclosed conflicts of interest, and other violations of publication ethics. Where appropriate, the Publisher may use tools supporting the assessment of textual originality and publication integrity. The results of such tools form part of the investigation but do not in themselves determine that a violation has occurred.
The Publisher ensures the prompt and impartial handling of allegations of publication ethics violations. Each case is assessed individually, with due regard for the right of all parties to present explanations and with confidentiality maintained until proceedings are concluded. Actions are taken in accordance with the procedures described in this document and current COPE recommendations.
Following publication, the Publisher undertakes measures necessary to preserve the credibility and integrity of published works. Depending on the nature of a case, such measures may include publication of an erratum, corrigendum, addendum, Expression of Concern, retraction, or other actions provided for in this Policy.
The Publisher continuously improves the publishing process by monitoring developments in international publication ethics standards and updating relevant procedures as necessary to ensure alignment with best publishing practices.
4. Responsibilities of Authors
Responsibility for the Publication
Authors bear responsibility for the content of the submitted monograph and for the reliability of the research results presented therein. A submitted publication should constitute an original scholarly contribution prepared in accordance with principles of academic integrity and accepted standards for conducting and reporting research.
Authors must present research findings in a complete, objective, and accurate manner. Fabrication, falsification, selective presentation of data, manipulation of research findings or visual materials, and any other actions that may distort scholarly conclusions are unacceptable.
Originality and Use of Sources
Authors are responsible for the originality of a submitted monograph and for the proper documentation of all sources used. Quotations, borrowed material, data, illustrations, photographs, charts, and other materials originating from third-party works must be acknowledged in accordance with accepted citation practices and copyright laws.
The publication must not infringe the intellectual property rights of third parties. Plagiarism, self-plagiarism, unauthorized use of third-party materials, and misappropriation of authorship constitute violations of publication ethics.
Authorship and Co-authorship
Only individuals who have made a substantial contribution to the conception, preparation, conduct of research, or analysis of results may be listed as authors of a monograph. All individuals meeting the criteria for authorship should be identified as authors. Those whose contributions do not justify co-authorship may be acknowledged with their consent.
The corresponding author is responsible for the accuracy of information concerning all co-authors, obtaining their approval for submission of the monograph, and securing their approval of the final version of the publication.
Copyright
Authors must submit only works for which they hold the copyright necessary to enter into a publishing agreement. A submitted monograph must not infringe the intellectual property rights or other rights of third parties.
Publication of a monograph requires the conclusion of a publishing agreement with the Publisher specifying the rights and obligations of the parties. Under such agreement, the author transfers to the Publisher the economic copyright necessary for publication, dissemination, and further use of the work as specified in the agreement.
The transfer of economic rights does not affect the author’s moral rights, which remain protected under applicable law.
Research Data and Verification of Results
Authors should retain source data, research documentation, and other materials underlying published results for the period required by applicable law or by institutional regulations. Upon reasonable request from the Publisher, authors should cooperate in resolving concerns regarding research integrity and, unless restricted by legal requirements or confidentiality obligations, provide data necessary for verification.
Conflict of Interest
Authors must disclose any circumstances that could influence, or be perceived as influencing, the interpretation of research results or the evaluation of the publication. This includes financial, professional, organizational, or personal relationships, as well as sources of research funding where relevant to the assessment of the work.
Use of Artificial Intelligence Tools
Authors bear full responsibility for the content of a monograph regardless of any tools used in its preparation. Artificial intelligence tools may not be listed as authors or co-authors of a publication.
Where AI tools have had a substantial impact on the preparation of the text, data analysis, development of visual materials, or other aspects of the work, authors should disclose the extent of their use in a manner that ensures transparency of the research and publishing process.
Cooperation with the Publisher
Authors are required to cooperate actively with the Publisher throughout the publishing process, provide timely explanations, and implement agreed revisions resulting from peer review and editorial procedures.
Following publication, authors should promptly notify the Publisher of any significant errors or inaccuracies identified in the monograph and cooperate in their correction where necessary.
5. Responsibilities of Reviewers
Role of the Reviewer
Reviewers play a key role in ensuring the scholarly quality of published monographs. Their task is to provide a rigorous, objective, and substantive assessment that supports the Publisher in making publishing decisions and assists authors in improving their work.
Reviews should be based solely on the scholarly merit of the monograph, the quality of the methodology employed, the validity of the conclusions, and the publication’s suitability for the series. Assessments must not be influenced by the author’s identity, institutional affiliation, academic status, nationality, or any other factor unrelated to the scholarly value of the work.
Expertise and Timeliness
A reviewer should accept a review assignment only when possessing appropriate subject-matter expertise and being able to complete the review within the agreed timeframe. If insufficient expertise, a conflict of interest, or other circumstances affecting impartiality or timeliness arise, the reviewer should immediately inform the Publisher and withdraw from the review process.
Integrity and Objectivity
Reviews should be professional, constructive, and based on scholarly arguments. Reviewer comments should concern the content of the monograph and aim to enhance its academic quality. Personal, discriminatory, or derogatory remarks are unacceptable.
If a reviewer identifies substantial similarity to other publications, suspects plagiarism, data manipulation, authorship irregularities, unauthorized use of materials, or other potential breaches of publication ethics, the reviewer should immediately inform the Publisher.
Confidentiality
All materials provided for review and information obtained during the review process are confidential. They may not be disclosed to third parties or used for personal research, scholarly activities, or any other purpose prior to publication of the monograph.
Use of Artificial Intelligence Tools
Reviewers should independently prepare their scholarly assessments. Artificial intelligence tools must not replace the reviewer’s expert judgment or result in the disclosure of confidential materials to third parties. Any use of such tools may be solely supportive and does not relieve reviewers of responsibility for the content of their reviews.
Cooperation with the Publisher
Reviewers cooperate with the Publisher in a reliable and timely manner by responding to questions concerning their reviews and, where necessary, supplementing or clarifying their assessments. If new circumstances emerge after completion of a review that may affect the evaluation of the monograph or indicate possible publication ethics violations, the reviewer should promptly notify the Publisher.
6. Procedures for Handling Alleged Violations of Publication Ethics
Principles of Procedure
All reports or suspicions of publication ethics violations are handled with due diligence, regardless of the stage of the publishing process at which they arise. Proceedings are conducted fairly, impartially, and confidentially, while respecting the rights of all parties and the presumption of good faith until the matter is resolved.
Investigations may be initiated based on information provided by an author, reviewer, reader, editorial staff member, or another individual, as well as on the Publisher’s own initiative. Reports should, where possible, include information or materials enabling assessment of the allegation.
Upon receiving a report, the Publisher conducts a preliminary assessment. If the available information suggests that the allegation may have merit, a formal investigation is initiated. During the investigation, the Publisher may request explanations or additional documentation from authors, reviewers, research institutions, or other relevant entities.
Until the conclusion of the investigation, all information relating to the case will be treated as confidential. The Publisher provides all parties with an opportunity to present their views and takes measures proportionate to the nature and severity of the identified concerns.
In matters requiring detailed assessment, the Publisher follows current recommendations of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) while taking into account the specific nature of scholarly monograph publishing.
Types of Violations
Proceedings described in this section may be initiated in particular where there is suspicion of:
- plagiarism or self-plagiarism;
- fabrication or falsification of research data;
- manipulation of visual materials or research results;
- authorship or co-authorship irregularities;
- undisclosed conflicts of interest;
- duplicate publication;
- unauthorized use of copyright-protected materials;
- inappropriate use of artificial intelligence tools;
- other conduct violating principles of research integrity or publication ethics.
Possible Actions by the Publisher
Following completion of the investigation, the Publisher takes action appropriate to the nature and severity of any violation identified. Depending on the circumstances, the Publisher may request corrections or amendments, suspend the publishing process, reject the monograph, publish an erratum, corrigendum, addendum, or Expression of Concern, retract the publication, notify relevant academic institutions, or take any other actions necessary to protect publication integrity and the credibility of the publishing process.
Decisions are proportional to the nature of the misconduct, the available evidence, and the impact that the irregularities may have on the credibility of the publication and the scholarly record.
7. Specific Cases of Publication Ethics Misconduct
The Publisher treats all forms of research misconduct and violations of publication ethics with the utmost seriousness. Each case is assessed individually in light of the circumstances, available evidence, and the extent to which the violation affects the credibility of the publication.
The most common forms of misconduct include:
Plagiarism – presenting another person’s text, research results, data, illustrations, or other materials as one’s own without appropriate attribution or required permission.
Self-plagiarism – reusing one’s own previously published material without proper disclosure or in a manner that may mislead readers regarding the originality of the publication.
Data fabrication or falsification – creating non-existent research data, knowingly altering research results, or selectively presenting findings in a manner that distorts conclusions.
Manipulation of visual materials – altering photographs, charts, drawings, or other materials in a way that may mislead readers or misrepresent research findings.
Authorship irregularities – attributing authorship to individuals who did not make a substantial contribution, excluding individuals who meet authorship criteria, or engaging in practices such as ghostwriting, guest authorship, or honorary authorship.
Duplicate publication – submitting or publishing the same or substantially similar work in more than one venue without appropriate disclosure and necessary permissions.
Undisclosed conflicts of interest – concealing financial, professional, organizational, or personal relationships that could influence the evaluation, interpretation, or reception of a publication.
Improper use of artificial intelligence tools – using AI-based tools in a manner that violates principles of transparency, research integrity, or author responsibility for the content of a publication.
This list is not exhaustive. Other actions that undermine research integrity, the credibility of the publishing process, or trust in scholarly publications may also be regarded as violations of publication ethics.
8. Corrections and Post-Publication Actions
The Publisher is committed to maintaining the accuracy and credibility of publications after completion of the publishing process. If errors, inaccuracies, or publication ethics violations are identified after publication, appropriate measures will be taken to preserve publication integrity and ensure readers are properly informed.
Where errors do not affect the interpretation of research findings or the principal conclusions of the publication, the Publisher may issue an erratum or corrigendum, depending on the nature and source of the error. The purpose of these measures is to ensure the accuracy of the published record while maintaining transparency regarding changes made.
Where important information must be added after publication and does not call into question the reliability of the results, the Publisher may publish an addendum constituting an integral supplement to the monograph.
Where justified concerns exist regarding the reliability of a publication but the investigation has not yet been concluded, the Publisher may issue an Expression of Concern, informing readers of the ongoing investigation and the reasons for the concerns raised.
If an investigation establishes that a publication contains significant breaches of publication ethics or serious errors that undermine the reliability of the reported findings, the Publisher may decide to retract the publication. Retraction notices remain permanently linked to the publication and provide the reasons for the decision, consistent with principles of transparency and COPE recommendations.
All post-publication actions are proportionate to the nature of the identified issues and are carried out in accordance with principles of integrity, transparency, and the right of all parties to present explanations. The Publisher aims to maintain complete documentation and ensure that readers have access to current information regarding the status of publications.
9. Final Provisions
This Publication Ethics Policy applies to all participants in the publishing process of the Institute of Aviation Scientific Library monograph series, including authors, reviewers, members of the editorial team, and the Publisher. All individuals involved in the preparation, evaluation, and publication of monographs are required to comply with these principles and cooperate in ensuring the integrity and credibility of scholarly publications.
In matters not regulated by this document, the Publisher shall follow current recommendations of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and applicable legal regulations, taking into account the specific nature of scholarly monograph publishing.
This Publication Ethics Policy shall be subject to periodic review and may be updated to ensure compliance with evolving publication ethics standards, developments in best publishing practices, and changes in applicable law.
The Publisher declares its commitment to the consistent application of these principles and to undertaking actions that safeguard the integrity of scholarly publications, the transparency of the publishing process, and public trust in published monographs.
Basis for the Preparation of this Document
This Publication Ethics Policy has been developed with due regard to international publication ethics standards and recognized best practices in scholarly communication. In particular, it draws upon the guidelines and recommendations issued by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), including:
- COPE Core Practices;
- COPE Ethical Guidelines for Peer Reviewers;
- COPE Flowcharts;
- COPE Retraction Guidelines;
- COPE Principles of Transparency and Best Practice in Scholarly Publishing (to the extent applicable to scholarly monographs).
The document also takes into account applicable legal provisions concerning copyright and related rights, personal data protection, and intellectual property, as well as best practices followed by international scholarly publishers.