Allegations of Research Misconduct

Research Misconduct Policy

Jurnal Wahana Karya Ilmiah Pendidikan is committed to maintaining research integrity, academic honesty, and ethical publishing practices. All authors, reviewers, editors, and members of the editorial board are expected to uphold the highest standards of research and publication ethics.

Research misconduct includes, but is not limited to, fabrication or falsification of data, plagiarism, duplicate publication, inappropriate manipulation of research results or images, improper authorship practices, and other actions that violate accepted standards of research integrity.

1. Reporting Allegations

Any individual who suspects research misconduct in a submitted or published article may report the allegation to the editorial team. Reports should provide a clear description of the suspected misconduct and, where possible, supporting evidence. All allegations will be taken seriously and assessed fairly, confidentially, and objectively.

2. Preliminary Assessment and Investigation

Upon receiving an allegation, the editor-in-chief or an authorized editor will conduct a preliminary assessment to determine whether the allegation falls within the journal's responsibility and whether sufficient information is available for further examination.

Where necessary, the journal may request explanations, supporting documents, research data, or other relevant information from the authors. The journal may also contact the authors' affiliated institutions, research ethics committees, or other appropriate authorities when further investigation is required.

The journal will follow the principles and recommended procedures of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) when handling allegations of research misconduct. The journal will not presume that misconduct has occurred before the available evidence has been assessed appropriately.

3. Confidentiality and Fair Treatment

All allegations will be handled confidentially to the extent possible, while allowing a fair and appropriate investigation. The individuals concerned will be given a reasonable opportunity to respond to the allegations.

The journal will seek to protect the integrity of the investigation and avoid premature conclusions or public statements that could unfairly prejudice the parties involved.

4. Editorial Actions

Depending on the nature and severity of the allegation and the evidence available, the journal may take one or more of the following actions:

  1. Request clarification, additional evidence, or corrections from the authors.
  2. Suspend the editorial process while the allegation is being assessed.
  3. Reject the manuscript if serious ethical violations are established during the evaluation process.
  4. Publish a correction, expression of concern, or retraction for a published article, as appropriate to the circumstances.
  5. Notify the relevant institution or research ethics authority when the matter requires a formal investigation beyond the journal's remit.

Any editorial action will be proportionate to the findings and consistent with publication ethics principles and applicable policies.

5. Institutional Cooperation

If an allegation requires a formal investigation into the conduct of a researcher, the journal may refer the matter to the author's affiliated institution or another competent authority. The journal recognizes that institutions are generally better positioned to investigate underlying research activities, access original research records, and determine whether institutional or research misconduct has occurred.

The journal will consider reliable findings from competent authorities when determining appropriate editorial actions. Referral to an institution does not prevent the journal from taking necessary measures to protect the integrity of the scholarly record.

6. Protection of the Scholarly Record

Jurnal Wahana Karya Ilmiah Pendidikan is committed to correcting the scholarly record when credible evidence establishes that a published article contains significant errors or results from research misconduct. Corrections, expressions of concern, and retractions will be issued when appropriate, with clear explanations and in accordance with applicable publication ethics guidance.

The journal's primary objectives in handling allegations are to ensure a fair process, uphold research integrity, protect readers and the academic community, and maintain trust in the published scholarly record.

7. Reference

This policy is informed by the principles and guidance of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), particularly its guidance on handling allegations of misconduct and its recommended procedures for editors.

Publication Ethics Reference

Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE)