Allegations of Research Misconduct

  1. Policy Statement

The journal is committed to maintaining the integrity, transparency, and ethical standards of scholarly publishing. Allegations of research misconduct will be handled seriously, fairly, confidentially, and in accordance with established publication ethics principles and relevant guidance from the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).

Research misconduct includes, but is not limited to, fabrication, falsification, plagiarism, inappropriate manipulation of research data or images, duplicate publication, undisclosed conflicts of interest, and other practices that undermine the reliability or integrity of scientific research.

  1. Reporting Allegations

Any individual who identifies a potential case of research misconduct in a manuscript submitted to or published by the journal may report the concern to the Editor-in-Chief or editorial office.

Reports should provide a clear description of the suspected misconduct and, where possible, supporting evidence such as relevant publications, data, documents, or other verifiable information.

The journal encourages reports made in good faith. All allegations will be assessed objectively, regardless of the identity or affiliation of the person submitting the report.

  1. Preliminary Assessment and Investigation

Upon receiving an allegation, the Editor-in-Chief or designated editor will conduct a preliminary assessment to determine whether the concern warrants further investigation.

Where necessary, the journal may:

  1. Request an explanation or supporting documentation from the authors.
  2. Examine the submitted manuscript, research data, images, references, and relevant publications.
  3. Consult independent experts or members of the editorial board.
  4. Contact the authors' affiliated institutions or relevant research organizations when institutional investigation is necessary.
  5. Seek additional information from other relevant parties, while maintaining appropriate confidentiality.

The journal will provide the parties involved with a fair opportunity to respond to the allegations. The editorial team will avoid reaching conclusions before reviewing the available evidence.

  1. Confidentiality and Fair Treatment

The journal will handle allegations and related documentation confidentially to the extent reasonably possible. Information will be shared only with individuals or organizations involved in the assessment or investigation, where appropriate.

The journal will protect the identity of individuals reporting concerns where feasible and consistent with a fair investigation. Reports made in good faith will not be treated as misconduct merely because the allegations cannot be substantiated.

All parties will be treated fairly, and decisions will be based on documented evidence rather than personal relationships, institutional affiliation, or other irrelevant considerations.

  1. Editorial Actions

Depending on the findings and the severity of the case, the journal may take one or more of the following actions:

  1. Request corrections, clarification, or additional documentation.
  2. Reject a manuscript if the evidence establishes serious research misconduct.
  3. Suspend the editorial process while the investigation is ongoing.
  4. Publish a correction or an expression of concern when appropriate.
  5. Retract a published article if its findings or integrity are substantially compromised.
  6. Notify the authors' affiliated institutions, funders, or relevant authorities when warranted.

Editorial actions will be proportionate to the nature of the misconduct and the strength of the available evidence.

  1. Institutional Cooperation

When an allegation requires formal investigation beyond the journal's authority or expertise, the journal may refer the matter to the authors' affiliated institution or another appropriate organization.

The journal may request information about the outcome of an institutional investigation when relevant to its editorial decisions. The journal will consider credible findings from such investigations while retaining responsibility for decisions concerning its own publications.

  1. Post-Publication Concerns

Concerns regarding the integrity of published articles will be assessed even after publication. Where credible concerns arise, the journal may publish an expression of concern while further investigation is conducted.

If misconduct or significant errors are confirmed, the journal will take appropriate corrective action to maintain the accuracy and integrity of the scholarly record.

  1. Policy Implementation

The Editor-in-Chief is responsible for overseeing the handling of research misconduct allegations and ensuring that the process is conducted impartially, consistently, and in accordance with the journal's publication ethics policies.

This policy applies to all submitted manuscripts, published articles, authors, reviewers, and other parties involved in the journal's editorial and publication processes.