2007년 9월 26일 제정
2008년 6월 13일 일부개정
2019년 1월 27일 일부개정 
 

Publication Ethics

1. Preface

The purpose of this article is to ensure the code of ethics, the truthfulness, and the accuracy of academic activities within KOGSIS publications.

2. Scope

These articles should be applied to all authors, editors, KOGSIS reviewers, and researchers who wish to publish in the Journal of Korean Society for Geospatial Information Science—either directly or indirectly.

3. Definition of Research Misconduct

 Research misconduct (hereinafter referred to as “misconduct”) shall include fabrication, falsification, plagiarism, false authorship, and other wrong doings which occur while proposing or performing research, or reporting research results, as described in the following:

(1) "Fabrication" shall refer to making up data or research results that do not actually exist.

(2) "Falsification" shall refer to distorting the substance or results of research by manipulating the material, equipment, or process of research or arbitrarily modifying or omitting data.

(3) "Plagiarism" shall refer to using another person’s ideas, research content, or results without proper permission or citation.

(4) "False authorship" shall refer to denying authorship (without justifiable reason) to a person who has made a scientific or technical contribution to the content or results of research or conferring authorship out of gratitude or respect to a person, who has made no scientific or technical contribution.

(5)The intentional obstruction of an investigation into an allegation of misconduct against himself/herself or another person—or causing harm to an informant.

(6) Any and all other acts that seriously violate the accepted conventions of the scientific community.

(7) Proposing, forcing, or threatening others to commit any of the misconduct described above.

4. Ethical Responsibilities of Authors

(1) If the research does not have any statistically valid result, an author must describe the importance of the research more accurately and objectively. Also, it is highly discouraged to submit any manuscript that has been previously published or going to publish elsewhere.

(2) The award of authorship should balance intellectual contributions to the conception, design, analysis, and writing of the study against the collection of data and other routine work. If there is no task that can reasonably be attributed to a particular individual, then that individual should not be credited with authorship.

(3) The study must include a comprehensive rationale to support the conclusion that there is sufficient scientific value. If a paper claiming the same conclusion in previously published articles is submitted, then new argument must have great academic value.

(4) If an author cites a published article, then it should have influential meaning in the study and should be done accurately with clear disclosure.

(5) A co-author is any person who has made an important contribution to scientific research and who shares the responsibility and accountability for the results and achievements presented.

(6) Results of the research can be criticized, based on an explicitly critical stance against the relevant results of other researchers (while consciously avoiding personal attacks and blaming).

(7) The authors should accommodate valuable suggestions that are offered by reviewers and editors in the final version of the manuscript. In case the author fails or disagrees to do so, detailed evidence (and a reason to reflect the disagreement on the opinions of editors and reviewers) should be provided to the committee.

5. Ethical Responsibilities of the Editorial Board

(1) The editorial members must respect the personality of the author and independency as a scholar.

(2) The editorial members must treat all manuscripts equally under the submission policy and quality of a paper regardless of not only gender, age and affiliations but also any perceptions or personal relationships.

(3) The editorial members should ask for the review of the submitted paper to the reviewer who has professional knowledge on the area of the paper and a capability of fair judgment. When asking for a review, the editorial members must avoid a reviewer who is too close to the author or too hostile so that objective review can be made. However, if the evaluation between the reviewers is significantly different on a same paper, the third expert on the relevant area may give a consultation.

(4) The editorial members have all responsibilities that can decide whether the submitted paper will be published or not.

(5) The editorial members must not unveil the contents of the paper other than the reviewers until the publication of the submitted paper is decided.

6. Ethical Responsibilities of Reviewers

(1) Reviewers are required to evaluate papers that are commissioned by the editorial board within a certain period of time. They need to inform the Editorial Board of the review results. If the reviewer thinks he or she will not be able to serve as a reviewer for some reason, he or she should notify the board of his or her inability to perform the review.

(2) Reviewers are required to review manuscripts fairly and objectively. They also should not allow any personal beliefs or ties to disrupt the review process. Rejecting manuscripts because they are against personal beliefs or interpretations (without properly presenting sensible reasons) is not acceptable. Reviewing without thoroughly reading the manuscript is also not acceptable.

(3) Reviewers shall respect the personality and independence of intellectuals as scholars. While expressing opinions on manuscripts in an evaluation form, the reviewers need to explain why the paper needs corrections. Reviewers’ comments should be expressed positively. Belittling or insulting authors is not allowed.

(4) Information on assigned papers should be kept confidential by reviewers. Showing the papers to someone else is not desirable, unless the reviewers are seeking advice about the review. If you accept the advice of others to review, you should inform the editor-in-chief. Citing any passages (in whole or part) from the manuscript before publication is not allowed.

(5) The reviewer shall pay close attention to whether or not important researches are cited accurately with respect to the content of the paper. Reviewers should notify the editorial board when they find that reviewed papers have been published in other journals or are under review for publication in other journals. Also, any problems concerning the papers should be relayed to the editorial board.

7. Publication Ethics Pledge

New members of the KOGSIS must abide by these Ethics Regulations. The current members are considered to have pledged to comply with these Ethics Regulations.

8. Publication Ethics Violations

If any violation of the Code of Ethics has been noticed by any member of the editorial board or KOGSIS reviewer, the person should try to point out and correct those violations on his or her own. However, if the violations cannot be resolved, it is necessary to immediately report it to the KOGSIS Board of Directors.

9. Investigation Committee for Publication Ethics Violations

(1) A main investigation will be initiated within 30 days of approval of the results of a preliminary investigation during which time a committee to conduct this investigation shall be organized. If misconduct is reported, experts will conduct an investigation within 30 days by configuring a committee.

(2) The investigating committee is composed of at least five members. The chairman of the investigating committee will be appointed by the president of KOGSIS, based on the recommendation of the Board of Directors.

(3) The investigating committee will be looking at the violation. They will not disclose the identity of the informant.

10. Investigating and Reporting

(1) The investigating committee is given an opportunity to comment on informants and their statements, which should also be their opportunity to appeal and argue. If the parties do not comply, the investigation should be considered as having no significance.

(2) While performing their investigation, the investigating committee has to protect the informant. If an informant is placed at a disadvantage in terms of status (e.g., a disciplinary measure) or suffers discrimination in terms of work conditions, unfair pressure, or any other harm due to reporting misconduct the damage must be restituted. Otherwise, an action requested by the informant shall be taken. Care shall be taken so that the reputation and rights of an accused individual are not damaged— pending completion of the investigation into the alleged misconduct. The commission shall also investigate carefully, as to not to infringe on the honor and rights of the informant—until the investigation is completed.

(3) The investigating committee shall report the results and details of the investigation to the President of KOGSIS, which shall begin within 30 days.

(4) Results of the investigation report shall include the following details:

A. Specific content about the allegation.

B. The alleged misconduct, which is the target of the investigation.

C. The members of the investigating committee.

D. The judgment, based on the investigative process.

E. The decision to take disciplinary action to the false informant or the person who has violated ethics.

11. Investigation Report

(1) The president may be required to submit the results of the investigation. If it is determined that there is a problem with the rationality or validity of the judgment of the investigation committee, additional research can be conducted.

(2) KOGSIS shall take follow-up action (based on the result of the investigation) and shall notify the informant.

(3) Based on the recommendation of the disciplinary commission, the president shall determine whether or not to take disciplinary action and then convince the Board of Directors of his or her decision. The relevant disciplinary action should be informed to the accused individual in writing of the action to be taken following a prescribed procedure.

12. Other

Conflicts not covered by above the articles will be discussed and resolved by the KOGSIS Board of Directors.