What Constitutes Research Misconduct
Research misconduct includes (but is not limited to):
data fabrication,
data falsification (including deceptive image manipulation),
plagiarism (including substantial unattributed overlap and redundant publication),
serious authorship/contribution misrepresentation,
purposeful failure to disclose significant conflicts of interest,
serious breaches of research ethics (e.g., missing required ethics approval).
Honest error, good-faith scientific disagreement, or minor issues without evidence of intentional wrongdoing are not automatically considered misconduct and may be handled through standard editorial processes.
How a Case Starts (Referral / Triage)
Potential cases may arise from:
complaints submitted via the Complaints Policy,
concerns raised during peer review,
post-publication concerns raised by readers, institutions, or other stakeholders.
When a submission or complaint indicates credible suspicion of research misconduct, it is formally referred to this procedure. The journal will consider allegations received from whistleblowers, including anonymous reports, where they are sufficiently specific and supported by credible evidence.
The Editor-in-Chief or a formally designated editor performs an initial assessment to determine whether:
If the matter is out of scope or clearly unsupported, the case may be closed with reasons recorded.
In conducting the preliminary assessment, the journal may refer to relevant COPE guidance and flowcharts, where applicable, to support consistent, fair, and well-documented decision-making.
If warranted, the journal initiates a formal investigation, which may include:
requesting explanations and supporting documentation from the author(s)
examining original data/materials (where relevant and feasible), ethics approvals, or audit trails
consulting independent experts or members of the International Editorial Advisory Board,
contacting the relevant institution(s) when appropriate.
Where concerns cannot be resolved at the editorial level or require verification of underlying data, ethics approvals, or intent, the journal may notify and cooperate with the relevant institution(s) or research integrity office. Formal determinations of misconduct are typically made by the institution(s). Authors will be given an opportunity to respond to the concerns and provide relevant information before a final decision is made, unless this is not appropriate (e.g., legal restrictions).
The journal aims to complete investigations within 30–60 calendar days, depending on complexity. Where additional time is required, involved parties may be informed. If the investigation is prolonged and there are ongoing concerns about the integrity of a published article, the journal may consider issuing an interim public notice (e.g., an Expression of Concern), issued as a separate notice linked to the article and stating the reason(s) for concern, promptly in line with its Correction and Retraction Policy, which may later be updated, replaced, or withdrawn as appropriate.
Based on findings, the journal may decide to:
take no action (allegation not substantiated)
request clarification or corrective action
reject a manuscript under review
refer the case for editorial actions affecting the scholarly record under the Correction and Retraction Policy (e.g., Correction, Expression of Concern, Retraction)
notify relevant institutions or funders where appropriate.
Actions are proportionate to the severity, intent, and impact of the confirmed issue.
Authors are informed of the outcome. Where appropriate, the complainant is informed that the journal has concluded the matter (without disclosing confidential details).
Records and Confidentiality
The journal keeps secure records of allegations, decisions, and correspondence for at least five years. Communications remain confidential, and retaliation is not tolerated.
Relationship to Other Policies
This procedure governs only the investigation of suspected research misconduct (see the Complaints Policy for submissions of concerns and the Correction and Retraction Policy for post-publication actions).
