Ethics and Malpractice

British Research Review (BRR) is committed to maintaining the highest standards of publication ethics, academic integrity, and responsible research practices. Authors, editors, and reviewers are expected to uphold these principles throughout the submission, peer-review, and publication process. The journal follows the ethical guidelines of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) where applicable.

1. Duties of Authors

Authors must submit original work that has not been published or submitted elsewhere. All forms of academic misconduct are strictly prohibited, including but not limited to plagiarism, data fabrication, data falsification, citation manipulation, and redundant publication.

Authors are responsible for ensuring that:

  • All data presented are accurate and truthful.

  • Proper acknowledgment of all sources is provided.

  • All listed authors have made a significant contribution to the research and approve the final manuscript.

  • Any use of third-party material is properly cited and permissions are obtained where required.

  • Any conflicts of interest, financial or otherwise, are fully disclosed.

2. Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Authors may use generative AI or AI-assisted technologies to support manuscript preparation, language editing, or formatting. However:

  • Such use must be clearly disclosed in the manuscript.

  • Authors remain fully responsible for the accuracy, originality, integrity, and validity of the content.

  • AI tools cannot be listed as authors and cannot assume responsibility for the work.

  • AI must not be used to fabricate data, results, citations, or references.

For further guidance, authors should refer to the journal’s Generative AI and AI-Assisted Technologies Policy.

3. Duties of Editors

Editors are responsible for ensuring a fair, unbiased, and confidential peer-review process. Editorial decisions are based solely on academic merit, originality, relevance, and clarity of the submission.

Editors must:

  • Ensure confidentiality of submitted manuscripts.

  • Avoid conflicts of interest in editorial decisions.

  • Make decisions independently of commercial or personal interests.

  • Take appropriate action in cases of ethical concerns or misconduct.

4. Duties of Reviewers

Reviewers must evaluate manuscripts fairly, objectively, and confidentially. Reviewers are expected to:

  • Provide constructive, timely, and unbiased feedback.

  • Maintain confidentiality of all submitted materials.

  • Declare any conflicts of interest before accepting a review.

  • Alert editors to any ethical concerns, including plagiarism or unethical research practices.

5. Peer Review Process

All submissions undergo a peer review process conducted by independent experts in the relevant field. The review process is designed to ensure fairness, academic rigor, and quality. Editorial decisions are based on reviewer recommendations and editorial judgment.

6. Conflicts of Interest

All parties involved in the publication process (authors, editors, and reviewers) must disclose any financial, professional, or personal relationships that could be perceived as influencing their work or judgment.

7. Research Misconduct and Ethical Oversight

BRR takes all allegations of research misconduct seriously. This includes plagiarism, data fabrication, data falsification, citation manipulation, and other unethical practices.

Where misconduct is suspected or confirmed, the journal will act in accordance with COPE guidelines and may take actions including:

  • Rejection of the manuscript

  • Retraction of published articles

  • Publication of corrections or expressions of concern

  • Notification of relevant institutions or authorities

8. Corrections, Retractions, and Post-Publication Integrity

The journal is committed to maintaining the integrity of the scholarly record. Corrections, retractions, or expressions of concern will be issued where necessary to address errors or ethical issues in published content.

9. Copyright and Licensing

Copyright and licensing terms are clearly stated on the journal website and within published articles. Authors retain copyright unless otherwise specified. Articles are published under the applicable license stated by the journal, which permits appropriate use, sharing, and citation according to those terms.

10. Revenue Sources and Independence

The journal is supported by clearly stated revenue sources, which may include author fees, institutional support, or other funding mechanisms. Any publication fees are transparently communicated prior to submission and do not influence editorial decisions.

11. Access and Archiving

The journal provides access to its published content in accordance with its publishing model (open access or subscription-based). The journal is committed to long-term digital preservation and archiving of its content to ensure continued availability.

12. Advertising Policy

The journal does not accept or publish any form of advertising. No advertisements are displayed on the journal website or within published articles. As no advertising is permitted, there are no commercial influences on editorial processes, content, or publication decisions.

13. Publication Ethics Compliance

The journal reserves the right to take appropriate action in response to any breach of publication ethics or research integrity standards, in accordance with COPE best practices.

14. Direct Marketing and Communication

Any communication on behalf of the journal, including manuscript invitations or editorial correspondence, is conducted in an ethical, transparent, and professional manner. Such communications are:

  • Relevant to the academic community

  • Non-misleading and accurate in describing the journal’s scope and processes

  • Never used to guarantee acceptance or influence editorial decisions

The journal does not engage in aggressive, misleading, or mass unsolicited solicitation practices. All submitted manuscripts are subject to independent peer review, and acceptance is never guaranteed.

Declaration

The journal affirms its commitment to the Principles of Transparency and Best Practice in Scholarly Publishing.