Publication Ethics

Rangsit Music Journal (RMJ) is committed to upholding the highest ethical standards in academic publishing. Our practices align with the principles and recommendations of leading organizations such as the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE). All stakeholders – authors, reviewers, editors, and the editorial board – are expected to adhere to these ethical guidelines to ensure the integrity, transparency, and fairness of the publication process.

Guiding Ethical Principles

RMJ upholds the following guiding principles in its publication practices:

          1. Authorship and Originality

  • Manuscripts submitted to RMJ must be original, unpublished works that are not under consideration elsewhere.
  • Plagiarism or the unauthorized use of another’s work is strictly prohibited. Authors must appropriately cite all sources and provide proper acknowledgment for any borrowed material.
  • Submissions must include significant original contributions to the field of music.

          2. Peer Review Process

  • All submissions undergo a rigorous double-blind peer review process to ensure fairness and impartiality.
  • Reviewers are expected to provide objective, constructive, and timely feedback while maintaining confidentiality.
  • Authors must address all reviewer comments and provide detailed explanations for any disagreements.

          3. Conflicts of Interest

  • All parties involved in the publication process must disclose any potential conflicts of interest that may influence their work or decisions.
  • Authors must declare any funding sources or affiliations that could be perceived as conflicts of interest.
  • Reviewers and editors must recuse themselves from handling manuscripts where a conflict of interest exists.

          4. Authorship Criteria

  • Only individuals who have made substantial contributions to the research, manuscript preparation, or study design should be listed as authors.
  • Authors must agree on the order of authorship and provide written consent before submission.
  • Any changes to authorship after submission must be approved by all authors and the editorial board.

          5. Data Integrity and Reproducibility

  • Authors are responsible for ensuring that all data presented in their manuscript is accurate, reliable, and free of fabrication or manipulation.
  • Research data must be made available upon request to validate findings and promote reproducibility.
  • Authors should retain raw data and associated materials for at least five years after publication.

Violations of Publication Ethics

RMJ takes violations of publication ethics seriously, including but not limited to plagiarism, duplicate submission, data falsification, and unethical research practices. Any suspected breaches will be investigated following COPE guidelines, and appropriate actions – including manuscript rejection, retraction, or notification of institutional authorities – will be taken.

Ethical Research Practices

RMJ expects all research submitted for publication to comply with relevant ethical standards. For studies involving human subjects, authors must provide proof of approval by an appropriate ethics committee. Authors must also include a statement of ethical compliance within their manuscript.

Responsibilities of Authors, Reviewers, and Editors

Rangsit Music Journal (RMJ) recognizes the critical roles that authors, reviewers, and editors play in maintaining the integrity and quality of the publication process. The following outlines the responsibilities of each party in detail:

 Authors

Authors are expected to uphold the highest ethical standards when preparing and submitting manuscripts. Their responsibilities include:

          1. Originality of Work

  • Authors must ensure that their work is original and has not been previously published or submitted elsewhere. Plagiarism, self-plagiarism, and the reuse of others’ work without proper acknowledgment are strictly prohibited.
  • Proper citation of all sources, including ideas, data, and text from other works, must be included to give appropriate credit.

          2. Accuracy and Integrity

  • Authors must provide accurate, reliable, and verifiable data. Any falsification, fabrication, or manipulation of data is unethical and will result in immediate rejection.
  • All results and findings must be clearly and truthfully reported.

          3. Compliance with Journal Guidelines

  • Authors must adhere to RMJ’s submission guidelines, including formatting, citation styles, and ethical declarations. Submissions that fail to meet these requirements may be rejected.

          4. Acknowledgment of Contributions

  • All contributors who made significant intellectual, technical, or financial contributions must be listed as authors or acknowledged appropriately.
  • Ghostwriting, honorary authorship, and other unethical authorship practices are not permitted.

          5. Conflicts of Interest

  • Authors must disclose any potential conflicts of interest, including funding sources or affiliations, that could influence the interpretation of their work.

          6. Revisions and Responses

  • Authors are required to address reviewer comments thoroughly and respectfully, providing clear explanations for any disagreements.
  • Revised manuscripts should highlight changes made in response to feedback.

          7. Ethical Research Practices

  • For research involving human subjects or animals, authors must provide documentation of ethical approval from appropriate institutions or committees.

Reviewers

Reviewers play a pivotal role in ensuring the quality, integrity, and fairness of the peer review process. Their responsibilities include:

          1. Impartial Evaluation

  • Reviewers must evaluate manuscripts solely on their academic merit, originality, and contribution to the field, without bias based on personal, institutional, or national affiliations.

          2. Constructive Feedback

  • Reviewers should provide clear, objective, and constructive feedback to assist authors in improving their work. Critiques should focus on the content of the manuscript, avoiding personal comments or unprofessional language.

          3. Timeliness

  • Reviewers are expected to complete their evaluations within the time frame specified by RMJ. If unable to meet the deadline or if the manuscript is outside their expertise, reviewers should promptly inform the editorial board.

          4. Confidentiality

  • Reviewers must treat all submissions as confidential documents and must not share, discuss, or disclose any information about the manuscript outside the review process.

          5. Conflict of Interest

  • Reviewers should recuse themselves from reviewing manuscripts where a conflict of interest exists, such as prior collaborations with the authors or competing research.

          6. Ethical Vigilance

  • If reviewers identify ethical concerns, such as suspected plagiarism or data falsification, they must notify the editorial board immediately.

Editors

Editors are responsible for overseeing the editorial process and ensuring that it upholds the highest ethical standards. Their responsibilities include:

          1. Maintaining Editorial Integrity

  • Editors must ensure that all decisions regarding manuscript acceptance, revision, or rejection are based solely on the manuscript’s academic quality, originality, and relevance to RMJ’s scope.

          2. Fair and Transparent Decisions

  • Editors must remain impartial and avoid any bias in their decisions, ensuring that all manuscripts are treated equitably, regardless of the authors’ affiliations, gender, ethnicity, or nationality.

          3. Addressing Ethical Concerns

  • Editors are responsible for investigating and resolving ethical issues, such as plagiarism, duplicate submissions, or conflicts of interest. Appropriate action will be taken based on COPE guidelines, which may include rejection, retraction, or notification of the authors’ institution.

          4. Confidentiality

  • Editors must ensure the confidentiality of all submitted manuscripts during the review and decision-making process. Information about a manuscript must not be disclosed to anyone outside the editorial team and reviewers.

          5. Quality Assurance

  • Editors are tasked with ensuring that all published articles meet RMJ’s standards of academic rigor, clarity, and originality. Editors may suggest revisions to improve the readability, formatting, or adherence to journal guidelines.

          6. Appointment of Reviewers

  • Editors must select qualified reviewers who have the necessary expertise to evaluate the manuscript impartially and effectively.

          7. Conflict of Interest Management

  • Editors must disclose and manage any potential conflicts of interest related to a manuscript or authors. If necessary, the editorial decision may be delegated to another editor to ensure objectivity.

          8. Communication with Authors

  • Editors must communicate decisions and feedback to authors clearly and promptly, providing detailed explanations for rejections or major revisions.
  • Editors may contact authors for clarification or additional information if required.