MISCONDUCT POLICY

Allegation of research misconduct includes, but is not limited to, plagiarism, citation manipulation, and data falsification/fabrication. The Editor-in-Chief is responsible for resolving any allegations of misconduct. In dealing with such cases, the journal strictly follows the flowcharts and guidelines provided by COPE.

The process for handling allegations is as follows:

1. Initial Check: The Editor validates the allegation and gathers evidence.

2. Opportunity to Respond: The author is formally contacted and given a chance to explain or respond to the allegations.

3. Investigation: If the response is unsatisfactory, the Editor may conduct a deeper investigation, which may involve contacting the author's institution or research funder.

4. Decision: Depending on the severity of the misconduct, the outcome may range from a letter of correction to a formal Retraction of the article.