Definition of Research Misconduct

Research misconduct includes any behavior that violates accepted ethical and scientific standards. The journal follows internationally recognized definitions, including those of COPE, APA, and ICMJE.

Research misconduct includes, but is not limited to:

1. Fabrication

Making up data, results, or experiments that were never conducted.

2. Falsification

Manipulating research materials, equipment, processes, or data such that the research is not accurately represented.

3. Plagiarism

Using another person's ideas, text, data, or results without proper citation.

This includes:

• Direct plagiarism

• Mosaic plagiarism

• Self-plagiarism

• Duplicate publication

4. Improper Authorship

Including individuals who did not contribute significantly or excluding those who did.

5. Ethical Violations in Human or Animal Research

This includes:

• Lack of ethical approval

• Absence of informed consent

• Improper treatment of research subjects

6. Citation Manipulation

Artificially increasing citations for personal or journal benefit.

7. Undisclosed Conflicts of Interest

Failing to disclose financial, institutional, or personal conflicts.

 

Handling Allegations of Misconduct

The journal takes all allegations seriously and follows COPE guidelines.

The process includes:

1. Initial assessment by the Editor-in-Chief

2. Review of evidence

3. Communication with authors

4. Consultation with reviewers and Editorial Board if necessary

5. Institutional notification when appropriate

Authors will be given an opportunity to respond.

 

Outcomes and Sanctions

If misconduct is confirmed, the journal may take one or more of the following actions:

• Reject the manuscript

• Issue a formal warning

• Publish a correction

• Publish an expression of concern

• Retract the article

• Ban authors from future submissions for a defined period

• Notify authors’ institutions

Retractions will be clearly identified and remain permanently available to maintain transparency.

 

Corrections and Retractions

Corrections will be issued when:

• Honest errors affect clarity but not validity

Retractions will be issued when:

• Data is unreliable

• Misconduct is confirmed

• Plagiarism is detected

• Ethical violations occurred

Confidentiality and Fair Investigation

All investigations will be conducted:

• Fairly

• Confidentially

• Without bias

The journal protects whistleblowers acting in good faith.

 

Commitment to Research Integrity

The journal is committed to:

• Maintaining scientific integrity

• Ensuring ethical publishing

• Preventing research misconduct

• Following COPE international ethical standards