Publication Ethics and Publication Malpractice Statement

For the policies on the research and publication ethics not stated in this instructions, International standards for editors and authors (http://publicationethics.org/international-standards-editors-and-authors) can be applied.

Research Ethics Regulations of the Korean Society for Mass Spectrometry

Chapter 1 Ethical Regulations Related to Research

The purpose of this regulation is to secure research ethics related to academic activities such as publication and academic presentation of academic journals published by the Korean Society for Mass Spectrometry, to prevent research cheating, and to provide basic principles and directions for researchers' roles and responsibilities.

Section 1 Research Ethics Regulations to be observed by the authors

Article 1 Research Fraud Prohibition

The author shall not engage in research fraud in proposing research, conducting research, and reporting/presenting research results. Research fraud is the act of falsifying (forging), manipulating research materials, equipment, research processes, etc. or distorting research content or results by arbitrarily modifying or deleting data, stealing ideas, research results, etc. without proper approval or citation (plagiarism), submitting or publishing one's previously published research (including research to be published or under review) as if it were a new research (duplicate submission and publication), not granting the authorship of the article without reason to the person who made scientific or technological contribution to the research contents or results, or granting the qualification of the authorship of the article to a person who has not made scientific or technological contributions or contributions for reasons such as gratitude or courtesy (unfair authorship of the article).

Article 2 Citation and Reference Display

When an author cites published academic materials, he should try to describe it accurately and clearly state the source unless it is a material that belongs to common sense. When the author cites someone else's writing or refers to someone else's thoughts, he or she should reveal the citation and reference through footnotes, so that the people know how far it is as a result of prior research and which parts are from the author's original idea, argument, or interpretation.

Article 3 Openness of Research

A researcher shall engage in as open a position as possible for the development of learning and technology within the extent that his/her research secrets are protected. When requested by another researcher after the research results are published, research-related data, results, etc. shall be actively provided to the extent permitted by intellectual property rights or restrictions related to research.

Section 2 Research Ethics Regulations to be observed by the Editor

Article 4 The powers and responsibilities of the Editor

The editor shall have the authority and responsibility to determine whether to publish the submitted manuscript. The submitted manuscript shall be treated regardless of the author's gender, age, or personal acquaintance with the institution under his/her jurisdiction, and it shall be determined whether to publish it based on the evaluation of the reviewers and scientific feasibility.

Article 5 Obligations for ensuring fair examination

In order to determine whether to publish a submitted manuscript, the editor shall endeavor to find the most appropriate reviewers for the submitted manuscript with professional knowledge and fair judgment ability in the relevant field and request the evaluation of the manuscript. When requesting an examination, he/she shall endeavor to ensure that an objective evaluation is made by avoiding reviewers who are close to the author or who are hostile. When the evaluation of the same manuscript differs significantly among the reviewers, the editor may consult to a third-party expert in the relevant field.

Article 6 Obligations for Examination and Confidentiality

Editor shall not disclose the contents of the manuscript or the author until the publication of the submitted manuscript is decided. In addition, the reviewers in charge of the examination of the submitted manuscript shall not be exposed.

Article 7 Editors should promptly notify the Ethics Committee and respond appropriately in the event of issues such as raising questions related to the review of submitted manuscripts by reviewers.

Section 3 Research Ethics Regulations to be observed by Reviewers

Article 8 Basic Obligations of Reviewers

The reviewers shall faithfully evaluate the manuscript requested by the editor of the journal within the period set by the review regulations and notify the editor of the results of the evaluation. If it is determined that the reviewer is not the right person to evaluate the contents of the paper, the reviewer must notify the editor of the fact. In addition, if the reviewer decides that the reviewer has an interest in the author of the submitted manuscript or has an interest in the content of the manuscript, the reviewer should reveal the reason and inform the editor of the rejection of the evaluation.

Article 9 Obligations for Process Evaluation

The reviewers shall maintain a neutral and positive attitude while evaluating the manuscript and shall examine it in a polite manner in cooperation with the author. Regardless of personal academic beliefs or personal acquaintance with the author, he/she shall be evaluated fairly based on objective standards. The manuscript should not be eliminated without sufficient evidence, or the manuscript should not be eliminated on the grounds that it conflicts with the reviewer's own point of view or interpretation. The comments on the manuscript should be specific and convincing and contain information that will improve the manuscript.

Article 10 Obligations for Confidentiality

Reviewers must not disclose the submitted manuscript content in any form prior to publication. The manuscript should not be copied, nor should the contents of the manuscript be cited in the manuscript written by the reviewer himself. Reviewers should not contact the author of the submitted manuscript with matters related to the manuscript.

Article 11 When the reviewers are aware of their opinion on whether or not to publish, the possibility of research misconduct, duplicate submission, or attempted duplicate publication, the reviewers need to notify the fact to the editor

Chapter 2 Guidelines for Enforcement of Research Ethics Regulations

Article 1 Pledge of Research Ethics

All members of the Korean Society for Mass Spectrometry and all authors who submit to Mass Spectrometry Letters must pledge to comply with this research ethics regulation. However, the existing members at the time this research ethics regulation comes into effect are considered to have pledged to this research ethics regulation.

Article 2 Information and receipt of fraudulent activities

1) The ethics committee may be notified when authors, editors, and reviewers suggest or impose research misconduct or misconduct action that violate the research ethics regulations prescribed by the Korean Society for Mass Spectrometry.

2) Informer refers to a person who has informed the Korean Society for Mass Spectrometry of the fact or evidence related to the fraud.

3) In principle, an informer may report in all possible ways, such as oral, written, telephone, e-mail, etc., and shall report under his/her real name. However, even if it is an anonymous report, if the report is submitted in writing or by e-mail, including the name of the research project or published article, with the specific details and evidence of misconduct, the research institute and research support institution must handle it according to the report under the real name.

Article 3 Confidentiality of Informants

1) The Research Ethics Committee should not disclose the identity of the informant. However, informants who intentionally fabricated the information or reported it even though they thought it was false are not included in the protection list.

2) Research institutions and research support institutions shall have an obligation to protect informants from disciplinary disadvantages, discrimination in working conditions, unfair pressure, or harm, etc. on the grounds of reporting misconduct.

3) Information on the identity of the informant is not subject to disclosure, and if the informant is disadvantaged in paragraph (3) or exposed against his/her will, the research institution and research support institutes are responsible for receiving and verifying the report.

4) If an informant wants to know the investigation procedures, schedule, etc. conducted after the report of the fraud, he/she may request the reporting agency or the agency in charge of the investigation to inform him/her, and the agency shall faithfully respond.

Article 4 Confidentiality of Investigators

1) An investigator means a person who is subject to investigation for fraud or a person who is suspected to have participated in fraud in the course of conducting the investigation, and no witnesses or witnesses are included in the investigation process.

2) The identity of the investigator should not be disclosed to the outside world until the final decision of disciplinary action is made by the institute for violating research ethics regulations. In addition, if found innocent, efforts shall be made to recover the honor of the person under investigation.

3) Research institutions and research support institutions should be careful not to unfairly violate the honor or rights of the investigator during the verification process.

4) The investigator may request the information receiving agency or the agency in charge of the investigation to inform the investigation and processing procedures, etc., and the relevant agency shall faithfully respond to such request.

Article 5 Organization of the Ethics Committee

The Ethics Committee shall be comprised of at least five members and shall be appointed by the Chairperson upon the recommendation of the board of directors. Provided, That each member shall not participate in the investigation, deliberation, and resolution of the agenda item where there is a direct conflict of interest with the relevant case.

Article 6 Power of the Ethics Committee

1) The Ethics Committee may request informants, investigators, witnesses, and witnesses to attend for statements on cases reported in violation of research ethics regulations, and may request investigators to submit data. In such cases, investigators must comply.

2) After conducting a wide-ranging investigation, the Ethics Committee may propose appropriate sanctions to the Chairman if a violation of research ethics regulations is found to be true.

Article 7 Investigation and deliberation by the Ethics Committee

Members who are reported for violating research ethics regulations shall cooperate with the investigation conducted by the Ethics Committee. Failure to cooperate or interfere with a legitimate investigation constitutes a violation of research ethics regulations in itself.

Article 8 Validation of Truth and Validation

In principle, in cases of irregularities five years before the date of receipt of a tip-off, even if they have been received, they shall not be dealt with. Even if it is cheating five years ago, it shall be dealt with if there is a risk or risk to public welfare or safety if the investigator directly re-cited the results and used for planning, conducting, reporting, and presenting the research funds within five years.

Article 9 Investigation and deliberation by the Ethics Committee;

Members who are reported for violating research ethics regulations shall cooperate with the investigation conducted by the Ethics Committee. Failure to cooperate or interfere with a legitimate investigation constitutes a violation of research ethics regulations in itself.

Article 10 Guarantee of objection and defense opportunities;

The Research Ethics Committee shall equally guarantee the rights and opportunities to state opinions, raise objections, and defendants, and shall inform relevant procedures in advance.

Article 11 Disciplinary Procedures and Contents

If there is a disciplinary suggestion from the Ethics Committee, the chairman convenes the board of directors to finally decide whether or not to discipline the disciplinary action. When members are determined to have violated the Research Ethics, the members are subject to disciplinary action such as warning, restriction on submission, suspension or deprivation of membership, and the measure may be publicized to the public, including the affiliated institution.

Article 12 Revision of Research Ethics Regulations

The procedure for revising the research ethics regulations follows the procedure for revising the regulations of the Korean Society for Mass Spectrometry.

Addendum: This code of ethics goes into effect on November 1, 2010.