Allegations of Research Misconduct Policy

This Allegation of Research Misconduct Policy is established by the publisher, Universitas Pakuan, in strict accordance with the ethical standards and best practice guidelines recommended by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE). This policy is designed to safeguard the integrity, transparency, and fairness of the editorial and publishing processes at Jurnal Pendidikan dan Pengajaran Guru Sekolah Dasar (JPPGuseda).

1. Definition of Research Misconduct

Research misconduct refers to unethical behavior in the conception, conduct, review, or reporting of research. JPPGuseda identifies research misconduct to include, but not be limited to:

  • Fabrication: Inventing data, findings, or results and recording or reporting them as factual.

  • Falsification: Manipulating research materials, equipment, or processes, or unjustifiably altering or omitting data, resulting in a misrepresentation of the research.

  • Plagiarism: Appropriating another person's ideas, processes, results, or exact wording without proper attribution and acknowledgment.

  • Citation Manipulation: Deliberately including excessive, self-promotional, or irrelevant citations for the primary purpose of artificially inflating citation metrics.

  • Redundant/Duplicate Publication: Submitting or publishing the same (or substantially similar) manuscript in multiple journals without appropriate justification and explicit disclosure.

Note: Honest errors, differences in methodological design, or variations in the interpretation of data do not constitute research misconduct.

2. Scope and Responsibility

This policy applies to all manuscripts submitted to JPPGuseda, as well as to all previously published articles. The Editorial Board, in collaboration with Universitas Pakuan, is responsible for addressing all allegations of research misconduct promptly, fairly, confidentially, and transparently, guided by COPE protocols.

3. Procedures for Handling Allegations

A. Initial Assessment

  • All allegations of misconduct must be formally submitted in writing to the Editor-in-Chief.

  • The editorial team conducts a preliminary assessment to determine if the allegation is credible, supported by verifiable evidence, and falls within the definition of research misconduct.

  • Anonymous allegations will be considered provided they are accompanied by substantial, independently verifiable evidence.

B. Author Notification and Right of Reply

  • If the preliminary assessment warrants further investigation, the corresponding author (representing all co-authors) will be formally notified of the allegation.

  • Authors will be granted a fair opportunity and a reasonable timeframe to respond to the allegations and provide supporting raw data or counter-evidence.

  • The editorial team reserves the right to contact all co-authors individually if deemed necessary.

C. Investigation and Expert Review

  • The Editorial Board may initiate an internal investigation and consult independent external experts (e.g., statistical reviewers or subject-matter specialists) to assess the validity of the evidence.

  • JPPGuseda expects full cooperation from research institutions. If institutional or systemic misconduct is suspected, the journal will refer the case to the authors’ affiliated institutions or funding agencies for a formal investigation, while fully cooperating with their internal reviews.

D. Outcomes and Editorial Actions Depending on the severity and outcome of the investigation, JPPGuseda may implement one or more of the following actions:

  • Rejection: Immediate rejection of the manuscript if it is currently under review.

  • Correction/Expression of Concern: Publication of a formal correction (erratum/corrigendum) or an "Expression of Concern" for minor issues, methodological honest errors, or inconclusive investigations.

  • Retraction: Formal retraction of the published article in cases of severe misconduct, accompanied by a clear retraction notice and a permanent link to the original article record.

  • Embargo/Ban: Banning the offending author(s) from submitting manuscripts to JPPGuseda for a specified period.

  • Notification: Reporting the findings to the authors’ affiliated institutions, relevant regulatory bodies, or other academic journals if appropriate.

4. Confidentiality and Whistleblower Protection

JPPGuseda manages all allegations and investigations with strict confidentiality to protect the privacy and reputations of all involved parties. The accused will always receive a fair process. Furthermore, the identity of the whistleblower will be strictly protected unless formal disclosure is mandated by law or explicitly permitted by the whistleblower.

5. Publisher’s Commitment to Ethical Publishing

As the publisher of JPPGuseda, Universitas Pakuan is committed to upholding the highest standards of publishing ethics and ensuring absolute editorial independence. The publisher guarantees that all editorial decisions are made solely on the basis of academic merit and scholarly integrity, entirely free from commercial or political influence.

For further details regarding the handling of misconduct, JPPGuseda adheres to the COPE guidelines, which can be accessed at: https://publicationethics.org/misconduct