Research and Publication Ethics

Authors must present an accurate account of their research and distinguish evidence, interpretation and opinion. Sources must be represented fairly, quotations checked against the original, and limitations acknowledged.

Research involving people

Interviews, surveys, observations and other research involving human participants must state the ethics approval or exemption, the responsible body and reference number where applicable, and how informed consent was obtained. Where formal review is not required, authors must explain the basis and the safeguards used.

Particular care is required for research with children, detained persons, survivors of violence, migrants, whistleblowers and people at risk of legal or social harm. Identifiable personal information must not be published without an appropriate basis and, where required, consent for publication.

Legal and documentary research

Authors must respect court reporting restrictions, confidentiality, legal professional privilege, sealed records and restrictions on archival access. The public availability of a document does not eliminate the need to minimise avoidable harm. Doctrinal analysis using public sources should state that no human-participant research was undertaken where this is relevant.

Funding, competing interests, author contributions and material assistance must be disclosed. Ethical concerns may result in a request for clarification, rejection, correction or further investigation under the journal’s misconduct policy.