Allegations of Misconduct
Allegations of Misconduct
1. Introduction
Jurnal Teknik Kimia is committed to maintaining the integrity, credibility, and quality of scholarly publications by upholding the highest standards of research and publication ethics. The journal recognizes that ethical conduct is essential to ensuring the reliability, transparency, and scientific value of published research in chemical engineering and related disciplines.
This policy establishes the principles and procedures for identifying, reporting, assessing, and addressing allegations of research and publication misconduct involving authors, reviewers, editors, and other parties participating in the publication process.
Jurnal Teknik Kimia follows the principles and recommendations of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) in addressing suspected misconduct. All allegations will be assessed fairly, objectively, confidentially, and consistently to safeguard the integrity of the scientific record.
2. Description
Research and publication misconduct refers to practices that violate established ethical standards and may compromise the accuracy, originality, credibility, or reliability of scientific publications.
Jurnal Teknik Kimia recognizes several forms of potential misconduct, including but not limited to:
- Fabrication of Data: Creating or reporting experimental results, measurements, observations, or research findings that were not actually obtained through legitimate research activities.
- Falsification of Data: Manipulating research procedures, experimental conditions, analytical results, or recorded data in a manner that misrepresents the actual findings. This includes inappropriate alteration of graphs, chromatograms, spectra, microscopy images, and other scientific evidence.
- Plagiarism: Using another person's ideas, text, methods, data, figures, or research findings without appropriate acknowledgment. This also includes substantial unattributed reuse of previously published material and redundant publication.
- Duplicate or Simultaneous Submission: Submitting substantially the same manuscript to more than one journal simultaneously or republishing previously published findings without proper disclosure and justification.
- Authorship Misconduct: Improper attribution of authorship, including guest, gift, or ghost authorship, omission of legitimate contributors, or unauthorized changes to the authorship list.
- Citation Manipulation: Inappropriately adding or requesting citations to increase citation counts or influence bibliometric indicators without scientific justification.
- Undisclosed Conflicts of Interest: Failure to disclose financial, institutional, professional, or personal relationships that could influence the research, peer-review process, or editorial decisions.
- Peer-Review Manipulation: Attempting to compromise the independence or integrity of peer review through fabricated reviewer identities, fraudulent recommendations, undisclosed conflicts of interest, or inappropriate interference with editorial decisions.
- Misrepresentation of Research Findings: Deliberately presenting misleading interpretations, unsupported conclusions, or manipulated experimental, computational, or simulation results.
- Violations of Research Ethics: Conducting or reporting research without complying with applicable ethical, institutional, safety, or regulatory requirements.
- Inappropriate Use of Artificial Intelligence: Using artificial intelligence tools to fabricate data, create misleading research evidence, generate fictitious references, or otherwise misrepresent the originality or validity of scientific work.
Allegations may arise before or after publication and may be reported by authors, reviewers, editors, readers, institutions, or other concerned parties.
3. Policy
Jurnal Teknik Kimia adopts the following principles when addressing allegations of misconduct:
- Commitment to Research Integrity
The journal is committed to maintaining ethical standards throughout the submission, peer-review, editorial, and publication processes. All credible allegations of misconduct will be assessed and addressed in accordance with relevant publication ethics guidelines.
- Fairness and Impartiality
All individuals involved in an allegation will be treated fairly and objectively. Editorial decisions will be based on available evidence, and individuals accused of misconduct will be provided with a reasonable opportunity to respond before conclusions are reached.
- Confidentiality
Information concerning allegations, assessments, and investigations will be handled confidentially to the extent reasonably possible. The identities of individuals reporting concerns will be protected where practicable, subject to applicable legal and institutional requirements.
- Transparency and Accountability
The journal will ensure that allegations are handled through a consistent and accountable procedure. Where necessary, appropriate editorial actions will be taken to maintain the accuracy and reliability of the published scientific record.
- Timely and Proportionate Response
Allegations will be evaluated without unnecessary delay. Any actions taken will be proportionate to the seriousness of the identified problem and its potential impact on the published research.
- Cooperation with Relevant Institutions
When allegations concern the conduct of research, the journal may coordinate with the authors' affiliated institutions, research ethics committees, funding organizations, or other relevant authorities.
The journal is responsible for decisions concerning its publications, while investigations into possible institutional or researcher misconduct may be conducted by the appropriate institutions.
- Protection Against Retaliation
Individuals who report concerns in good faith will be treated respectfully. The journal will seek to protect complainants from inappropriate retaliation within the scope of its editorial responsibilities.
4. Procedures for Handling Allegations of Misconduct
4.1 Reporting Allegations
Allegations of research or publication misconduct should be submitted in writing to the Editor-in-Chief of Jurnal Teknik Kimia through the official journal contact channels.
Reports should include sufficient information to allow an objective assessment, such as:
- The title of the manuscript or published article and its manuscript identification number or DOI, if available.
- A clear description of the suspected misconduct.
- Relevant supporting documents, data, or other verifiable evidence.
- Contact information of the complainant, where available.
Anonymous allegations may also be considered when supported by specific and verifiable evidence.
Reports may be submitted through the journal's official contact page:
https://jurnaltekkim.upnjatim.ac.id/index.php/jurnaltekkim/about/contact
4.2 Initial Assessment
Upon receiving an allegation, the Editor-in-Chief or an appointed editorial representative will conduct an initial assessment to determine whether the concern is credible, sufficiently supported, and relevant to the journal's publication activities.
The assessment may involve reviewing manuscripts, published articles, supporting documents, similarity reports, research data, and relevant editorial correspondence.
If the available information is insufficient, the complainant may be asked to provide additional clarification or evidence.
Allegations that are demonstrably unfounded or cannot be substantiated may be closed after an appropriate preliminary assessment.
4.3 Investigation and Evaluation
When an allegation warrants further examination, the Editor-in-Chief will coordinate the journal's assessment with relevant editorial board members or independent experts, as appropriate.
The journal may take the following steps:
- Examine the available evidence and relevant publication records.
- Contact the corresponding author or other individuals involved to request clarification and supporting documentation.
- Provide the individuals concerned with a reasonable opportunity to respond.
- Evaluate the explanations and evidence received.
- Consult relevant COPE guidelines and seek independent expert advice when necessary.
- Refer suspected research misconduct to the relevant institution or authority when a formal research investigation is required.
For allegations involving experimental or computational research, the journal may request raw experimental data, analytical measurements, original figures, statistical calculations, simulation files, or other documentation necessary to assess the reliability of the reported findings.
When allegations involve an editor or another member of the editorial team, the assessment will be assigned to an appropriate individual who has no conflict of interest.
4.4 Editorial Decisions and Corrective Actions
Following the assessment, Jurnal Teknik Kimia will determine appropriate editorial actions based on the nature, severity, and available evidence of the concern.
Possible actions include:
- No Further Action
When the allegation is unsupported or the concern is satisfactorily resolved, the case may be closed without further action.
- Request for Clarification or Revision
For concerns identified before publication that can be adequately resolved, authors may be required to provide additional explanations, supporting data, or revisions to the manuscript.
- Rejection of Manuscript
A submitted manuscript may be rejected when serious ethical violations are established or when concerns regarding the reliability or integrity of the work cannot be satisfactorily resolved.
- Correction of Published Articles
When an error or omission affects part of a published article but does not fundamentally invalidate its findings, the journal may publish a correction notice to maintain the accuracy of the scientific record.
- Expression of Concern
When substantial concerns arise regarding the reliability or integrity of a published article but the available evidence is inconclusive or an investigation remains unresolved, the journal may publish an Expression of Concern.
- Retraction of Published Articles
A published article may be retracted when its findings are considered unreliable due to serious errors, fabrication, falsification, plagiarism, redundant publication, or other significant breaches of publication integrity.
Retraction notices will clearly identify the affected article, explain the reasons for retraction, and remain accessible and linked to the original publication.
- Notification to Relevant Institutions
Where appropriate, the journal may inform the authors' affiliated institutions, research organizations, or relevant authorities of substantiated concerns requiring further institutional action.
All corrections, Expressions of Concern, and retractions will be handled in accordance with applicable COPE guidance.
4.5 Appeals and Complaints
Authors or other affected parties may appeal an editorial decision concerning an allegation of misconduct by submitting a written explanation and relevant supporting evidence to the Editor-in-Chief.
Appeals will be evaluated objectively. Where appropriate, an independent editorial board member or external advisor may be consulted to ensure impartial consideration.
An appeal does not automatically result in the reversal of an editorial decision.
4.6 Documentation and Communication
Jurnal Teknik Kimia will maintain appropriate confidential records of reported allegations, supporting evidence, editorial assessments, relevant correspondence, and final decisions.
The journal will communicate the outcome to relevant parties where appropriate, taking into account confidentiality, privacy, and legal considerations.
When a published article requires correction, retraction, or another public editorial notice, the journal will provide a transparent statement to inform readers of the issue and the action taken.
4.7 Prevention of Research and Publication Misconduct
Jurnal Teknik Kimia seeks to prevent misconduct by:
- Providing clear publication ethics guidelines for authors, reviewers, and editors.
- Implementing an independent and objective peer-review process.
- Applying appropriate plagiarism detection and manuscript screening procedures.
- Encouraging accurate reporting, transparency, and reproducibility of research findings.
- Requiring appropriate acknowledgment of research contributions, funding, and potential conflicts of interest.
- Promoting responsible reporting of experimental, analytical, and computational results.
- Raising awareness of ethical responsibilities among all parties involved in scholarly publication.
This policy will be reviewed and updated periodically to remain consistent with developments in publication ethics and relevant COPE recommendations.
References and Ethical Guidelines
This policy is informed by the following COPE resources:
