Research Misconduct Policy

Research Misconduct Policy

1. Introduction

This policy outlines the process for identifying, reporting, and addressing allegations of research misconduct in articles submitted to or published by VTM. The journal is committed to upholding the highest standards of research integrity and takes all reasonable steps to prevent the publication of work based on misconduct.

2. Definitions

  • Research Misconduct: Practices that deviate from accepted research norms and compromise the reliability of findings, including fabrication, falsification, plagiarism, or other unethical practices.

  • Fabrication: Inventing data or results that were not obtained through research.

  • Falsification: Manipulating research materials, equipment, or processes to misrepresent results.

  • Plagiarism: Using another person’s ideas, results, or text without proper attribution.

3. Identification of Misconduct

Editors and reviewers are vigilant during peer review for potential misconduct, including:

  • Duplicate publication: Submitting the same research to multiple journals.

  • Citation manipulation: Including irrelevant citations or inflating references for undue impact.

  • Authorship concerns: Misattributing authorship, including or excluding contributors improperly.

  • Methodological inconsistencies: Identifying implausible claims or flawed research design.

4. Reporting Misconduct

  • Editors, reviewers, or readers who suspect misconduct should report concerns to the Editor-in-Chief.

  • All reports will be treated seriously and handled confidentially.

5. Investigation

  • Allegations of misconduct will be investigated according to COPE guidelines (https://publicationethics.org/).

  • Investigations may involve contacting authors, requesting additional information, and consulting external experts if necessary.

6. Outcomes of Investigation

Depending on the findings, the following actions may be taken:

  1. No misconduct found: The article remains published.

  2. Minor misconduct: Authors may be asked to publish a corrigendum or erratum.

  3. Serious misconduct: The article may be retracted, with a retraction notice clearly stating the reason.

  4. Further action: In severe cases, the journal may contact the author’s institution or funding agency.

7. Confidentiality

  • The identities of individuals reporting misconduct will be kept confidential to the greatest extent possible.

8. Record Keeping

  • All allegations and investigations will be documented and securely maintained for a defined period.

9. Training

  • Editors and reviewers will receive training on identifying and reporting research misconduct to ensure consistent adherence to ethical standards.

10. Policy Review

  • This policy is subject to periodic review and revision to reflect evolving best practices in research integrity.