AUTHOR STATEMENT OF ETHICS

1. Definition

An Author Statement of Ethics is a mandatory declaration in scholarly manuscripts (journal articles, conference papers, or books) in which the authors explicitly affirm that the reported work meets established ethical standards and academic integrity. It serves as the first line of defense against plagiarism, duplicate publication, data manipulation, or any other form of research misconduct.

2. Core Objectives

  • Guarantee the originality and authenticity of the work.
  • Ensure transparency toward all stakeholders (researchers, subjects, funders).
  • Provide editors and reviewers with a clear basis for ethical screening before peer review.
  • Strengthen public trust in scientific findings.

3. Standard Components

Although each journal may supply its own template, the following elements are almost universally required.
Table Copy
Element Brief Explanation
Originality & Uniqueness The manuscript is new, not a copy, translation, or duplicate submission.
Plagiarism Statement The text, data, and ideas are free from any form of plagiarism (verbatim, mosaic, or self-plagiarism).
Data Integrity No fabrication, falsification, or inappropriate manipulation of data, images, or results.
Ethics Approval Cite the approval number issued by an Institutional Review Board (IRB) / Research Ethics Committee (REC).
Informed Consent & Privacy Human participants gave informed consent; identities have been removed or adequately protected.
Animal Welfare If animals were used, state compliance with relevant guidelines (e.g., ARRIVE, NIH, EU Directive 2010/63).
Conflict of Interest (CoI) Disclose any financial or non-financial interests that could influence the interpretation of findings.
Authorship & Agreement All listed authors have approved the final manuscript and accept responsibility for its contents.
Copyright Compliance Any third-party material (figures, tables, text) is used with proper permission or under fair-use.

4. Concise Template (Ready to Copy)

Statement of Ethics
This study was conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki and was approved by the Institutional Review Board of University X (Protocol No. 123/KEPK/2024). Written informed consent was obtained from all human participants. The manuscript is original, has not been published, and is not under consideration elsewhere. The authors confirm no plagiarism, data fabrication, or falsification. All authors have read and approved the final version and declare no conflicts of interest.

5. Step-by-Step Writing Guide

  1. Check the Journal’s Guide for Authors – Use the exact heading or wording requested (e.g., “Ethics Statement”, “Compliance with Ethical Standards”).
  2. Insert the Approval Number – Provide the IRB/REC protocol number. If exempt, state the reason (e.g., anonymized secondary data analysis).
  3. Keep Language Clear & Factual – Avoid excessive legal jargon; focus on verifiable facts (dates, committee names, numbers).
  4. Sign Electronically – Most online submission systems now require a tick-box or digital signature at submission.

6. Consequences of Omission

  • Immediate desk reject by the editor.
  • Post-publication retraction if misconduct is discovered.
  • Institutional sanctions or blacklisting from the journal for a specified period.

7. Best Practices

  • Retain all ethics documents (approval letters, consent forms) for at least five years.
  • Run a plagiarism check (Turnitin, iThenticate) before submission.
  • Consult senior authors or the university research ethics office when in doubt.
By including a clear and complete Author Statement of Ethics, you not only comply with journal requirements but also contribute to the overall credibility and integrity of science.