Allegations of Research Misconduct

The Journal of Computer Science Application and Engineering (JOSAPEN), published by Lentera Ilmu Publisher, is committed to maintaining the highest standards of research integrity, publication ethics, and responsible scholarly communication. The journal takes all allegations of research misconduct seriously and is committed to handling such allegations fairly, confidentially, impartially, and in a timely manner.

JOSAPEN expects authors, editors, reviewers, and other parties involved in the publication process to uphold the principles of honesty, transparency, accountability, and academic integrity. Any suspected violation of these principles will be assessed in accordance with this policy and the journal's applicable publication ethics procedures.

1. Definition of Research Misconduct

Research misconduct refers to violations of accepted standards of research integrity that may compromise the reliability, originality, credibility, or ethical acceptability of scholarly work.

Allegations of research misconduct may include, but are not limited to:

Fabrication: Making up research data, experimental results, observations, or other research information and presenting them as genuine.
Falsification: Manipulating research materials, equipment, processes, images, data, or results, or omitting relevant information in a manner that misrepresents the research findings.
Plagiarism: Using another person's words, ideas, data, methods, figures, or other intellectual contributions without appropriate acknowledgment.
Duplicate or Redundant Publication: Publishing substantially the same research in multiple publications without appropriate disclosure or an acceptable justification.
Inappropriate Authorship: Including individuals who have not made qualifying contributions, omitting legitimate contributors, or misrepresenting authorship or contributions.
Citation Manipulation: Adding irrelevant citations, coercing citations, or manipulating references to improperly influence citation metrics or scholarly recognition.
Undisclosed Conflicts of Interest: Failing to disclose relevant financial, professional, or personal interests that could improperly influence the research or its publication.
Research Ethics Violations: Conducting research without required ethical approval, consent, authorization, or safeguards, where applicable.
Image, Data, or Computational Manipulation: Inappropriately altering images, datasets, code, algorithms, experimental outputs, or computational results in ways that misrepresent the evidence.
Misuse of Artificial Intelligence: Using AI tools to fabricate data, generate misleading references, misrepresent sources, conceal plagiarism, or otherwise compromise research integrity.
Peer-Review or Editorial Misconduct: Manipulating peer review, impersonating reviewers, disclosing confidential manuscript information without authorization, or improperly influencing editorial decisions.
Other Ethical Violations: Any other substantiated conduct that seriously undermines the integrity, reliability, or ethical validity of research or scholarly publication.

Honest errors, reasonable differences in interpretation, or methodological disagreements do not automatically constitute research misconduct. Allegations must be assessed on the basis of relevant evidence and the circumstances of each case.

2. Reporting Allegations

Any individual or organization may report a suspected case of research misconduct involving a manuscript submitted to or an article published in JOSAPEN. Potential reporting parties include authors, reviewers, editors, researchers, readers, institutions, and other members of the scholarly community.

Reports should be submitted to the JOSAPEN editorial office through the contact information provided on the journal's official website:

https://journal.lenterailmu.com/index.php/josapen

Where possible, a report should include:

The title of the manuscript or published article and its DOI or publication details, if available.
A clear description of the suspected misconduct.
Relevant supporting evidence, such as source publications, similarity reports, data inconsistencies, image comparisons, or other documentation.
The names or roles of the individuals involved, where known and relevant.
Any additional information that may assist the journal in assessing the allegation.

Anonymous allegations may be considered when they contain sufficiently specific information or credible supporting evidence to permit an assessment.

Reports should be made in good faith. Knowingly submitting false or malicious allegations may itself constitute inappropriate conduct.

3. Preliminary Assessment

Upon receiving an allegation, the Editor-in-Chief or an authorized editorial representative will conduct a preliminary assessment to determine whether the concern falls within the journal's responsibility and whether sufficient information is available for further examination.

The preliminary assessment may involve:

Reviewing the allegation and the evidence provided.
Examining the manuscript, published article, or relevant research materials.
Checking publication records, references, similarity reports, data, images, or other relevant sources.
Determining whether the concern relates to a potential breach of research integrity or another editorial matter.
Assessing whether further information or specialist advice is necessary.

If the allegation is outside the journal's remit or lacks sufficient information to proceed, the journal may request clarification, refer the matter to an appropriate institution, or close the case with a documented rationale.

4. Investigation Procedure

If the preliminary assessment identifies credible grounds for concern, JOSAPEN will conduct an appropriate editorial investigation. The investigation will be proportionate to the nature and seriousness of the allegation and may include consultation with independent experts, relevant institutions, publishers, or other appropriate parties.

The process may involve the following steps:

Evidence Review: The editorial team examines the available evidence and identifies the specific issues requiring clarification.
Author Notification: Where appropriate and consistent with the integrity of the investigation, the corresponding author is informed of the concerns and invited to provide an explanation or relevant supporting documentation.
Additional Verification: The journal may request original datasets, research records, ethics approval documents, source files, code, or other materials necessary to evaluate the allegation.
Consultation: When the matter involves institutional research practices, employment issues, complex data concerns, or suspected serious misconduct, the journal may refer the case to the authors' affiliated institution or another competent body.
Editorial Evaluation: The Editor-in-Chief or an appropriately appointed independent editor evaluates the evidence, responses, and any expert advice before determining the appropriate editorial action.
Decision and Documentation: The outcome and rationale are documented in accordance with the journal's internal procedures and applicable confidentiality requirements.

The journal may establish reasonable deadlines for responses and requests for documentation. If a party does not respond, the journal may proceed on the basis of the available evidence, provided that the decision is fair and adequately supported.

JOSAPEN does not replace the formal investigative responsibilities of universities, research institutions, employers, or other competent authorities. Where a formal institutional investigation is necessary, the journal may defer certain determinations pending its outcome.

5. Confidentiality and Fair Treatment

JOSAPEN will handle allegations and related documentation confidentially to the extent reasonably possible and consistent with a fair investigation, legal obligations, and the protection of the scholarly record.

Information will be shared only with individuals who need it to assess or investigate the allegation, make an editorial decision, or fulfill applicable obligations.

The journal will seek to ensure that:

Allegations are evaluated impartially and without prejudgment.
Individuals who are the subject of an allegation have an appropriate opportunity to respond.
Confidential information, personal data, and research materials are handled responsibly.
Editors or reviewers with relevant conflicts of interest do not improperly influence the investigation.
The identity of a person reporting misconduct is protected where reasonably possible, subject to the circumstances and applicable obligations.

An allegation does not establish that misconduct has occurred. The journal will avoid presenting unsubstantiated claims as proven facts.

6. Editorial Actions and Possible Outcomes

Following an assessment or investigation, JOSAPEN may take one or more actions appropriate to the evidence and the seriousness of the matter.

Possible outcomes include:

Closing the case when the allegation is not substantiated or the available evidence does not justify further action.
Requesting clarification, corrections, additional data, or other documentation.
Returning a manuscript for revision when the issue is correctable and does not constitute serious misconduct.
Rejecting a manuscript when research integrity, originality, or ethical compliance requirements have been materially breached.
Suspending editorial processing while a significant concern is investigated.
Issuing a correction, expression of concern, or retraction for an article already published, as appropriate.
Notifying an author's institution, research organization, funding body, publisher, or other relevant authority when justified.
Restricting future submissions in cases of substantiated serious or repeated misconduct, following a documented and proportionate assessment.

The journal will consider the nature of the violation, the strength of the evidence, its effect on the reliability of the research, the authors' responses, and any relevant institutional findings when determining the appropriate action.

7. Handling Allegations After Publication

JOSAPEN recognizes that concerns may arise after an article has been published. The journal will assess credible post-publication allegations and take appropriate steps to protect the integrity of the scholarly record.

Depending on the findings, the journal may:

Correction: Publish a correction when an identified error can be remedied without invalidating the article's principal findings or conclusions.

Expression of Concern: Publish an expression of concern when significant questions remain unresolved or an investigation is ongoing and readers need to be informed of the issue.

Retraction: Retract an article when the evidence establishes that serious misconduct, unreliable findings, substantial plagiarism, or another major problem has materially compromised the integrity of the publication.

No Further Action: Close the matter when the allegation is not substantiated or the evidence does not warrant editorial intervention.

Any public notice will explain the reason for the action as clearly as reasonably possible. JOSAPEN will seek to preserve the publication record and maintain appropriate links between the original article and any correction, expression of concern, or retraction notice.

8. Responsibilities of Authors and Other Parties

Authors

Authors are expected to maintain accurate research records, preserve supporting data and materials as appropriate, disclose relevant ethical issues, cooperate with legitimate editorial inquiries, and respond honestly to allegations concerning their work.

Where errors or misconduct are identified, authors should cooperate with the journal in correcting the scholarly record.

Editors

Editors are responsible for assessing allegations objectively, managing conflicts of interest, maintaining appropriate confidentiality, documenting decisions, and taking proportionate action when concerns are substantiated.

Reviewers

Reviewers should report credible concerns about research integrity to the editorial team and provide supporting explanations where possible. They must respect manuscript confidentiality and avoid public accusations unsupported by evidence.

Institutions and Research Organizations

Where appropriate, JOSAPEN may request assistance from relevant institutions or research organizations, particularly when an allegation requires access to original research records, employment information, institutional ethics records, or a formal investigation beyond the journal's authority.

9. Appeals and Requests for Reconsideration

Authors or other directly affected parties may request reconsideration of an editorial decision concerning an allegation of research misconduct by submitting a written appeal to the Editor-in-Chief.

The appeal should identify the decision being challenged, explain the grounds for reconsideration, and provide relevant new evidence or clarification.

Where appropriate, an editor who was not directly involved in the original decision may review the appeal. The journal may uphold, modify, or reconsider the original action based on the available evidence and applicable procedures.

An appeal does not automatically suspend necessary measures intended to protect readers or preserve the integrity of the scholarly record.

10. Protection Against Retaliation and Malicious Allegations

JOSAPEN does not tolerate retaliation against individuals who raise legitimate research integrity concerns in good faith or cooperate with an investigation.

At the same time, knowingly fabricated or malicious allegations may be referred to appropriate authorities when warranted. The journal will distinguish good-faith reporting from deliberate attempts to damage an individual's reputation or improperly influence editorial decisions.

11. Alignment with Publication Ethics Standards

JOSAPEN seeks to handle allegations of research misconduct in accordance with recognized scholarly publishing ethics principles, including guidance from the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), applicable research integrity standards, and relevant institutional procedures.

The journal may update its procedures as publication ethics guidance evolves. Where necessary, the journal will apply the standards and procedures appropriate to the nature of the allegation and the publication concerned.

12. Contact and Policy Application

Allegations of research misconduct should be directed to the JOSAPEN editorial office through the journal's official website:

https://journal.lenterailmu.com/index.php/josapen

By submitting a manuscript to JOSAPEN, authors acknowledge that concerns about research integrity may be assessed under this policy and that appropriate editorial or publication actions may be taken when misconduct is substantiated.

JOSAPEN is committed to protecting the scholarly record, treating all parties fairly, and ensuring that published research meets appropriate standards of integrity, reliability, and accountability.