Publication Ethics and Malpractice Statement

         Hatyai Academic Journal recognizes and emphasizes the importance of publication ethics by strictly adhering to the international standards set by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE). The journal has established the roles and responsibilities of editors, reviewers, and authors, as well as guidelines on human research ethics, plagiarism prevention, and the use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools, with details as follows:

 

◉ Roles of Editor

         - The editor must initially consider the article’s quality without personal biases in all aspects before entering the assessment process.
         - The editor must not take into account any personal interests that may or may be desirable from accepting the article for publication.
         - Over the entire process of assessment, the editor is required to maintain information about the assessment of the article, without disclosing the information to unrelated persons that can lead to discrediting both the author and the journal.
         - Hatyai Academic Journal accepts only original manuscripts that have not been previously published or are currently under review elsewhere. Additionally, the plagiarism or similarity index must not exceed 25%. If plagiarism is detected during the peer review process, the editor will immediately suspend the review and contact the corresponding author for a written explanation, which will be used to determine the acceptance or rejection of the manuscript.

 

◉ Roles of Reviewers

         - Over the entire process of assessment, the reviewer is required to maintain information about the assessment of the article, without disclosing the information to unrelated persons that can lead to discrediting both the author and the journal.
         - If the reviewer receives an article in which he or she is a part of it or is a stakeholder, either directly or indirectly, he or she should take immediate action by notifying the editor.
         - Reviewers must evaluate manuscripts using their own expertise and must not use AI tools to conduct the review. This ensures academic quality and provides constructive feedback for authors to refine their work and advance impactful knowledge.

 

◉ Roles of Authors

         - The author must certify that the article submitted for publication has never before been published in, nor is under consideration of any journal, nor is a reproduction, nor is a result of its author’s violation of the copyright of others.
         - Any article which is under the collaboration of more than one author must be approved by all of them.
         - If the article includes an application of someone else's work, the author is required to make an in-text citation and a reference list.
         - In case the author is a student, the article must mention the name(s) of the advisor(s) as one of the co-authors.
         - If AI is used in the article, authors must transparently disclose its usage and provide citations/references in accordance with the journal's guidelines.
         - Authors must disclose funding sources, conflicts of interest, and author contributions/roles.

 

◉ Human Research Ethics 

         Hatyai Academic Journal adheres to human research ethics. Relevant manuscripts must obtain Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval and comply with the Declaration of Helsinki. For transparency and ethical standards, authors must clearly state this approval and provide the official approval code within the manuscript. The journal reserves the right to request additional supporting documents regarding research ethics at any stage of the review or publication process.

 

◉ Publication Ethics: Plagiarism Policy

         Hatyai Academic Journal strictly prohibits plagiarism, including self-plagiarism. If plagiarism is detected, the journal will take the following actions based on the stage of the publication process:

         1. Initial Stage (Manuscript Submission)

              - Similarity Index not exceeds 25%: The editor will return the manuscript to the author for clarification and revision before proceeding to peer review.               

              - Similarity Index exceeds 25%: The manuscript will be rejected immediately.

         2. Publication Process (During Peer Review) If plagiarism or academic misconduct is detected and the similarity index exceeds 25%, the editor will request a written explanation from the author. The editorial board will convene to review the case. If verified, the manuscript will be withdrawn and rejected.

         3. After Publication: The editorial team will conduct a preliminary investigation. If plagiarism is confirmed and the similarity index exceeds 25%, the article will be retracted. The article will remain on the journal's website with a retraction notice stating the misconduct, and the author(s) will bear sole responsibility.

         4. Self-Plagiarism: Manuscripts extended from conference proceedings are acceptable, provided that the title, text, and content differ significantly from the published version. If the content is identical or closely similar, the original work must be properly cited according to academic standards.

 

◉ Publication Ethics: Use of AI Tools 

         To maintain academic standards and publication ethics, Hatyai Academic Journal has established the following guidelines regarding the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in research manuscripts:
         1. Acceptable and Prohibited AI Uses
              - Allowed: AI tools may be used solely to support writing, such as refining language, checking grammar, summarizing text, or performing preliminary translations.

              - Prohibited Content Generation: AI must NOT be used to generate core academic content, write abstracts, analyze data, create images, or draw research conclusions.

              - Prohibited Data Misconduct: AI must NOT be used to fabricate data or distort research findings.

         2. Mandatory Disclosure and Accountability
              - Required Disclosure: If AI is utilized at any stage of manuscript preparation (writing, translating, or editing), authors must clearly disclose it under the "Use of Artificial Intelligence" section.
              - Final Accountability: Ultimately, authors bear sole and full responsibility for the accuracy, integrity, and validity of all data, text, content, and conclusions presented in the manuscript.

         3. Policy on Evaluation of AI-Utilized Manuscripts
              - Manuscripts entirely generated by AI will not be accepted for publication.
              - Manuscripts that lack accountability or fail to disclose AI usage adequately will be rejected.
              - Authors may appeal decisions related to AI usage with clear supporting evidence. The Editorial Board may revise its decision if the appeal is substantiated. The final decision of the Editorial Board is binding.
              - If a published article is later found to have violated this AI usage policy, the journal reserves the right to retract the article from its website.