Journal Policies

Publication Fee

The SPAMAST Research Journal operates on a fair and equitable basis, not charging authors any article processing or publication fees. All accepted papers are published free of charge, ensuring wide access for both authors and readers and fostering a sense of confidence in the publication process.

Authorship and Contributorship

For multi-authored manuscripts, each contributor's role (e.g., conceptualization, funding acquisition, investigation, data analysis, manuscript drafting) must be declared. Any adjustments to authorship, such as addition or removal of authors, can only be made before publication, with consent from all co-authors and a formal request sent to the editorial office. All involved parties must confirm changes in writing.

Complaints, Appeals, and Allegations

If authors or readers have concerns regarding scientific integrity, ethical conduct, or appeal of editorial decisions, these must be addressed in writing to the Editor-in-Chief. The identity of complainants will be kept confidential. All involved parties will be able to provide relevant details as part of the investigation.

Conflict of Interest

Authors must disclose any financial or personal conflicts of interest that could influence the research.

Data Sharing and Reproducibility

To foster transparency and reproducibility, all underlying data for published studies should be available for future research. Authors are encouraged to deposit supporting datasets and protocols in open repositories or provide supplementary files upon request if public repository submission is not feasible.

Repository Policy

Authors are permitted to deposit submitted, accepted, or published versions of their manuscripts in institutional or public repositories at any time without embargo or restriction from the journal.

Ethical Considerations

Research involving human participants must adhere to institutional, national, and international guidelines and ethical standards. Consent must be obtained, especially for minors, and personal information must be kept confidential. For studies involving animals, authors must follow appropriate welfare protocols and secure institutional approval.

Declaration of generative AI in scientific writing

SRJ requires clear disclosure of any generative AI use in manuscript preparation to maintain transparency and academic integrity. Generative AI includes systems that produce human-like text or content, such as language models and writing tools. Authors must declare the AI tools used, their role, and any AI-generated content in both the cover letter and “Acknowledgments” section. AI-generated content must be accurate, and third-party AI tools should be properly acknowledged. Failure to disclose or provide misleading information about AI use may lead to rejection or retraction of the manuscript, and this policy may be updated as standards evolve.

Plagiarism

All submissions are screened for plagiarism. Manuscripts with any unoriginal or improperly cited content will be returned for revision or may be rejected. Authors found guilty of academic misconduct—including plagiarism, duplicate submission, or data fabrication—will be prohibited from future submissions.

Editorial Endogeny Policy

To ensure impartial publication, no more than 20% of published articles per issue may be authored or co-authored by members of the editorial team. The same standard applies to annual totals, ensuring the majority of content comes from external contributors.

Data Fabrication and Falsification

The journal strictly prohibits fabrication or manipulation of data and results. Convincing evidence of such misconduct will result in rejection or retraction, and authors may be blocked.

Retractions

Articles may be retracted in cases of scientific fraud, plagiarism, duplicated publication, or other significant ethical breaches. Retractions are made following COPE guidelines and are clearly designated in the published record.

Corrections/Errata

Authors are responsible for notifying the Editorial Office of significant errors in their published work. Corrections and addenda are published in future issues as needed.

Article Removal

Content may be removed if found defamatory, unlawful, or presenting a serious health risk. In such cases, a notice will explain the reason for removal.

Withdrawal Policy

Withdrawing a manuscript after submission is discouraged. If withdrawal is necessary, the request must be made in writing and signed by all authors, detailing the reason for withdrawal.

Transparency

SRJ is committed to transparency and supports the Principles of Transparency and Best Practice in Scholarly Publishing. We require that editors and authors uphold these rigorous standards, ensuring that everyone is well-informed and involved in the publication process.

Disclaimer

The SRJ Editorial Board does not guarantee the completeness or accuracy of published content. Opinions in articles are those of the authors and do not reflect the official policy of the publisher. SRJ and its publisher retain no liability for plagiarism or other errors in published works.

Funding Source

The operation of SPAMAST Research Journal is fully funded by the Southern Philippines Agri-Business and Marine and Aquatic School of Technology (SPAMAST).

All authors are respected and their rights protected through SPAMAST Research Journal’s copyright transfer agreement, which they must consent to and submit with their manuscripts.

Open Access Agreement

Authors must agree to SRJ’s open access license, allowing free reading and distribution of published material without any restriction.