The journal is committed to upholding the highest standards of publication ethics and to maintaining the integrity of the scholarly record. Our ethical principles are informed by internationally recognised guidelines, particularly those established by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE). The journal encourages editors, reviewers, authors, and publishers to adhere strictly to these ethical standards throughout the editorial and publishing process.

Ethical Responsibilities of Authors

Authors must ensure that their manuscripts are original, free from plagiarism, and have not been submitted or published elsewhere. All sources and references must be properly cited in accordance with accepted academic standards. Authors are responsible for the integrity and accuracy of the data presented in their work, and any form of data fabrication or manipulation is considered unethical. All contributors who meet the criteria for authorship must be appropriately acknowledged, and all listed authors must approve the final version of the manuscript.

Research Involving Humans or Animals

Any research involving human participants or animals must comply with internationally accepted ethical standards. For studies involving humans, authors must obtain informed consent from all participants and seek ethical clearance from a recognised institutional review board. For studies involving animals, adherence to institutional and national guidelines for animal care and use is required. Details of ethical approval, including the name of the approving body, must be provided in the manuscript.

Plagiarism and Misconduct

The journal maintains a strict policy against all forms of plagiarism and academic misconduct. Instances of plagiarism, duplicate publication, data falsification, or other forms of research misconduct will lead to immediate rejection or retraction of the published article, and the authors’ affiliated institutions may be notified.

Conflict of Interest and Funding Disclosure

Authors must disclose any potential conflicts of interest that could influence the interpretation or presentation of their research. This includes financial relationships, personal connections, or institutional affiliations. All sources of funding for the research must also be clearly stated in the manuscript.

Peer Reviewer Responsibilities

Reviewers must treat all manuscripts as confidential documents. They are expected to provide fair, objective, and timely assessments of the content, identifying any ethical concerns, plagiarism, or data issues. Reviewers should not have any conflict of interest with the subject matter of the manuscript. If such conflicts exist, reviewers must recuse themselves from the process.

Editorial Responsibilities

Editors are responsible for ensuring that all submissions are evaluated fairly and solely on their academic merit. Editorial decisions are based on the quality, originality, and relevance of the manuscript, without discrimination based on the authors’ identity, affiliation, or background. Editors will investigate any allegations of ethical misconduct and will take corrective action where necessary, including issuing corrections, retractions, or expressions of concern.

Post-Publication Ethics and Corrections

If ethical issues arise after publication, the journal is committed to investigating such matters thoroughly. Where necessary, appropriate steps such as issuing an erratum, retraction, or clarification will be taken to preserve the accuracy and integrity of the academic record.

Reporting Ethical Concerns

All concerns regarding potential ethical breaches should be reported to the journal’s Research Integrity and Publication Ethics team via email at ethics@cambridgeresearchpub.com and Editorial team at editorial@cambridgeresearchpub.com. Such reports will be handled sensitively, and appropriate follow-up actions will be taken in line with the journal’s procedures and COPE guidelines.