ATISR Research Ethics Policy – Data Handling and Publication Integrity

The Academy of Taiwan Information Systems Research (ATISR) holds a firm commitment to ethical research standards, particularly concerning data management, academic honesty, and publication integrity. These policies serve as a foundation for building trust within the academic community and ensuring that all contributions meet rigorous scholarly expectations.

This article outlines the key components of ATISR’s Research Ethics Policy, with a focus on how data should be handled, and how integrity in publication is maintained across its conferences and affiliated journals.

Purpose

The purpose of ATISR’s ethics policy is twofold: to protect the credibility of academic research and to provide clear expectations for authors, reviewers, and editors. As the research landscape becomes increasingly complex with advancements in data science and AI, ethical guidelines ensure that innovation does not come at the expense of integrity.

These standards align with global academic best practices and reflect ATISR’s commitment to transparency, responsibility, and accountability.

Data

Proper data handling is central to ATISR’s ethical policy. Authors are expected to adhere to strict guidelines when collecting, analyzing, and storing data.

Key requirements include:

• Informed Consent: When human subjects are involved, informed consent must be obtained and documented.
• Data Transparency: Authors should clearly explain how data was collected and processed.
• Storage and Access: Data must be stored securely. If required, it should be made available for peer review or replication.
• Avoiding Misuse: Any manipulation, fabrication, or selective reporting of data is strictly prohibited.

Researchers must also respect privacy laws and data protection regulations applicable in their jurisdictions, especially when working with sensitive or personal information.

Plagiarism

Plagiarism, in any form, is a serious violation of ATISR’s ethics policy. Submissions must be original and properly attribute all ideas, quotations, and data sourced from others.

Types of plagiarism ATISR monitors include:

• Direct copying: Using text without quotation or citation
• Self-plagiarism: Reusing one’s own previously published work without disclosure
• Paraphrasing without credit: Rewriting someone else’s ideas as your own

All submissions undergo plagiarism screening through detection software. If plagiarism is identified, the paper may be rejected or retracted, and the author may be barred from future submissions.

Authorship

Clear and fair authorship is another pillar of ATISR’s ethical framework. Only those who have made significant contributions to the research should be listed as authors.

Guidelines for authorship include:

• Substantial input: Authors should have been involved in study design, data analysis, or manuscript writing.
• Accountability: All listed authors share responsibility for the integrity of the work.
• No guest authorship: Individuals who did not contribute meaningfully should not be credited.

Any disputes over authorship are to be resolved before submission, and all listed authors must approve the final manuscript.

Review

The peer review process at ATISR is designed to be rigorous, fair, and confidential. Reviewers are expected to evaluate work based on quality, relevance, and originality – free from personal or professional bias.

Reviewer ethics include:

• Confidentiality: Review content and decisions must not be shared or discussed outside the review process.
• Objectivity: Feedback should be constructive and based solely on academic merit.
• Disclosure: Reviewers must report any conflict of interest and recuse themselves if necessary.

Editors also play a key role in maintaining ethics by overseeing fair processes and responding promptly to allegations of misconduct.

Publication

ATISR ensures publication integrity through editorial oversight, plagiarism checks, and conflict of interest disclosures.

Important practices include:

• Correction or Retraction: Errors identified after publication must be addressed publicly through formal corrections or retractions.
• Duplicate Submission: Authors must not submit the same paper to multiple journals or conferences simultaneously.
• Conflict Disclosure: Any financial or personal interests that could influence results must be declared.

These safeguards help maintain the credibility of the academic record and foster trust between authors, publishers, and readers.

ATISR’s Research Ethics Policy serves as a vital guide for authors, reviewers, and editors working within its academic community. By promoting transparency, accurate data handling, and responsible publication practices, ATISR ensures that its conferences and publications uphold the highest standards of academic integrity.

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