THE ETHIC OF PUBLICATION
(in accordance with guidelines of OASPA, COPE and Elsevier)

DUTIES OF EDITORIAL STAFF

Editor in chief of "Polimery" journal takes a decision about publicating a proposed paper, taking into consideration mainly scientific character of analysis and accordance with thematic profile of a journal, as well as trying to eliminate the cases of plagiarism and practices known as authorship and ghostwritting.

Papers are evaluated on the basis of their quality and significance for a scientific journal, no mater what is his/her background, nationality, ethnic roots, political views, sex, race or faith.

Editorial staff of "Polimery" journal is obliged to keep all obtained informations in secret on every stage of publication process, considering work, except for informations revealed by a scientific journal.

Informations obtained in process of publication can not be used by editorial staff or revievers without clear, written consent of an author.

In case of complains about violation of scientific publication ethic's rules, directed to editors of "Polimery", an author/authors of a proposed paper are informed in writting about accusations with a request of taking a stand. In case of lack of answer, an institution where authors are affilated is informed.

Positively evaluated by at least two external reviewers paper is directed to publication. In case of the conditional acceptance to publication ( when revievers insist on changes and/or complements), author is informed in writing about necessity of a papers correction.

Negative evaluatiom of two reviewers results in rejection of a paper, an author is informed about it in writing.

DUTIES OF REVIEWERS

Every paper proposed to publication is reviewed by at least two independent, external reviewers. Established by "Polimery" journal procedure called double-blind, guarantees that an author and reviewers do not know the identity one of another.

Reviewer asked for evaluating of proposed paper is obliged to inform editorial staff about his inability to evaluate a paper, because of lack of qualifications or time. in such a case a paper is passed down to other reviewer.

A paper passed down to review is treated as confidential. Reviewer must not show or discus a paper with anyone unless he/she is a member of editorial staff in "Polimery" journal. Results of researches, data, opinions and theories contained in a paper proposed for publication must not be used by  a reviewer in his/her own researches before publication of a paper. An objective evaluation of a paper is a basic duty of a reviewer. Any comments, evaluations and suggestions should be  pointed clearly and supported by arguments.

In process of reviewing, the following criteria are taken into consideration: an original and scientific character of proposed paper, an accordance with thematic profile of a journal, a way of realization of scientific targets and clear presentation of scientific problem, a proper using of a literature, a proper justification of theories and conclusions. Detailed rules of reviewing, accepted by a "Polimery" journal are placed on internet page in chapter "Recenzje". Reviever informs an editorial staff about suspection of plagiarysm made by person proposing a paper to publication, pointing a suspected part/parts of a paper.

DUTIES OF AUTHORS

Reporting standards

Authors of original research papers should present an accurate account of the work performed and the results, followed by an objective discussion of the significance of the work. Information in the manuscript and references should be detailed enough to permit others to replicate the work. Review articles should be accurate, objective and comprehensive. Fraudulent or knowingly inaccurate statements constitute unethical behavior and are unacceptable.

Data access

Authors may be asked to provide the raw data of their study together with the manuscript for editorial review and should be prepared to make the data publicly available for a reasonable time after publication.

Originality and plagiarism

Authors should ensure that they have written and submit only entirely original work. The work of others, as well as the publications that influenced the manuscript should appropriately cited or quoted. Plagiarism in all its forms constitutes unethical publishing behavior and is unacceptable.

Multiple, duplicate, redundant or concurrent submission/publication

Papers describing the same research should not be published in more than one journal or other publication. Authors should not submit a manuscript that has already been considering for publication or published in another journal.

Authorship of the manuscript

One can be listed as an author in a manuscript if the authorship criteria are met:

• made significant contributions to the conception, design, execution, data acquisition, or analysis/interpretation of the study,
• drafted the manuscript or revised it critically for important intellectual content,
• have seen and approved the final version of the paper and agreed to its submission for publication.

All persons who made substantial contributions to the work reported in the manuscript, but who do not meet the criteria for authorship must not be listed as an author, but should be acknowledged in the "Acknowledgements" section. The primary (or corresponding) author should ensure, that the authors list is accurate and no inappropriate coauthors are included in the author list. The primary author has to make sure that all coauthors have seen and approved the final version of the manuscript and agreed to its submission for publication.

Disclosure and conflicts of interest

Authors should disclose any conflicts of interest that might be construed to influence the results or their interpretation in the manuscript. All sources of financial support for the work should be disclosed.

Acknowledgement of sources

Authors should cite publications that have been influential in determining the nature of the reported work. Proper acknowledgment of the work of others must always be given.

Hazards and human or animal subjects

If the work involves chemicals, procedures or equipment that have any unusual hazards inherent in their use, the authors must clearly identify these in the manuscript. If the work involves the use of animals or human participants, the authors should ensure that all procedures were performed in compliance with relevant laws and institutional guidelines and that the appropriate institutional committee(s) has approved them; the manuscript should contain a statement to this effect.

Authors should also include a statement in the manuscript that informed consent was obtained for experimentation with human participants. The privacy rights of human participants must always be observed.

Peer review

Authors are obliged to participate in the peer review process and fully participate by responding to editors’ requests for raw data, clarifications, and proof of ethics approval, patient consents and copyright permissions. In the case of a first decision of "revisions necessary", authors should respond to the reviewers’ comments in a timely manner and re-submitting their manuscript to the journal by the deadline given.

Fundamental errors in published works

When the authors discovers a significant error or inaccuracy in their published article, it is the authors obligation to immediate notify the Editorial Office and cooperate with its editor to retract or correct the paper.

PREVENTION AND DETECTION OF PLAGIARISM

All kinds of a plagiarism are uethical and unacceptable.

In case of a plagiarism suspection, an editorial staff of "Polimery" journal apply a controlling procedure with reviewers and a person proposing a paper. In case of confirmation of unlawful using of text, theories, researches results, data, autor of a paper proposed to publication is informed in writing about rejection of a paper.In case of lack of answer, an institution where an author is affiliated is informed. In case of so called autoplagiarism when author in a paper proposed to a publication runs parts of his own, publicated earlier paper, editorial staff of "Polimery" journal informs in writing about refusal to a paper publication because of lack df original character of analysis.