Allegations of Research Misconduct

Policy Statement

The journal takes all allegations of research misconduct seriously and is committed to addressing them fairly, confidentially, and promptly. This policy follows COPE guidance and applies to both manuscripts under review and published articles.

Identification and Prevention

Proactive measures include editorial screening, similarity checks using Turnitin, and ethical evaluations during the editorial and peer-review process. The journal, editors, and reviewers do not knowingly allow, encourage, or ignore research misconduct.

Scope of Allegations

Research misconduct includes, but is not limited to:

  • Plagiarism, self-plagiarism, redundant publication, or duplicate publication.
  • Data fabrication, data falsification, or inappropriate manipulation of research findings.
  • Citation manipulation, undisclosed conflicts of interest, or misleading reporting.
  • Unethical research practices, authorship disputes, guest authorship, ghost authorship, or other breaches of publication ethics.
Reporting and Assessment

Allegations must be submitted in writing to the Editor-in-Chief. Credible anonymous complaints may be considered if sufficient evidence is provided. The Editor-in-Chief will conduct an initial assessment while maintaining strict confidentiality.

Investigation and Outcomes

Authors will be notified of credible allegations and given an opportunity to respond. Depending on the severity and evidence, editorial outcomes may include:

  • Manuscript rejection or request for correction.
  • Publication of a correction, retraction, or expression of concern.
  • Notification of the author’s affiliated institution, funder, or relevant authority where appropriate.
  • Temporary or permanent restriction from submitting to the journal in serious or repeated cases.
Communication and Closure

Authors and complainants will be formally notified of the final decision where appropriate. Cases are considered closed once all necessary editorial actions have been completed and records are securely archived.

Related Policies: This statement should be read alongside our Publication Ethics, Retraction & Correction, and Withdrawal Policy.