Ethics at a glance
The scientific community relies on journals to publish research that is accurate, ethically conducted, and transparently reported. In clinical and translational fields like asthma, allergy, and immunology, publication ethics is especially important because evidence can influence diagnosis, treatment pathways, and public health decisions. Archives of Asthma, Allergy and Immunology (AAAI) therefore commits to a publication environment built on integrity, fairness, and accountability.
This Publication Ethics Statement is a concise, reader-friendly overview of AAAI’s core ethical commitments. Detailed procedures are available in related policy pages (e.g., Ethics and Malpractice Statement, Plagiarism Policy, Peer Review Policy, Withdrawal Policy). Together, these policies guide how the journal prevents misconduct, supports responsible authorship, and corrects the record when needed.
AAAI ethics pledge:
We publish based on merit and integrity. We protect confidentiality in peer review. We require transparency in conflicts, funding, and ethics approvals. We correct the record when necessary.
Core ethical principles
AAAI’s ethics approach reflects widely accepted principles in scholarly publishing and biomedical research:
- Accuracy: methods and results must be reported honestly and completely.
- Transparency: disclose conflicts of interest, funding sources, and relevant relationships.
- Respect for participants: protect patient privacy and ensure ethical oversight for human/animal studies.
- Fairness and inclusion: editorial decisions should be impartial and free from discrimination.
- Accountability: authors, reviewers, and editors share responsibility for the integrity of the published record.
Why this matters to readers
Readers should be able to trust that articles were ethically conducted and evaluated. Ethics is not a formality—it is part of scientific quality.
Ethical responsibilities of authors
Authors are the primary stewards of their work. AAAI expects authors to uphold ethical standards from study planning through publication. Authors should submit only original work, report results honestly, and provide sufficient detail for readers to evaluate the evidence.
Authorship and contribution clarity
- All listed authors must have made a meaningful contribution and must approve the final manuscript.
- Guest, gift, or ghost authorship is not acceptable.
- Changes to authorship after submission require written agreement from all authors and clear justification.
Human subjects, consent, and privacy
Research involving human participants should include ethics committee approval details where applicable and informed consent statements. For case reports, authors must protect privacy, avoid unnecessary identifiers, and obtain patient consent when identification is possible.
Animal welfare and oversight
Animal studies must comply with relevant welfare standards and include oversight information. Authors should report species, welfare safeguards, and endpoints transparently.
Data integrity and availability
Data must not be fabricated, falsified, or selectively reported. Where appropriate, authors should provide data availability statements and retain underlying data for verification. If data cannot be shared (e.g., privacy restrictions), authors should explain the reason and provide a pathway for qualified access where feasible.
Clinical example: biologics and outcomes
When reporting treatment outcomes (e.g., exacerbation reduction, eosinophil counts, FeNO, spirometry), authors should specify definitions, measurement timing, missing data handling, and whether outcomes were pre-specified. This supports reproducibility and prevents selective reporting.
Ethical responsibilities of reviewers
Reviewers are trusted advisors who help evaluate validity, significance, and clarity. AAAI expects reviewers to maintain confidentiality, declare conflicts of interest, and provide objective, constructive feedback.
- Confidentiality: manuscripts are not to be shared or used for personal advantage.
- Objectivity: focus on evidence, methods, and interpretation; avoid personal criticism.
- Conflict disclosure: decline review if a conflict may affect impartiality.
- Integrity alerts: flag suspected plagiarism, duplicate publication, image manipulation, or ethical concerns.
- Timeliness: accept only if able to review within reasonable time.
Respectful tone in reviews
AAAI encourages reviews that are firm on evidence but respectful in tone. Constructive review strengthens both the manuscript and the field.
Ethical responsibilities of editors
Editors oversee peer review and protect the integrity of the publication record. AAAI editors are expected to act independently, avoid conflicts, and base decisions on scientific merit and ethical compliance.
Editorial independence and fairness
- Decisions are made without discrimination or improper influence.
- Editors disclose conflicts and recuse themselves when appropriate.
- Editors maintain confidentiality of manuscripts and reviews.
- Editors ensure that peer review is conducted by qualified, independent reviewers.
Integrity stewardship
Editors may request clarifications, raw data, ethics documents, or additional peer review when concerns arise. If serious misconduct is suspected, the journal may follow formal procedures that can include institutional contact. The purpose is to protect readers and ensure the record is accurate—not to punish honest mistakes.
Misconduct prevention and response
AAAI works to prevent publication misconduct through screening and process safeguards, including plagiarism checks where appropriate, reviewer conflict screening, authorship declarations, and editorial oversight. When concerns arise, AAAI uses a proportionate response.
Examples of misconduct (non-exhaustive)
- Plagiarism or unattributed paraphrasing
- Data fabrication/falsification
- Image manipulation that misrepresents results
- Duplicate submission or redundant publication without disclosure
- Peer review manipulation (fake reviewers, compromised suggestions)
- Undisclosed conflicts of interest
- Ethical approval/consent misrepresentation
How the record is corrected
If an article contains an error or raises integrity concerns, AAAI may issue a correction, expression of concern, or retraction depending on severity. Corrections and retractions are part of responsible publishing: they keep the literature usable and transparent.
| Correction | Used for honest errors that can be fixed without invalidating the main findings. |
|---|---|
| Expression of concern | Used when serious concerns exist and an investigation is ongoing or evidence is incomplete. |
| Retraction | Used when the work is unreliable or when serious misconduct undermines the integrity of the article. |
Good-faith reporting
AAAI encourages readers and researchers to report concerns responsibly and with supporting evidence. Good-faith reports help protect patients and the scientific record.
Complaints and appeals
AAAI provides pathways for authors and readers to raise concerns about editorial decisions, peer review conduct, or policy compliance. Appeals should be evidence-based and specific. Complaints about process should be communicated respectfully to allow prompt resolution.
For appeals, include manuscript ID/title, the decision letter date, and a concise explanation of the concern with supporting evidence. For ethics complaints, include the article URL/DOI and clear documentation of the issue.
Frequently asked questions
Is AAAI aligned with international ethics best practices?
Yes. AAAI’s ethics framework is designed to reflect widely accepted standards in scholarly publishing (e.g., COPE-style guidance) and biomedical research expectations, and it is operationalized through specific policies on peer review, plagiarism, conflicts, and corrections/retractions.
What if my study did not require ethics committee approval?
Some study types may be exempt or not require formal review depending on jurisdiction and design (e.g., certain audits or de-identified analyses). Authors should clearly state the ethics status and the reason, and provide documentation if requested.
How does AAAI handle conflicts of interest?
AAAI requires disclosure of relevant financial and non-financial conflicts. Editors manage conflicts by recusal, reviewer selection, and transparent reporting in articles.
What happens if an honest error is found after publication?
AAAI may publish a correction to clarify the record. Corrections are part of responsible publishing and help readers use the literature confidently.
How can I report suspected misconduct?
Contact the editorial office with the article URL/DOI and a clear explanation of the concern, including supporting evidence where available.
