Informed Consent Policy
The Uzbek Journal "Problems of Mechanics" requires the rights, privacy, dignity, and safety of individuals participating in research to be respected and protected.
This policy applies to research involving human participants, questionnaires, interviews, usability testing, human–machine interaction, ergonomics, biomechanics, professional assessments, identifiable personal data, photographs, video recordings, or measurements of human performance.
Consent to Participate
Participation in research must be voluntary. Before participation, individuals must receive clear information about:
- the purpose and procedures of the research;
- the expected duration of participation;
- possible risks or inconvenience;
- how their data will be collected, used, stored, and protected;
- their right to refuse or withdraw, where applicable.
Written informed consent must be obtained where required by applicable institutional or national ethical rules.
The manuscript should include the following statement:
Consent to participate: Voluntary informed consent was obtained from all participants before participation in the study.
Where consent was not required, authors must provide an appropriate explanation.
Consent to Publish
Consent to participate does not automatically constitute consent to publish identifiable information.
Explicit consent for publication must be obtained where the manuscript contains identifiable:
- photographs or video images;
- personal details;
- quotations;
- biometric or performance data;
- workplace or professional information;
- other information that could reasonably identify a participant.
Recommended statement:
Consent for publication: The participants provided informed consent for the publication of their identifiable information and/or images.
Where no identifiable information is published, authors may state:
Consent for publication: Not applicable.
Privacy and Confidentiality
Authors must remove unnecessary identifying information and protect participants’ personal data.
Names, contact details, identification numbers, exact birth dates, facial images, workplace details, or other identifiable information must not be published unless scientifically necessary and covered by explicit consent.
Simple masking of the eyes or minor alteration of an image may not be sufficient to protect identity.
Anonymization must not distort the scientific meaning or integrity of the research.
Minors and Vulnerable Participants
Additional safeguards are required for minors, persons with limited decision-making capacity, employees participating under workplace authority, and other potentially vulnerable groups.
Where required, consent must be obtained from a parent, guardian, or legally authorized representative. The participant’s own agreement should also be obtained where reasonably possible.
Consent must be given freely and without pressure, coercion, or inappropriate influence.
Previously Collected or Secondary Data
Where research uses previously collected personal data, recordings, images, or other identifiable information, authors must ensure that such use is permitted by:
- the original consent;
- an ethics committee decision;
- applicable data-protection rules;
- another lawful and ethical basis.
Public availability of personal information does not automatically remove the need for ethical assessment or consent.
Required Statements
Where applicable, manuscripts must include statements concerning:
- ethics approval;
- consent to participate;
- consent for publication;
- data availability;
- confidentiality and anonymization.
For research not involving human participants or identifiable personal data, authors may state:
Informed consent: Not applicable.
Non-Compliance
Failure to obtain or accurately report required consent may result in:
- a request for clarification or correction;
- suspension or rejection of the manuscript;
- removal of identifying information;
- correction, Expression of Concern, or retraction after publication;
- investigation under the journal’s applicable ethics policies.
Authors are responsible for the accuracy of all consent statements.
Policy Administration
This policy is effective from 1 August 2026 and will be reviewed periodically.
Questions concerning informed consent should be submitted to: