Citation Policy

 

  1. Transparent Attribution

All content drawn from other references, including the authors' previous publications, must be properly cited. Direct quotes need to be in quotation marks and include the proper reference. This also holds for the author's own previously published work (i.e., self-reuse).

  1. Responsible Self-Citation

Although it is acceptable to reference one’s own work when it is directly relevant, excessive self-citation should be avoided. All citations should support the content, rather than artificially inflating citation metrics.

  1. First-hand use of Sources

Authors should only cite works they have reviewed and relied upon in their own work. Copying citations from other bibliographies without referring to the original one is unacceptable, unethical, and unprofessional.

  1. Avoiding Preferential Citations

Citations should be selected based on their scholarly value and relevance. Without a good reason, authors should refrain from favouring their own works, those of close associates, or those connected to their affiliates.

  1. Exclusion of Non-Scholarly Sources

Advertisements, sponsored content, and commercial promotional materials are examples of things that are inappropriate for scholarly citation and shouldn't be listed in reference lists.

  1. Compliance with COPE Guidelines

Citation procedures must adhere to the guidelines of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) while avoiding manipulation.  It is expressly forbidden to use citation stacking, coerced citation, or the addition of unrelated references to affect impact metrics.

  1. Ethical Conduct in Referencing

The integrity of the author's academic record will be compromised when citation patterns are manipulated to influence metrics or editorial decisions. Such actions will be looked into, and the submission may be retracted or subject to editorial sanctions.