Allegation of Research Misconduct

The Journal of Quality Assurance in Islamic Education (JQAIE) is committed to upholding the highest standards of research integrity, academic honesty, transparency, and ethical scholarly publishing. The journal takes all allegations of research misconduct seriously and ensures that suspected violations are addressed through fair, objective, confidential, and evidence-based procedures.

In handling allegations of research misconduct, JQAIE follows the principles and best practices established by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and relevant international guidelines on publication ethics, research integrity, and editorial responsibility.

1. Definition and Scope of Research Misconduct

Research misconduct refers to unethical practices that compromise the originality, credibility, reliability, or integrity of scientific research and scholarly publications. Such misconduct may occur during research design, data collection, analysis, manuscript preparation, peer review, or publication.

Research misconduct includes, but is not limited to:

  • Fabrication: Inventing research data, participant responses, experimental findings, or other information and presenting them as authentic research results.

  • Falsification: Manipulating research procedures, instruments, datasets, statistical analyses, or findings in ways that misrepresent the actual research outcomes.

  • Plagiarism: Using another person's ideas, words, research findings, instruments, or intellectual contributions without proper acknowledgment or citation.

  • Duplicate or Redundant Publication: Publishing substantially similar research findings in multiple journals without appropriate disclosure, justification, or authorization.

  • Authorship Misconduct: Including individuals who have not made substantial scholarly contributions, excluding legitimate contributors, or manipulating authorship attribution.

  • Data and Image Manipulation: Inappropriately modifying, omitting, or misrepresenting research data, figures, images, or supporting evidence.

  • Citation Manipulation: Deliberately adding irrelevant citations or engaging in coercive citation practices to artificially increase citation metrics.

  • Peer Review Manipulation: Providing false reviewer identities, interfering with reviewer independence, or attempting to improperly influence editorial decisions.

  • Undisclosed Conflicts of Interest: Concealing financial, institutional, professional, or personal relationships that may influence research findings or editorial decisions.

  • Research Ethics Violations: Conducting research involving human participants without required ethical approval, informed consent, confidentiality safeguards, or appropriate participant protection.

  • Misleading Research Declarations: Providing false or inaccurate information concerning ethical clearance, funding, data availability, research instruments, or other mandatory declarations.

In psychological and behavioral research, particular attention is given to participant protection, psychological well-being, informed consent, confidentiality, and ethical treatment of vulnerable populations, including children and adolescents.

Honest errors, legitimate differences in scientific interpretation, and methodological disagreements do not automatically constitute research misconduct.

2. Reporting Allegations of Research Misconduct

Any individual, including researchers, readers, reviewers, editors, or institutional representatives, who identifies potential research misconduct in a manuscript submitted to or published in JQAIE may submit a formal allegation to the journal's editorial office.

Reports should include:

  1. The title and relevant details of the manuscript or published article.

  2. The names of the authors involved, where available.

  3. A clear description of the suspected misconduct.

  4. Supporting evidence, relevant documentation, or references.

  5. Contact information for further clarification, where appropriate.

JQAIE encourages allegations submitted in good faith and seeks to protect individuals who raise legitimate ethical concerns. Deliberately false, malicious, or misleading allegations are not tolerated.

3. Preliminary Assessment of Allegations

Upon receiving an allegation, the Editor-in-Chief or an authorized editorial representative will conduct an initial assessment to determine whether the complaint falls within the journal's editorial responsibilities and whether sufficient evidence exists to justify further examination.

The preliminary assessment may involve examining manuscripts, published articles, similarity reports, research data, statistical results, ethical approval documentation, citations, and other relevant materials.

Potential conflicts of interest involving the complainant, authors, editors, or reviewers will also be considered.

If the allegation lacks sufficient supporting information, the editorial office may request clarification or additional documentation before determining whether a formal investigation is necessary.

4. Investigation Procedures

When an allegation is considered credible and warrants further examination, JQAIE will conduct a fair, impartial, and evidence-based editorial investigation.

The investigation may involve the following procedures:

  1. Evidence Examination: Reviewing the allegation and evaluating relevant research materials, manuscripts, datasets, ethical documentation, and supporting evidence.

  2. Author Notification: Informing the corresponding author of the allegations and requesting a detailed explanation on behalf of all relevant co-authors.

  3. Independent Evaluation: Consulting independent reviewers, methodological specialists, statistical experts, or research ethics experts when necessary.

  4. Institutional Consultation: Referring allegations to the authors' affiliated institutions, research ethics committees, or relevant authorities when formal institutional investigation is required.

  5. Assessment of Responses: Evaluating explanations, supporting documentation, and expert opinions while providing the individuals concerned with a reasonable opportunity to respond.

  6. Editorial Determination: Reaching an appropriate editorial decision based on the available evidence, the seriousness of the concerns, and applicable publication ethics guidelines.

JQAIE recognizes that research institutions have primary responsibility for conducting formal investigations into allegations involving their researchers. The journal's investigation focuses on determining appropriate editorial actions to protect the integrity of the scholarly record.

5. Confidentiality and Fair Treatment

All allegations of research misconduct will be handled confidentially to the extent reasonably possible and consistent with a fair investigation and applicable legal obligations.

Information concerning an allegation will be disclosed only to individuals or institutions whose involvement is necessary for evaluating and resolving the case.

JQAIE respects the rights and reputations of complainants, authors, reviewers, and editors. Allegations will not be considered proof of misconduct without appropriate assessment and supporting evidence.

The journal also prohibits retaliation against individuals who report legitimate concerns or cooperate with an investigation in good faith.

6. Editorial Decisions and Corrective Actions

Following the assessment or investigation, JQAIE may take appropriate editorial action according to the nature, severity, and available evidence of the alleged misconduct.

Possible actions include:

  • Clarification: Requesting additional information, research documentation, or explanations from the authors.

  • Manuscript Rejection: Rejecting a submitted manuscript when serious ethical violations or unresolved concerns undermine its suitability for publication.

  • Correction or Corrigendum: Publishing a formal correction when errors or inaccuracies can be addressed without invalidating the principal findings.

  • Expression of Concern: Publishing an editorial notice when serious concerns remain unresolved or an investigation is ongoing.

  • Article Retraction: Retracting a published article when reliable evidence establishes that its findings or scholarly integrity are fundamentally compromised.

  • Institutional Notification: Informing relevant research institutions, funding agencies, or appropriate authorities when necessary.

  • Additional Editorial Measures: Implementing proportionate editorial measures in response to established misconduct, consistent with the journal's policies.

All editorial decisions will be based on the available evidence, relevant ethical standards, and the need to maintain the reliability and transparency of the scholarly record.

7. Retraction of Published Articles

JQAIE may consider retracting a published article under the following circumstances:

  1. There is clear evidence that the research findings are unreliable because of fabrication, falsification, serious methodological errors, or other substantial inaccuracies.

  2. The article contains plagiarism or significant unauthorized reproduction of previously published work.

  3. The research findings have been published elsewhere without appropriate acknowledgment, authorization, or justification.

  4. The research involves serious violations of research ethics, including the absence of required ethical approval or informed consent.

  5. The article contains substantial manipulation of research data, statistical results, or supporting evidence.

  6. Authorship irregularities or other serious ethical violations undermine the integrity of the published work.

When retraction is warranted, JQAIE will publish a clearly identifiable retraction notice explaining the reasons for the decision and linking the notice to the original article.

The original article will ordinarily remain accessible as part of the scholarly record, clearly marked as retracted, except where removal is required for legal, privacy, or other compelling reasons.

Retraction procedures will follow relevant COPE guidance and the journal's correction and retraction policies.

8. Responsibilities of Authors, Reviewers, Editors, and Institutions

Authors are responsible for ensuring the originality, accuracy, ethical compliance, and transparency of their research. Authors must provide accurate information concerning research methods, participant consent, ethical approval, funding, conflicts of interest, and data integrity.

Reviewers are responsible for identifying and confidentially reporting suspected plagiarism, data irregularities, methodological inconsistencies, or ethical concerns discovered during the peer-review process.

Editors and Editorial Board Members are responsible for evaluating allegations objectively, managing conflicts of interest, maintaining confidentiality, and taking appropriate action to safeguard publication integrity.

Research Institutions are expected to investigate serious allegations involving their affiliated researchers and cooperate with journals when necessary to resolve concerns about published research.

9. Appeals and Reconsideration

Authors or other relevant parties who disagree with an editorial decision related to an allegation of research misconduct may submit a reasoned appeal to the JQAIE editorial office.

Appeals should include a clear explanation of the grounds for reconsideration and any relevant supporting evidence.

Where appropriate, appeals will be reviewed by an editor or independent expert who has no direct conflict of interest in the case.

The journal will evaluate appeals fairly and determine whether additional investigation, clarification, or editorial action is necessary.

10. Commitment to Publication Ethics

JQAIE is committed to maintaining the integrity, credibility, and accountability of scholarly communication in Islamic psychology, psychology, and behavioral sciences.

The journal's procedures for addressing allegations of research misconduct are guided by COPE principles and relevant international standards of responsible research and scholarly publishing.

These procedures are implemented alongside the journal's policies concerning publication ethics, plagiarism, authorship and contributorship, conflicts of interest, peer review, research ethics, and corrections and retractions.

Through transparent editorial practices, fair investigations, and appropriate corrective measures, JQAIE seeks to protect the scientific record and strengthen public trust in academic research.

References and Ethical Guidelines