Allegation of Research Misconduct

The International Journal of Education and Teaching Zone (IJETZ) is committed to maintaining the highest standards of research integrity, publication ethics, transparency, and accountability. The journal takes allegations of research misconduct seriously and is committed to protecting the accuracy, reliability, and integrity of the scholarly record. This policy is informed by the principles and guidance of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).

1. Definition and Scope of Research Misconduct

Research misconduct includes, but is not limited to, fabrication, falsification, and plagiarism in proposing, conducting, reviewing, reporting, or publishing research. It may also involve citation manipulation, inappropriate authorship practices, undisclosed conflicts of interest, unethical research practices, manipulation of peer review, and other serious breaches of publication ethics.

Fabrication refers to making up data, results, or research information and presenting them as genuine. Falsification involves manipulating research materials, processes, data, or results in ways that misrepresent the research. Plagiarism involves using another person's ideas, words, data, or work without appropriate acknowledgment.

Citation manipulation includes practices intended to inappropriately inflate citation counts or influence citation metrics without legitimate scholarly justification. Other concerns may include duplicate publication, inappropriate image or data manipulation, undisclosed use of generative artificial intelligence where disclosure is required by journal policy, and violations of applicable research ethics requirements.

Not every error, disagreement, or questionable research practice necessarily constitutes research misconduct. IJETZ evaluates each allegation according to its nature, seriousness, available evidence, and relevant ethical standards.

2. Submission and Initial Assessment of Allegations

Allegations of research misconduct may be submitted to the IJETZ Editorial Office through the official contact details provided below. Complainants are encouraged to provide a clear description of the concern and relevant supporting evidence, such as manuscript passages, data discrepancies, publication records, or other verifiable documentation.

Upon receiving an allegation, the Editor-in-Chief or an appropriately appointed editor conducts an initial assessment to determine whether the concern falls within the scope of this policy and whether sufficient information exists to warrant further examination.

The initial assessment may consider:

The nature, seriousness, and specificity of the allegation.
The availability and reliability of supporting evidence.
Whether the concern is consistent with recognized forms of research misconduct or other serious publication ethics violations.
Any relevant conflicts of interest involving the complainant, authors, reviewers, editors, or other parties.
Whether additional expertise or consultation is required.

Allegations submitted in good faith will be considered fairly and objectively. Anonymous allegations may also be assessed when they contain sufficiently specific and verifiable information.

3. Investigation and Author Response

When an allegation warrants further examination, IJETZ will inform the corresponding author of the substantive concerns and provide a reasonable opportunity to respond. The corresponding author may be asked to coordinate a detailed response on behalf of all co-authors, where appropriate.

The journal may request original research data, supporting documents, ethical approval information, research protocols, analytical files, authorship clarification, or other materials relevant to the investigation. Additional reviewers or independent experts, including statistical or methodological specialists, may be consulted when necessary.

The investigation will be conducted impartially, proportionately, and with due consideration for confidentiality and procedural fairness. Individuals involved in the assessment must disclose relevant conflicts of interest and may be excluded from the process when their independence could reasonably be questioned.

Where the allegation concerns institutional research practices, research data, or conduct requiring formal investigative authority, IJETZ may refer the matter to the relevant author's institution or another appropriate body. The journal's investigation does not replace the institution's responsibility to conduct a thorough and independent inquiry where warranted.

4. Evaluation and Possible Outcomes

After reviewing the available evidence, the author's response, and any relevant expert advice, the editorial team determines the appropriate course of action. Decisions will be based on the evidence and the seriousness of the identified concern.

Possible outcomes include:

a. No Further Action. If the allegation is unsupported or the evidence does not indicate a significant breach of research or publication ethics, the case may be closed.

b. Clarification or Additional Analysis. If the concern can be resolved through further explanation, verification, or reanalysis without evidence of misconduct, the journal may request clarification or additional analyses.

c. Correction. If a published article contains an error that affects its accuracy or completeness but does not invalidate the overall findings, IJETZ may publish a correction notice and amend the article as appropriate.

d. Rejection of a Submitted Manuscript. If a submitted manuscript is found to contain research misconduct or a serious ethical violation, it may be rejected in accordance with the journal's editorial and publication ethics policies.

e. Expression of Concern. If substantial concerns exist but the investigation remains incomplete, the evidence is inconclusive, or an institutional investigation is pending, IJETZ may publish an Expression of Concern when necessary to alert readers.

f. Retraction. If reliable evidence establishes that a published article contains serious misconduct, unreliable findings, or other circumstances that substantially undermine its integrity, IJETZ may retract the article in accordance with applicable COPE guidance. The retraction notice will explain the reason for the retraction to the extent appropriate and will be clearly linked to the original article.

g. Retraction with Replacement. Where appropriate and consistent with recognized publication ethics guidance, a retraction with replacement may be considered if a corrected version can responsibly replace the original while preserving a transparent record of the change.

h. Referral or Further Action. The journal may refer substantiated concerns to the relevant institution, research funder, or other appropriate authority, subject to applicable laws, confidentiality obligations, and the circumstances of the case.

Retractions and other post-publication notices will be handled transparently and proportionately. The journal will distinguish between honest error and misconduct and will not treat every correction or retraction as proof of deliberate wrongdoing.

5. Responsibilities of Authors, Institutions, and the Journal

Authors are responsible for the accuracy, originality, integrity, and ethical conduct of their research and for responding honestly and promptly to reasonable editorial requests concerning allegations.

The corresponding author is expected to coordinate communications with co-authors when appropriate. All authors may be asked to provide relevant explanations or supporting materials concerning their respective contributions.

Authors' institutions are expected to investigate allegations of research misconduct within their authority and to communicate relevant findings to the journal when appropriate and legally permissible. IJETZ may take editorial action based on the evidence available to it, even when an institutional investigation is ongoing or unavailable.

The Editor-in-Chief and editorial team are responsible for assessing allegations objectively, protecting the integrity of the publication process, maintaining appropriate confidentiality, and taking proportionate action when warranted. The journal will not allow commercial, institutional, personal, or other inappropriate interests to determine the outcome of a misconduct investigation.

6. Confidentiality, Fairness, and Protection Against Retaliation

IJETZ will handle allegations and related documentation confidentially to the extent reasonably possible and consistent with a fair investigation, applicable legal obligations, and the need to protect the scholarly record.

Authors and other individuals involved in an investigation will be given a reasonable opportunity to provide relevant information and respond to substantive concerns. The journal will avoid premature conclusions and will base its decisions on available evidence rather than unsupported accusations.

Good-faith reporting of suspected misconduct is encouraged. Retaliation against individuals who raise concerns in good faith will not be tolerated. Deliberately false or malicious allegations may be addressed appropriately when supported by evidence.

7. Appeals and Further Communication

Authors or other directly affected parties may submit a reasoned appeal of an editorial decision related to a research misconduct case by contacting the IJETZ Editorial Office through its official contact details. Appeals should identify specific procedural concerns, relevant new evidence, or substantive reasons why the decision should be reconsidered.

Appeals will be assessed by an editor or other appropriate person who was not materially involved in the original decision, where practicable. The journal may seek independent advice when necessary. The outcome of the appeal will be communicated to the relevant parties.

8. Maintaining the Integrity of the Scholarly Record

IJETZ recognizes its responsibility to preserve the accuracy, reliability, and transparency of the scholarly record. When concerns arise regarding published research, the journal will take appropriate action based on the available evidence, including corrections, Expressions of Concern, retractions, or other notices where justified.

All post-publication actions will be documented appropriately and linked to the affected article to ensure that readers can identify and understand the status of the publication. The journal aims to correct the scholarly record rather than conceal errors or unresolved concerns.

Through this policy, IJETZ seeks to foster a research environment grounded in honesty, accountability, fairness, and respect for scholarly standards. The journal is committed to addressing allegations of research misconduct responsibly and consistently with the principles and guidance of COPE.

9. Official Contact Information

Allegations of research misconduct, requests for clarification, and related correspondence should be directed to the official IJETZ Editorial Office using the contact details below.

Journal: International Journal of Education and Teaching Zone (IJETZ)

Publisher: Yayasan Nurul Yakin Bunga Tanjung

Primary Email: ijetzjournal@yayasannurulyakin.sch.id

Alternative Email: ijetzjournal@gmail.com

Phone/WhatsApp: +62 852-5875-7618

Complainants are encouraged to include the article title, DOI or article URL (if available), a clear description of the concern, and relevant supporting evidence. All submissions will be handled in accordance with this policy and the journal's commitment to fairness, confidentiality, and research integrity.