Publication ethics and research integrity

RICIA requires integrity, transparency, and accountability from everyone involved in its editorial process. Decisions must reflect scholarly merit and relevance, without discrimination or improper financial or personal influence.

Authorship and originality

Authorship belongs to people who have made substantial contributions, approved the submitted version, and accepted responsibility for their contribution and the integrity of the article. Other contributions should be recognized in the acknowledgments. Sources and reused material must be identified. Plagiarism, fabrication, misleading manipulation of data, images, or findings, and simultaneous consideration by another journal are unacceptable.

Responsible research

Studies must document the ethical reviews, authorizations, and consent appropriate to their context. Authors must protect participants' dignity, privacy, and welfare and comply with applicable requirements for animal research. Sensitive information must be handled with appropriate safeguards. Where approval is not required, authors should explain the basis when relevant to assessment of the study.

Transparency

Authors, reviewers, and editors must disclose interests that could influence their participation. Authors must report funding, the role of funders, individual contributions, and AI use. Authorship responsibility rests with humans and cannot be assumed by a tool. The journal encourages access to data, code, and materials when compatible with consent, privacy, third party rights, and other justified restrictions.

Inquiries, complaints, and editorial action

Concerns about a submission or article should be sent to [email protected] with verifiable information. The editor will examine the evidence, request explanations from those involved, and maintain appropriate confidentiality. Independent specialists or relevant institutions may be consulted when appropriate. An allegation alone does not replace an assessment of the facts.

Responses must be proportionate to the findings and may include requests for clarification, corrections, rejection, expressions of concern, or retraction. Published notices must identify the affected work, explain the reason, and link to its record, preserving the traceability of the literature. Corrections and retractions must not obscure the editorial history. Potential conflicts involving the editor will be addressed through independent assessment.