Editorial Responsibilities
Editors at the Journal of Neuroscience and Neurological Disorders (JNND) are entrusted with ensuring the integrity, quality, and fairness of the publication process. These responsibilities are designed to uphold the trust of authors, reviewers, and readers while promoting transparency in scholarly communication.
Oversight of Peer Review
- Ensure manuscripts are reviewed by qualified and independent experts.
- Maintain transparency in reviewer selection and feedback processes.
- Provide timely decisions based on constructive peer review.
- Protect reviewer anonymity in double-blind review.
Fair and Impartial Decision-Making
Editorial decisions must be based solely on scientific merit, relevance, and originality. Editors must avoid discrimination based on author nationality, gender, institution, or political beliefs.
Ethical Compliance
- Monitor for plagiarism, duplicate submission, or data fabrication.
- Ensure research involving humans and animals complies with ethical standards.
- Follow COPE guidelines in cases of misconduct.
Confidentiality
Editors must treat all manuscripts as confidential documents. Manuscript details should only be shared with individuals directly involved in the editorial process.
Conflict of Interest
- Editors must declare any conflicts of interest regarding submissions.
- Manuscripts with conflicts must be reassigned to an independent editor.
- Editors must not use unpublished material for personal research.
Transparency and Communication
Editors must communicate clearly with authors regarding editorial policies, peer review outcomes, and reasons for acceptance, revision, or rejection. Appeals must be handled fairly and transparently.
Editorial leadership requires a balance of scientific judgment, ethical oversight, and transparency. By fulfilling these responsibilities, editors safeguard the credibility of neuroscience research.
Continuous Improvement
Editors should actively engage in professional development, attending workshops and utilizing resources from WAME, COPE, and ICMJE to strengthen editorial practices.
FAQs
Can editors override peer reviewer recommendations?
Yes, but only with strong justification. Final decisions rest with the editor, based on all available evidence.
How should editors handle author appeals?
Appeals must be reviewed fairly and transparently, often involving an independent editorial board member.
Do editors handle ethical breaches directly?
Editors must investigate but also collaborate with publishers and institutions as required by COPE standards.