Allegation of Research Misconduct

Allegations of Research Misconduct

Jurnal Keperawatan Bunda Delima (JKBD) is committed to maintaining the highest standards of research integrity, publication ethics, and responsible scholarly communication. The journal takes all allegations of research and publication misconduct seriously, whether they arise before or after publication. This policy is guided by established publication ethics principles, including relevant guidance from the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).

1. Definition of Research Misconduct

Research and publication misconduct may include, but is not limited to:

1. Fabrication: Making up research data, results, or findings and reporting them as genuine.

2. Falsification: Manipulating research materials, equipment, processes, data, or results in a way that misrepresents the research.

3. Plagiarism: Using another person's ideas, words, data, or work without appropriate acknowledgment.

4. Duplicate or Redundant Publication: Publishing substantially overlapping work without proper disclosure or justification.

5. Image or Data Manipulation: Inappropriately altering, selectively presenting, or misrepresenting images, data, or research findings.

6. Authorship Misconduct: Falsely attributing authorship, omitting eligible contributors, or including individuals who do not meet authorship criteria.

7. Citation Manipulation: Inappropriately influencing citations to artificially increase citation counts or misrepresent scholarly relevance.

8. Peer-Review Manipulation: Interfering with the integrity, independence, or confidentiality of the peer-review process.

9. Ethical Violations: Conducting research involving human participants or animals without required ethical approval, consent, or compliance with applicable ethical standards.

10. Other Publication Ethics Violations: Deliberate misrepresentation, undisclosed conflicts of interest, or other practices that compromise the reliability and integrity of the scholarly record.

Honest errors, differences in scientific interpretation, or methodological disagreements do not automatically constitute research misconduct. Each allegation will be assessed fairly and on its merits.

2. Reporting Allegations

Any individual who suspects research or publication misconduct in a manuscript submitted to or published by JKBD may report the concern to the Editor-in-Chief or the journal's editorial office.

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

Allegations may be submitted confidentially. Anonymous reports may also be considered when sufficient information is provided to permit a reasonable assessment.

JKBD will handle reports impartially and will not tolerate retaliation against individuals who raise concerns in good faith.

3. Initial Assessment and Investigation

Upon receiving an allegation, the Editor-in-Chief or a designated editorial representative will conduct an initial assessment to determine whether the concern falls within the scope of this policy and whether further examination is warranted.

Where necessary, the journal may:

1. Request clarification, supporting evidence, or an explanation from the corresponding author or relevant parties.

2. Consult independent experts or members of the editorial board who have no relevant conflicts of interest.

3. Examine the manuscript, research data, images, references, ethics approval documentation, and other relevant materials.

4. Use appropriate similarity-checking or research-integrity screening tools.

5. Contact the authors' affiliated institutions, research ethics committees, funding bodies, or other relevant organizations when formal investigation is required.

All parties will be treated fairly, and individuals involved in reviewing an allegation must disclose any conflicts of interest and maintain appropriate confidentiality.

The journal will not make a final determination of institutional research misconduct solely on the basis of an allegation or an automated screening result.

4. Handling Allegations Before Publication

If an allegation concerns a manuscript under consideration, JKBD may suspend the editorial process while the concern is assessed.

Depending on the nature and seriousness of the issue, the journal may request revisions, additional documentation, or clarification from the authors. The manuscript may be rejected if substantial concerns remain unresolved or if there is sufficient evidence that the work does not meet the journal's ethical or scientific requirements.

Where appropriate, the journal may refer the matter to the relevant institution or research ethics committee.

5. Handling Allegations After Publication

If an allegation concerns an article that has already been published, JKBD will assess the available evidence and take appropriate action to protect the integrity of the scholarly record.

Possible actions include:

• Publishing a correction or corrigendum when the issue can be addressed through a correction.

• Publishing an expression of concern when significant questions remain unresolved while further investigation is pending.

• Retracting the article when the evidence establishes that retraction is warranted under applicable publication ethics standards.

• Notifying the relevant institution, research ethics committee, or other appropriate body when necessary.

Any correction, expression of concern, or retraction will be clearly linked to the original article, with the reason for the action explained as transparently as possible.

6. Cooperation with Institutions

JKBD recognizes that authors' affiliated institutions are generally responsible for formally investigating the conduct of their researchers. The journal is responsible for editorial decisions and for taking appropriate steps to preserve the accuracy and integrity of the published scholarly record.

When necessary, JKBD may communicate with the relevant institution to request clarification, seek information about an investigation, or share relevant evidence in accordance with applicable confidentiality and data-protection requirements.

The journal will consider the findings of institutional investigations when making editorial decisions, while retaining responsibility for its own publication-related actions.

7. Confidentiality and Fair Treatment

Allegations will be handled as confidentially as reasonably possible. Information will be shared only with individuals or organizations who need it to assess or investigate the concern, subject to applicable legal and ethical obligations.

JKBD will provide relevant authors with a reasonable opportunity to respond to allegations before making editorial decisions, where appropriate. The journal will seek to avoid premature conclusions and will base its decisions on the available evidence.

8. Editorial Decisions and Records

The Editor-in-Chief, in consultation with appropriate editorial representatives or independent experts when necessary, is responsible for determining the journal's editorial response.

The journal will maintain appropriate records of allegations, evidence considered, communications, decisions, and actions taken, subject to confidentiality requirements.

Where a case is complex, involves potential institutional misconduct, or cannot be resolved through the journal's own procedures, JKBD may seek guidance from relevant research integrity bodies or applicable COPE resources.

9. Commitment to Publication Ethics

JKBD is committed to promoting transparency, accountability, fairness, and research integrity throughout the publication process. All authors, reviewers, editors, and other contributors are expected to uphold responsible research and publication practices.

By implementing this policy, JKBD seeks to ensure that concerns about research misconduct are assessed responsibly and that appropriate action is taken to safeguard the reliability of the scholarly record.

Contact: Allegations of research misconduct should be directed to the Editor-in-Chief or the official editorial office of Jurnal Keperawatan Bunda Delima through the journal's official website.