The Applied Aspects of Information Technology journal is committed to ensuring transparency, integrity, and objectivity in the publication process. All participants in the editorial process (authors, reviewers, editors, and members of advisory bodies) are required to disclose any conflicts of interest that could influence, or be perceived to influence, the evaluation, interpretation, or publication of research.

 

1. Definition of Conflict of Interest

A conflict of interest exists when professional judgment concerning a primary interest (such as the validity of research or impartial peer review) may be influenced by a secondary interest. Conflicts of interest may be financial, non-financial, personal, professional, or institutional.

 

2. Author Disclosure

Authors must disclose all potential conflicts of interest that could have influenced the research or its interpretation, including but not limited to:

• financial relationships;
• personal or professional relationships;
• institutional affiliations;
• editorial or advisory roles in the journal.

Each manuscript must contain a dedicated Conflicts of Interest statement.

If no conflicts exist, authors should state:

Conflicts of Interest: The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

 

3. Editorial Roles as Conflicts of Interest

Editorial positions in the journal (including Editor-in-Chief, Associate Editors, members of the Editorial Board, or Advisory Board) are considered potential conflicts of interest and must be explicitly disclosed when individuals holding such roles submit manuscripts to the journal.

In such cases:

• the editorial or advisory role of the author must be clearly stated in the manuscript;
• the author does not participate in the peer review process or editorial decision-making for their own manuscript;
• the manuscript is handled by an independent editor to ensure objectivity and transparency.

An example disclosure statement:

Conflicts of Interest: Author [Name] is a member of the Editorial Board of the journal “Applied Aspects of Information Technology”. This role had no influence on the peer review process or editorial decision regarding this manuscript.

 

4. Reviewer and Editor Responsibilities

Reviewers and editors must disclose any conflicts of interest before agreeing to evaluate a manuscript. If a conflict exists, they must decline participation in the review or editorial handling of the submission.

 

5. Prohibited Practices

Manuscripts with a commercial advertising nature or undisclosed conflicts of interest are not accepted for publication.

 

6. Post-Publication Disclosure and Corrections

If a conflict of interest is identified after publication, the authors must promptly inform the Editorial Board. The journal may issue a Correction, Corrigendum, or Editorial Note to ensure transparency, or take further action in accordance with publication ethics standards.