General duties and responsibilities of Editors of Asian Musicology
Editors of Asian Musicology are responsible for everything published in their journals. They should:
- strive to meet the needs of readers and authors;
- constantly improve the journal;
- ensure the quality of the material they publish;
- champion freedom of expression;
- maintain the integrity of the academic record;
- preclude business needs from compromising intellectual standards;
- always be willing to publish corrections, clarifications, retractions, and apologies when needed.
Relations with Readers
Readers should be informed about who has funded research and the role of the funders in the research.
Relations with Authors
Editors take all reasonable steps to ensure the quality of the material they publish, recognizing that journals and sections within journals will have different aims and standards.
Editors’ decisions to accept or reject a paper for publication are based only on the paper’s importance, originality, and clarity, and the study’s relevance to the remit of the journal.
A description of the peer review processes is published, and Editors are ready to justify any important deviation from the described processes.
The Journal has a declared mechanism for authors to appeal against Editorial decisions.
Editors have published guidance to authors on everything that is expected of them.
Editors are not to reverse decisions to accept submissions unless serious problems are identified with the submission.
New Editors will not overturn decisions to publish submissions made by the previous Editor unless serious problems are identified.
Relations with Reviewers
Editors have systems to ensure that peer reviewers’ identities are protected
The peer-review Process
The Journal has systems to ensure that material submitted to their journal remains confidential while under review.
Complaints
Editors should respond promptly to complaints and should ensure there is a way for dissatisfied complainants to take complaints further.
Encouraging Debate
Cogent criticisms of published work should be published unless Editors have convincing reasons why they cannot be. Authors of criticized material should be given the opportunity to respond.
Studies that challenge previous work published in the journal should be given an especially sympathetic hearing. Studies reporting negative results should not be excluded.
Encouraging Academic Integrity
Editors should ensure that the research material they publish conforms to internationally accepted ethical guidelines. Editors should seek assurances that all research has been approved by an appropriate body (e.g. research ethics committee, institutional review board). However, Editors should recognize that such approval does not guarantee that the research is ethical.
Pursuing Misconduct
Editors have a duty to act if they suspect misconduct. This duty extends to both published and unpublished papers. Editors should not simply reject papers that raise concerns about possible misconduct. They are ethically obliged to pursue alleged cases.
Editors should first seek a response from those accused. If they are not satisfied with the response, they should ask the relevant employers or some appropriate body (perhaps a regulatory body) to investigate.
Editors should make all reasonable efforts to ensure that a proper investigation is conducted; if this does not happen, Editors should make all reasonable attempts to persist in obtaining a resolution to the problem. This is an onerous but important duty.
Ensuring the Integrity of the Academic Record
If, after an appropriate investigation, an item proves to be fraudulent, it should be retracted. The retraction should be clearly identifiable to readers and indexing systems.
Relations with Journal Owners and Publishers
The relationship of Editors to publishers and owners is often complex but should in each case be based firmly on the principle of Editorial independence. Notwithstanding the economic and political realities of their journals, Editors should make decisions on which articles to publish based on quality and suitability for readers rather than for immediate financial or political gain.
Conflict of Interest
Editors should avoid their own conflicts of interest as well as those of their staff, authors, reviewers, and Editorial board members.