International Journal for Autism Challenges & Solution

1.1 Editorial Decision-Making

Editors are responsible for selecting manuscripts based solely on:

• Scholarly merit and originality
• Relevance to autism research and practice
• Methodological rigor
• Ethical compliance

Decisions are made independently of any personal, institutional, or external influence. Editors must maintain confidentiality and recuse themselves in cases of conflict of interest.

1.2 Peer Review Oversight

Editors ensure a fair and rigorous review process by:

• Assigning at least two qualified reviewers with relevant expertise
• Avoiding conflicts of interest in reviewer selection
• Monitoring review quality and timelines
• Making balanced decisions based on reviewer feedback and editorial judgment

1.3 Integrity Screening

All submissions undergo initial checks for:

• Plagiarism and originality
• Ethical approval (especially for studies involving individuals with autism)
• Data availability and transparency
• Compliance with journal formatting and referencing standards

Manuscripts may be returned, rejected, or investigated if concerns arise.

1.4 Corrections and Retractions

Editors are responsible for issuing:

• Corrections for minor errors
• Expressions of concern where needed
• Retractions in cases of serious misconduct

All actions are handled transparently and remain permanently accessible.

 

2.1 Expertise and Timeliness

Reviewers should:

• Accept assignments only within their area of expertise
• Complete reviews within the agreed timeframe
• Notify editors promptly if delays occur

2.2 Review Quality

Reviews must be:

• Constructive, objective, and evidence-based
• Focused on originality, methodology, clarity, and relevance
• Respectful and supportive, offering actionable feedback

2.3 Confidentiality

• Manuscripts must be treated as confidential
• Content must not be shared or discussed externally
• Reviewer identities remain anonymous

2.4 Conflicts of Interest

Reviewers must disclose any conflicts and withdraw if necessary to maintain objectivity.

2.5 Ethical Concerns

Any suspected issues (e.g., plagiarism, data fabrication, unethical research practices) must be
reported confidentially to the editor.

 

3.1 Originality

Authors must ensure:

• The work is original and unpublished
• It is not under review elsewhere
• Proper citation and avoidance of self-plagiarism

3.2 Authorship

• All listed authors must have made substantial contributions
• Contributions should be transparently described
• Changes in authorship require editorial approval

3.3 Disclosure and Ethics

Authors must disclose:

• Funding sources and conflicts of interest
• Ethical approval for studies involving human participants
• Informed consent procedures where applicable

Special care must be taken when conducting research involving individuals with autism to ensure
dignity, privacy, and ethical compliance.

3.4 Disclosure and Ethics

• A Data Availability Statement is required
• Data sharing is encouraged where ethically and legally possible
• Limitations on data access must be clearly explained

3.5 Permissions

Authors must obtain permission for any third-party content used in the manuscript.

3.6 Post-Publication Responsibility

Authors must:

• Report errors or inaccuracies promptly
• Cooperate with corrections or retractions
• Respond to reasonable post-publication inquiries

 

4.1 Editorial Independence

The journal operates independently, ensuring that editorial decisions are based solely on
academic merit and ethical standards.

4.2 Accessibility and Preservation

• All articles are published under open access
• Content is preserved in secure archives
• Articles are assigned persistent identifiers (e.g., DOIs)

4.3 Transparency

The journal promotes transparency in:

• Editorial processes
• Review timelines
• Publication practices

 

5.1 Reporting Misconduct

Concerns about ethical violations should be reported to the editorial office with supporting
evidence.

5.2 Investigation Process

All cases are handled through a structured process:

• Initial assessment
• Formal investigation
• Outcome and appropriate action (correction, rejection, or retraction)

5.3 Appeals

Authors may appeal decisions by submitting a justified request within a specified timeframe.
Appeals are reviewed independently.

 

6.1 Core Principle

AI tools cannot be listed as authors and cannot take responsibility for scholarly work.

6.2 Permitted Uses

AI may be used for:

• Language editing and clarity improvement
• Translation support
• Limited technical assistance

All use must be clearly disclosed.

6.3 Prohibited Uses

The following are not allowed:

• Generating substantive manuscript content
• Creating or fabricating data or results
• Producing unverified or false references
• Undisclosed use of AI tools

6.4 Disclosure Requirement

Authors must include a statement describing AI use or explicitly confirm that no AI tools were
used.

6.5 Reviewer Restrictions

Reviewers must not use AI tools on submitted manuscripts to protect confidentiality and
integrity.

6.5 Ongoing Updates

This policy will be reviewed regularly to reflect evolving standards in ethical publishing and AI
use.