Research Misconduct

JRMSI – Jurnal Riset Manajemen Sains Indonesia is committed to maintaining the highest standards of research integrity, academic honesty, and ethical scholarly publishing. The journal takes allegations of research and publication misconduct seriously, whether they concern submitted manuscripts, articles under review, or published works.
JRMSI's procedures for handling research misconduct are guided by the principles and recommendations of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and internationally recognized standards of publication ethics.
All allegations will be assessed fairly, objectively, and confidentially where appropriate, with the primary objective of protecting the integrity and reliability of the scholarly record.

1. Definition and Types of Research Misconduct
Research misconduct refers to practices that violate accepted principles of research integrity, ethical conduct, and responsible scholarly communication.
JRMSI considers the following practices unacceptable:
a. Fabrication: Inventing research data, participants, observations, interviews, survey responses, or results that did not actually exist.
b. Falsification: Manipulating research materials, methods, processes, data, statistical results, or findings in a manner that misrepresents the actual research.
c. Plagiarism: Using another person's words, ideas, data, or research findings without proper acknowledgment or citation.
d. Duplicate or Redundant Publication: Publishing or submitting substantially the same research in more than one journal without appropriate disclosure, acknowledgment, or justification.
e. Inappropriate Authorship: Misrepresenting author contributions, including gift authorship, ghost authorship, unauthorized authorship, or the omission of legitimate contributors.
f. Data Manipulation: Selectively reporting, altering, or concealing research data or analytical results in ways that mislead readers or distort research conclusions.
g. Citation Manipulation: Deliberately adding irrelevant citations or pressuring authors to cite particular publications for the purpose of artificially increasing citation metrics.
h. Peer-Review Manipulation: Attempting to influence or compromise the integrity of the peer-review process, including fabricated reviewer identities, fraudulent reviews, or undisclosed conflicts of interest.
i. Ethical Violations: Conducting or reporting research without necessary ethical approval, informed consent, or appropriate protection of research participants when required.
j. Undisclosed Conflicts of Interest: Failing to disclose relevant financial, institutional, professional, or personal interests that could influence the research or publication process.
k. Misuse of Artificial Intelligence: Using AI-generated content, fabricated references, manipulated data, or AI-assisted research practices in ways that violate academic integrity, transparency, or applicable journal disclosure requirements.
l. Paper Mill Practices: Submitting manuscripts produced or manipulated through fraudulent research or publication services, including fabricated data, purchased authorship, or systematic manipulation of the editorial process.
Honest errors, legitimate differences in scholarly interpretation, and academic disagreements do not automatically constitute research misconduct.

2. Prevention and Detection of Research Misconduct
JRMSI implements editorial screening and quality assurance procedures to identify potential research and publication misconduct before and after publication.
These procedures may include:
• Screening manuscripts for plagiarism and substantial textual similarity using appropriate similarity-detection tools.
• Evaluating the originality, methodological quality, and consistency of submitted manuscripts.
• Reviewing research data, statistical analyses, references, and supporting materials when necessary.
• Verifying authorship information, institutional affiliations, and declarations of conflicts of interest.
• Assessing potential manipulation of citations, peer-review processes, or publication records.
• Requesting clarification or supporting documentation from authors when concerns arise.
Similarity reports are treated as screening tools rather than conclusive evidence of plagiarism. Editorial assessment considers the nature, context, and extent of any identified overlap.

3. Reporting Allegations of Research Misconduct
JRMSI encourages authors, reviewers, editors, readers, research institutions, and other interested parties to report suspected research or publication misconduct.
Reports should include:
1. The title, author(s), and DOI or URL of the manuscript or published article concerned.
2. A clear description of the suspected misconduct.
3. Relevant supporting evidence, documentation, or references.
4. The name and contact information of the person submitting the report, where available.
Reports may be submitted directly to the JRMSI Editorial Office.
Email: jrmsi@unj.ac.id
Email Subject: Research Misconduct Allegation – [Article Title]
JRMSI may consider anonymous reports when sufficient, verifiable evidence is provided. The identity of individuals reporting concerns in good faith will be protected as far as practicable and consistent with applicable procedures.
Allegations will be evaluated based on available evidence rather than personal assumptions, institutional reputation, or unsubstantiated accusations.

4. Investigation Procedures
When a potential case of research misconduct is identified, JRMSI follows a structured editorial assessment procedure.
Step 1 – Initial Assessment: The Editor-in-Chief or designated editor evaluates the allegation and examines the available supporting evidence.
Step 2 – Preliminary Verification: The editorial team may conduct similarity checks, review research materials, assess publication records, or consult qualified experts when necessary.
Step 3 – Author Notification: Authors or other individuals concerned are informed of substantive allegations, where appropriate, and given a reasonable opportunity to provide explanations or supporting documentation.
Step 4 – Further Investigation: The editorial team may request additional information, consult independent experts, or contact relevant research institutions when formal investigation is warranted.
Step 5 – Editorial Evaluation: The available evidence and responses are assessed objectively to determine the appropriate editorial action.
Step 6 – Editorial Decision: The Editor-in-Chief makes the final editorial decision within the journal's authority, taking into account the findings and applicable publication ethics guidelines.
Step 7 – Documentation: The Editorial Office maintains appropriate records of the allegation, correspondence, evidence, investigation, and resulting editorial actions.
JRMSI may refer serious allegations of research misconduct to the relevant author's institution or competent authority for formal investigation. The journal is responsible for editorial decisions and the integrity of its published record, while research institutions ordinarily have responsibility for formal investigations into their researchers' conduct.

5. Editorial Actions and Consequences
Depending on the nature, severity, and supporting evidence of the identified concerns, JRMSI may take one or more of the following actions:
• Request an explanation, clarification, or additional documentation from the authors.
• Require corrections or revisions to a manuscript before publication.
• Reject a manuscript when serious ethical violations are established or submission requirements are not met.
• Suspend editorial processing while significant concerns are being assessed.
• Publish a Correction Notice when errors require amendment but the principal findings remain reliable.
• Publish an Expression of Concern when serious unresolved concerns warrant notification to readers.
• Retract a published article when its findings are unreliable or when other circumstances justify retraction under applicable publication ethics guidance.
• Notify relevant institutions, publishers, or other affected journals when appropriate and supported by evidence.
• Take proportionate measures concerning individuals involved in serious or repeated publication misconduct, subject to applicable editorial policies and fair procedures.
Any action will be proportionate to the seriousness of the concerns and supported by an appropriate editorial assessment. Where allegations are not substantiated, no adverse action will be taken solely on the basis of those allegations.

6. Responsibilities of Authors, Reviewers, and Editors
Authors are responsible for ensuring the originality, accuracy, transparency, and ethical integrity of their research. Authors must present research findings honestly, acknowledge relevant sources, disclose conflicts of interest, and cooperate with legitimate editorial inquiries.
Reviewers are responsible for conducting objective and confidential evaluations, identifying potential ethical concerns, and reporting suspected misconduct to the editorial team. Reviewers must not misuse confidential manuscript information for personal or professional advantage.
Editors are responsible for evaluating suspected misconduct fairly and impartially, maintaining appropriate confidentiality, protecting editorial independence, and ensuring that editorial actions follow established publication ethics standards.
Allegations involving editors or reviewers will also be assessed. Individuals with relevant conflicts of interest must not participate in handling allegations concerning their own conduct. Concerns involving the Editor-in-Chief should be referred to an appropriate independent representative of the journal's publisher or governing institution.

7. Confidentiality, Fairness, and Appeals
JRMSI is committed to ensuring that all research misconduct allegations are handled fairly, responsibly, and with appropriate confidentiality.
Information relating to allegations and investigations will be disclosed only to individuals or institutions with a legitimate need to know, except where disclosure is required by law or necessary to protect the scholarly record.
Individuals accused of misconduct will be given an appropriate opportunity to respond before adverse editorial decisions are finalized, except where immediate protective action is justified.
Authors who disagree with an editorial decision concerning misconduct may submit a written appeal supported by relevant evidence or information not adequately considered during the initial assessment.
Appeals will be assessed impartially, with the involvement of an editor or authorized representative who was not directly responsible for the contested decision whenever practicable.

8. Post-Publication Misconduct and Research Integrity
JRMSI recognizes that concerns regarding research integrity may arise after an article has been published.
When credible concerns affect a published article, the editorial team will evaluate the available evidence and determine whether further investigation or editorial action is required.
Actions affecting the published record will be undertaken in accordance with the journal's Corrections and Retractions Policy and Post-Publication Discussions Policy.
The journal generally preserves access to the published record while clearly identifying articles affected by formal correction, expression of concern, or retraction notices.
The purpose of these actions is to maintain accurate scholarly information and protect readers from misleading or unreliable research findings.

9. Ethical Guidelines and References
JRMSI refers to internationally recognized publication ethics guidelines in developing and implementing its procedures for addressing research misconduct.
Relevant references include:
• Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE)
• Principles of Transparency and Best Practice in Scholarly Publishing
• COPE Guidelines: Cooperation Between Research Institutions and Journals on Research Integrity and Publication Misconduct Cases
• COPE Retraction Guidelines
These guidelines provide references for responsible editorial decision-making and do not imply formal membership in COPE.

10. Editorial Office and Contact Information
JRMSI – Jurnal Riset Manajemen Sains Indonesia
Faculty of Economics and Business
Universitas Negeri Jakarta
SFD Tower B, Campus A
Jl. Rawamangun Muka, East Jakarta 13220, Indonesia
Email: jrmsi@unj.ac.id
Official Website: JRMSI – Universitas Negeri Jakarta
E-ISSN: 2301-8313