Dealing with unethical behaviour
Any individual can report suspected unethical behavior or misconduct to the Editor-in-Chief or Editorial Board by providing credible information or evidence to initiate an investigation.
The decision to initiate an investigation lies with the Editor-in-Chief.
During the investigation, all evidence should be treated as confidential and only accessible to those directly involved in the process.
The accused will always be given an opportunity to respond to any charges brought against them.
If, at the conclusion of the investigation, misconduct is determined, it will be categorized as either minor or serious.
Minor misconduct, which does not significantly impact the integrity of the paper or the journal (e.g., misunderstandings or incorrect application of publishing standards), will be addressed directly with the authors and reviewers.
Possible outcomes may include:
-Sending a warning letter to the authors and/or reviewers.
-Publishing a correction for the paper, such as adding properly quoted sources that were initially omitted from the reference list.
-Publishing an erratum if the error was made by the editorial staff.
In the case of major misconduct, the Editor-in-Chief or Editorial Board may take different measures, such as:
-Publishing a formal announcement or editorial describing the misconduct.
-Officially informing the author's or reviewer's affiliated institution.
-Formally retracting publications from the journal in accordance with the Retraction Policy.
-Imposing a submission ban on an individual for a defined period.
-Referring the case to a professional organization or legal authority for further investigation and action.
-The aforementioned actions can be taken separately or in combination. If necessary, relevant expert organizations, bodies, or individuals may be consulted during the resolution of the case.
When addressing unethical behavior, the Editorial Board will rely on the guidelines and recommendations provided by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).
