Ethics and good practices

The reputation and credibility of Causality are based on strict adherence to internationally recognized ethical principles and best editorial practices. These standards form the foundation that guarantees the integrity, validity, and reliability of the scientific publication process, ensuring that every contribution submitted to the journal is evaluated and handled in accordance with the highest standards of academic rigor and transparency.

Academic Integrity

Originality is an essential requirement for all manuscripts submitted to Causality. Manuscripts must be the product of the authors’ genuine intellectual effort, and authors are required to properly cite all previous sources that have served as the basis for their research. Plagiarism, in any form, constitutes a serious ethical violation that compromises the integrity of the scientific record and will be addressed in accordance with the protocols established by the journal’s Ethics Committee.

The accuracy of the data presented is another fundamental pillar of academic integrity. The invention (fabrication) or manipulation (falsification) of data, results, or experimental evidence is strictly prohibited. These fraudulent practices not only distort the advancement of knowledge but also erode the trust of the scientific community and society in published research; therefore, they will be subject to the most severe corrective measures, including public retraction and notification to the authors’ affiliated institutions.

Transparency in the Editorial Process

Causality implements a peer review system characterized by impartiality, objectivity, and confidentiality. Manuscripts are evaluated by independent experts outside the publishing organization, who issue opinions based exclusively on criteria of scientific quality, originality, and thematic relevance. Anonymity in the review process, when required, protects the integrity of the process and promotes an unbiased evaluation.

Transparent disclosure of conflicts of interest is an essential obligation for all parties involved in the editorial process. Authors, reviewers, and editors must disclose any personal, financial, or professional relationships that could bias—or be perceived as potentially biasing—their judgment or objectivity. Proper management of these situations, through explicit disclosure or recusal when appropriate, preserves trust in editorial decisions.

Authors' Responsibility

The precise definition of authorship is a key ethical issue. The principle of causality requires that only those individuals who have made a significant contribution to the conception, design, execution, analysis, or interpretation of the research be listed as authors. Unacceptable practices—such as the inclusion of “honorary authors” (individuals who have made no substantial contribution) or the omission of “ghost authors” (those who contributed but are not mentioned)—are prohibited.

Multiple or redundant publication undermines the originality and efficiency of the scientific communication system. It is expressly prohibited to submit the same manuscript for simultaneous consideration by two or more journals, as well as to artificially fragment the results of a single research project to generate multiple publications (“salami slicing”). These practices distort the bibliographic record and constitute an inefficient use of the resources dedicated to peer review.

Transparency in disclosing funding sources is an integral part of authors’ responsibilities. Every manuscript must explicitly identify the entities, institutions, or agencies that have provided financial support for the research, specifying, when required, the corresponding project or contract number. This information allows the work to be properly contextualized and helps assess potential conflicts of interest.

Responsibilities of the Editor and Reviewers

Confidentiality is a fundamental duty of editors and reviewers throughout the review process. Manuscripts received must be treated as confidential documents, the contents of which may not be disclosed or used for personal gain prior to publication. This obligation extends beyond the conclusion of the review process, ensuring the confidentiality of communications between the parties.

Impartiality in editorial decisions ensures the fairness of the process. Decisions regarding acceptance, rejection, or requests for revisions are based exclusively on criteria of scientific relevance, originality, methodological rigor, and quality of presentation, without being influenced by considerations related to the authors’ institution of affiliation, nationality, gender, sexual orientation, religious beliefs, or political affiliation.

A commitment to post-publication correction and transparency completes the framework of editorial responsibilities. Causalidad undertakes the obligation to promptly publish corrections, clarifications, or errata when unintentional errors are identified in previously published works. In cases where misconduct or substantial errors that invalidate the conclusions are detected, the journal will proceed with the formal retraction of the article, ensuring the traceability and transparency of the process through the publication of a corresponding explanatory note.

El cumplimiento escrupuloso de estos principios éticos no constituye un mero requisito formal, sino el sello distintivo de calidad y seriedad que posiciona a Causalidad como una publicación de referencia en su ámbito. Más allá de su función como garante de la integridad del proceso editorial, la observancia de estas normas protege a la comunidad académica frente a prácticas inadecuadas, fomenta la confianza de la sociedad en los resultados de la investigación científica y asegura que el avance del conocimiento se construya sobre bases sólidas, honestas y verificables.