Research Ethics

          1. Statement of Ethics Approval

For each research article submission in the International Journal of Care Scholars (IJCS), it is mandatory to include a statement confirming that the study obtained ethics approval, or if not required, an explanation why, along with details such as the name(s) of the ethics committee(s) or institutional review board(s), the approval number(s)/ID(s), and statement that participants have provided their informed consent before participating.

Furthermore, IJCS also encourage thorough explanations of how investigators and authors have assessed and justified the ethical and moral framework of their work. If such details cannot be seamlessly integrated into the manuscript, perhaps they be included in the cover letter or uploaded as a supplemental file during the article submission process. Additionally, IJCS also appreciate receiving copies of informational materials provided to participants. Although such detailed information may not be included in the final published version, the editor may share it with peer reviewers and editorial committees. Our peer reviewers are already tasked with evaluating and commenting on the ethical considerations of submitted work.

Any unethical research, even if it has been granted ethical clearance, that warrants the attention of the reviewer or editor may result in appropriate action being taken, along with an investigation. The need for addressing unethical research, even if it has received ethical clearance, stems from the importance of upholding ethical standards in scientific inquiry. Ensuring the integrity and credibility of scientific research is crucial for maintaining trust within the scientific community and with the public. Any deviation from ethical guidelines has the potential to undermine the validity and reliability of research findings, leading to serious consequences such as harm to participants, erosion of trust, and damage to the reputation of researchers and institutions.

          2. Human Participants

The International Journal of Care Scholars (IJCS) maintains a policy ensuring that all published articles adhere to morally acceptable standards and expects authors to adhere to the guidelines outlined in the World Medical Association’s Declaration of Helsinki. To uphold this commitment, IJCS strive to evaluate the ethical considerations of any submitted work involving human participants, regardless of its descriptive label, whether it be research, audit, or occasionally debate.

          3. Animal Participants

All manuscript submitted to International Journal of Care Scholars (IJCS) which reports experiment conducted using animals will only be considered for publication, if the manuscript had descriptions of:

• Adheres to international, national, and institutional standards for the ethical treatment of animals, and complies with applicable legislation.
• Has received approval from the ethics review committee at the institution or facility where the studies were conducted.
• Detail the ethical review committee approval process and the international, national and/or institutional guidelines followed in the Methods section.
• Provide a justification for the use of animals and the selection of the specific species.
• Details on animal welfare, such as housing, feeding and environmental enrichment, as well as a description of measures taken to minimize suffering, humane endpoints, and the method of euthanasia should be comprehensively describe in the manuscripts.
• If the study has implications for the 3Rs (replacement, reduction, and refinement), discuss these in sufficient detail to enable readers to apply the 3Rs in similar experiments.
• For studies involving non-human primates, provides evidence that the standards align with those outlined in the NC3Rs primate guidelines.
• For studies utilizing client-owned animals, demonstrates adherence to best practices in veterinary care and includes informed consent from the animal owners.