Allegation of research misconduct

Allegation of Research Misconduct

Islamic Education Studies (IES): an Indonesian Journal is committed to upholding academic integrity, transparency, and credibility in the publication of scholarly works. Any report or indication of research misconduct will be taken seriously and addressed through an objective, fair, and confidential process, in accordance with relevant principles and guidelines on scholarly publication ethics.

1. Types of Research Misconduct

Research misconduct refers to actions that may undermine or compromise the originality, accuracy, reliability, and integrity of research findings and scholarly publications in Islamic Education Studies (IES): an Indonesian Journal. Such misconduct may include, but is not limited to, the following:

• Fabrication Creating data, results, or research findings that were never actually obtained and presenting them as though they were legitimate research results.
• Falsification Altering, omitting, or manipulating research materials, instruments, procedures, or data so that the reported results do not accurately reflect the actual research process or findings.
• Plagiarism Taking or using the ideas, statements, data, illustrations, or works of others without providing appropriate acknowledgment and references to the original sources.
• Duplicate or Redundant Publication Republishing a work that substantially overlaps with a previously published work without transparent disclosure or a justifiable reason.
• Authorship Misconduct Improperly adding, removing, or changing authors’ names, including practices such as ghost authorship, guest authorship, and gift authorship.
• Data and Image Manipulation Improperly altering or presenting research data, graphs, images, or research evidence in ways that result in inaccurate or misleading representations.
• Undisclosed Conflicts of Interest Failing to disclose personal, professional, or financial interests that may potentially influence the conduct of research, manuscript evaluation, or editorial decisions.
• Manipulation of the Peer Review Process Engaging in actions that compromise the integrity of the peer review process, such as providing invalid reviewer identities or attempting to influence editorial decisions through inappropriate means.
• Research Ethics Violations Conducting research involving humans, animals, or sensitive data without fulfilling applicable ethical approval requirements, obtaining informed consent from participants where required, or complying with relevant protection regulations.
• Misrepresentation of Information Providing false or inaccurate information regarding funding sources, ethical approval, data accessibility, or other statements related to the conduct and reporting of research.
Note: Unintentional errors, differences in the interpretation of scientific findings, or justifiable differences in methodological perspectives are not automatically classified as research misconduct. Any determination of research misconduct must be based on an examination of the available evidence, context, and relevant circumstances.

2. Reporting Allegations of Research Misconduct

Individuals or parties who have reasonable grounds to suspect research misconduct in manuscripts currently under review or in articles already published by Islamic Education Studies (IES): an Indonesian Journal may submit a report to the editorial office.

To support the investigation process, complainants are encouraged to provide relevant information, including:

  • The title of the reported manuscript or article.
  • The name(s) of the author(s), if available.
  • A specific explanation of the alleged misconduct.
  • Supporting documents, data, references, or other evidence relevant to the report.

Islamic Education Studies (IES): an Indonesian Journal expects all reports to be submitted in good faith and based on reasonable and substantiated grounds. The journal does not tolerate the use of the reporting mechanism to make deliberately misleading, malicious, or knowingly false allegations against authors, peer reviewers, editors, or other researchers.

3. Preliminary Examination and Assessment

Every report received will first be reviewed by the editor or an authorized editorial representative. This initial stage aims to determine whether the reported allegation falls within the scope of responsibility of Islamic Education Studies (IES): an Indonesian Journal and whether sufficient preliminary information is available to warrant further action.

The preliminary examination may involve reviewing the relevant manuscript or article, research data, similarity check results, images and illustrations, citations, author statements, and other documents relevant to the allegation.

If the issue falls outside the journal’s authority or the information provided is insufficient, the editor may request further clarification and additional evidence from the complainant or relevant parties. If there are insufficient grounds to proceed with the examination, the case may be closed, taking into account the relevant reasons.

4. Investigation Procedures

If the results of the preliminary assessment indicate that a more in-depth examination is necessary, Islamic Education Studies (IES): an Indonesian Journal will conduct an investigation in an objective, proportionate, and impartial manner. The investigation procedures will be adjusted to the nature and severity of the allegation being addressed and may include the following steps:

  • Reviewing the report received and all available supporting evidence.
  • Requesting explanations, clarifications, or additional documents from the corresponding author or other parties involved in the matter.
  • Seeking input from independent experts, peer reviewers, or representatives of relevant institutions, if necessary.
  • Objectively assessing all evidence and responses while providing the parties concerned with a reasonable opportunity to explain their positions.
  • Coordinating with the institution where the research was conducted, the funding agency, or other relevant authorities if the allegation requires a formal investigation beyond the journal’s authority.
  • Determining appropriate editorial actions based on the findings of the investigation, the strength of the evidence, and applicable publication ethics guidelines.

The investigation conducted by Islamic Education Studies (IES): an Indonesian Journal aims to determine appropriate editorial actions to safeguard the integrity of scholarly publishing. This process does not replace the authority of institutions or relevant bodies to conduct formal investigations when necessary.

5. Confidentiality and Principles of Fairness

Allegations of misconduct will be handled with confidentiality to the extent possible, without compromising the need to conduct a fair examination in accordance with applicable regulations. Information related to a case will be disclosed only to parties with a legitimate interest or authority in the assessment and resolution process, while taking into account legal and ethical obligations.

Islamic Education Studies (IES): an Indonesian Journal strives to protect the rights, interests, and reputations of both the complainant and the individual or party against whom the allegation is made. The existence of a report does not automatically constitute grounds for concluding that misconduct has occurred. Any decision that may adversely affect a particular party must be based on sufficient examination of the evidence and objective consideration.

The journal also does not tolerate intimidation or retaliation against individuals who submit reports responsibly and in good faith, or against parties who participate in the examination process.

6. Editorial Actions and Decisions

Editorial decisions are made by taking into account the type of misconduct, the severity of the issue, the findings of the investigation, and its impact on the integrity of the scholarly publication record. Based on these considerations, Islamic Education Studies (IES): an Indonesian Journal may take one or more of the following actions:

• Request the author(s) to revise the manuscript, provide clarification, submit additional data, or supply supporting documents.
• Reject a submitted manuscript if serious issues are identified that cannot be resolved or if misconduct has been proven.
• Publish a correction (corrigendum) if errors are identified in a published article that require rectification.
• Publish an expression of concern if there are indications of significant issues, but the investigation has not yet been completed or the available evidence is insufficient to reach a definitive conclusion.
• Retract a published article if the investigation establishes grounds for retraction in accordance with the journal’s retraction policy.
• Notify the research institution, funding agency, publisher, or other relevant authorities when necessary.
• Impose restrictions on future manuscript submissions or take other proportionate editorial actions, provided that such measures are supported by the investigation findings and are consistent with the journal’s policies.

Every action must be proportionate to the severity of the issue and the evidence obtained. The primary objective of editorial actions is to safeguard the accuracy, credibility, and integrity of the scholarly publication record. The handling of corrections, expressions of concern, and retractions shall be carried out in accordance with the relevant policies applicable to Islamic Education Studies (IES): an Indonesian Journal.

7. Responsibilities of Authors, Peer Reviewers, and Editors

• Authors Responsible for reporting research findings honestly and accurately, providing appropriate citations for all sources used, presenting research data responsibly, and ensuring that all required declarations concerning research ethics and funding are properly completed.
• Peer Reviewers Expected to notify the editor if they identify credible indications of plagiarism, data irregularities, non-compliance with ethical requirements, or other forms of misconduct. Peer reviewers must maintain the confidentiality of all information obtained during the review process and refrain from conducting investigations beyond the scope of their assigned responsibilities.
• Editors Responsible for handling reports objectively and professionally, identifying and managing conflicts of interest, safeguarding the confidentiality of relevant information, and taking appropriate measures to uphold the integrity of the scholarly publishing process.

8. Appeals and Further Actions

Any party who disagrees with an editorial decision concerning alleged research misconduct may submit a written appeal to the editorial office. The appeal must include clear grounds for the request, a relevant explanation, and supporting evidence or additional information to justify reconsideration.

Appeals will be evaluated by the editor or another designated individual who has no direct conflict of interest with the case under review. Where necessary, the journal may seek advice from independent parties to ensure an objective assessment.

If an issue cannot be resolved through the journal’s editorial procedures, Islamic Education Studies (IES): an Indonesian Journal may refer the matter to the relevant research institution or other appropriate authorities for further action through established formal procedures.

9. Policy References and Ethical Guidelines

In addressing allegations of research misconduct, Islamic Education Studies (IES): an Indonesian Journal adheres to the journal’s publication ethics policies and relevant principles and guidelines issued by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).

This policy is implemented in conjunction with the journal’s other policies, including those concerning plagiarism, authorship and author contributions, conflicts of interest, research ethics, and article corrections and retractions. The implementation of these policies aims to ensure that all allegations of misconduct are handled responsibly and that the decisions made contribute to maintaining trust in scholarly publishing.