Allegation of Research Misconduct

1. Policy Statement

Khatulistiwa Nursing Journal (KNJ) is committed to upholding research integrity, publication ethics, transparency, and accountability in scholarly publishing. The journal takes all credible allegations of research or publication misconduct seriously, whether they arise before or after publication.

This policy is based on the principles and guidance of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), particularly the COPE Core Practice on Allegations of Misconduct and its guidance on cooperation between journals and research institutions.

KNJ is committed to handling allegations fairly, objectively, confidentially, and consistently with applicable ethical standards. An allegation does not, by itself, establish that misconduct has occurred. All cases will be assessed based on the available evidence, and relevant parties will be given an appropriate opportunity to respond.

2. Scope of Research and Publication Misconduct

Research or publication misconduct may include, but is not limited to, the following:

a. Data Fabrication

Inventing research data, participants, observations, results, or other research records and presenting them as genuine.

b. Data Falsification

Manipulating research materials, methods, processes, data, images, or results, or omitting relevant information in a manner that misrepresents the research.

c. Plagiarism

Using another person's words, ideas, data, figures, or other intellectual work without appropriate acknowledgement or attribution.

d. Duplicate or Redundant Publication

Submitting the same manuscript to multiple journals simultaneously or publishing substantially overlapping findings without appropriate disclosure or justification.

e. Authorship Misconduct

Misrepresenting authorship or contributions, including inappropriate inclusion or exclusion of authors, ghost authorship, guest authorship, or gift authorship.

f. Research Ethics Violations

Conducting research without required ethical approval or informed consent, misrepresenting ethical approval, violating participant confidentiality, or engaging in other serious breaches of research ethics.

g. Image, Data, or Document Manipulation

Inappropriately altering research images, presenting manipulated figures as original evidence, or falsifying research records, ethics approval documents, or other supporting documentation.

h. Undisclosed Conflicts of Interest or Funding

Concealing or misrepresenting financial, personal, institutional, or other competing interests, or failing to disclose relevant funding sources.

i. Peer-Review or Publication Process Manipulation

Manipulating reviewer identities, submitting fabricated reviewer information, interfering with independent peer review, or engaging in other practices intended to improperly influence editorial decisions.

KNJ recognizes that honest errors, methodological limitations, and reasonable differences in scientific interpretation do not automatically constitute misconduct. Such matters will be assessed according to their nature, seriousness, and effect on the reliability of the research record.

3. Reporting Allegations

Authors, reviewers, readers, researchers, research institutions, and other interested parties may report suspected research or publication misconduct to the KNJ editorial team.

Reports should be submitted through the official editorial contact published on the KNJ website, using the subject line:

Research Misconduct Allegation: [Manuscript ID, Article Title, or DOI]

A report should include, where available:

• The title and identification of the manuscript or published article.
• A clear and specific description of the suspected misconduct.
• Relevant passages, figures, tables, data, or research procedures.
• Supporting evidence, documentation, or references.
• The reporter's contact details and any relevant competing interests.

Anonymous reports may also be considered when they contain sufficiently specific and verifiable information to support an initial assessment.

KNJ encourages reports made in good faith and based on reasonable grounds. Allegations should be factual, relevant, and supported by available evidence rather than personal accusations.

4. Assessment and Investigation Procedure

KNJ will handle allegations through a fair and proportionate editorial process.

Step 1: Receipt and Initial Assessment

The editorial team will record the allegation, acknowledge receipt where contact information is available, and assess whether the concern is sufficiently specific and supported to warrant further examination.

Step 2: Independent Editorial Handling

An editor without a relevant conflict of interest will oversee the case. If the allegation concerns the Editor-in-Chief or another editor directly involved in the matter, the case should be referred to an appropriate independent editorial representative or publisher, where available.

Step 3: Evidence Review and Request for Explanation

The journal may request a written explanation from the relevant author or authors and, where appropriate, seek original data, research records, ethical approval documents, informed consent documentation, or other relevant evidence.

Communication will be conducted professionally and without premature accusations. The individuals concerned will be given an appropriate opportunity to provide explanations and supporting information.

Step 4: Consultation with Independent Experts or Institutions

Where necessary, KNJ may consult independent experts, research ethics committees, funding agencies, or the relevant research institution.

Formal investigations into the conduct of researchers are generally the responsibility of their institutions or other competent investigative bodies. KNJ will cooperate with appropriate investigations and provide relevant evidence when justified, while respecting confidentiality and applicable requirements.

Step 5: Editorial Decision

The editorial team will assess the evidence, responses, and any available findings from relevant institutions or competent authorities to determine the appropriate action concerning the manuscript or published article.

Peer review or publication may be suspended while a serious concern is being assessed. Failure to respond to an inquiry does not automatically prove misconduct but may be considered when determining the next appropriate procedural steps.

5. Possible Editorial Actions

Depending on the evidence, seriousness, and stage of publication, KNJ may take one or more of the following actions:

• Close the case when the allegation is unsupported or satisfactorily resolved.
• Request clarification, additional documentation, or manuscript revisions.
• Seek further independent review or verification.
• Reject a submitted manuscript when the evidence or unresolved concerns warrant rejection.
• Contact the relevant institution or other competent body to request an appropriate investigation.
• Publish a correction when a published error can be corrected without invalidating the main findings.
• Publish an Expression of Concern when serious questions remain unresolved and readers need to be informed.
• Retract a published article when sufficient evidence indicates that its findings are unreliable or serious ethical violations undermine the validity of the publication.

Editorial action will be proportionate to the findings and consistent with relevant COPE guidance. A correction, Expression of Concern, or retraction will be linked to the affected article where technically and editorially feasible, and the reason for the action will be explained transparently.

A retraction is intended to correct the scholarly record and does not, by itself, constitute a determination of an author's intent or personal culpability.

6. Confidentiality and Protection of Parties

KNJ will handle allegations and supporting documentation confidentially to the extent reasonably possible. Information will be shared only with individuals or institutions that need it for editorial assessment, investigation, or correction of the scholarly record.

Absolute confidentiality cannot be guaranteed when disclosure is necessary for a proper investigation or required by applicable rules or law.

KNJ expects all parties to respect confidentiality during an ongoing case, avoid public accusations unsupported by established evidence, and refrain from intimidating or retaliating against individuals who raise concerns in good faith.

Research participant identities, sensitive personal information, and confidential research records must be protected throughout the process.

7. Appeals and Reconsideration

Authors or complainants may request reconsideration of an editorial decision by presenting material new evidence, identifying a factual error, or demonstrating a significant procedural concern.

Requests for reconsideration will be assessed fairly by an appropriately independent and unconflicted editorial representative, where available. Reconsideration does not automatically suspend an editorial action already taken to protect the integrity of the scholarly record.

8. Commitment to Research Integrity

KNJ is committed to cooperating with authors, reviewers, research institutions, ethics committees, and other competent authorities to address credible allegations of research or publication misconduct.

The journal will take appropriate steps to protect the reliability of published research and maintain public trust in nursing scholarship, nursing education, clinical practice, and healthcare research.