Research misconduct represents a fundamental breach of the trust placed
in the scientific enterprise and will be met with stringent corrective
actions.
Forms of Misconduct
- Fabrication: The invention of data or results and their recording or reporting as factual.
- Falsification: The manipulation of research materials, equipment,or processes, or the changing or omission of data or results, such that the research is not accurately represented.
- Plagiarism: As defined in Section 2.
- Data Tampering and Misrepresentation: This includes the selective exclusion of outlying data points, the inappropriate digital manipulation of images, and the destruction of primary data records to conceal inconvenient results.
Investigation Procedures
Allegations of misconduct are treated with the utmost seriousness and
procedural fairness.
- Confidential Preliminary Assessment: The editorial team confidentially evaluates the allegation to determine its credibility and scope.
- Evidence-Based Inquiry: The corresponding author is formally contacted and given a full opportunity to provide the original data,protocols, and a detailed response to the allegations.
- Formal Investigation and Adjudication: If the initial response is unsatisfactory, a formal investigation is initiated. This may involve consulting with independent experts, the journal's editorial board,or the authors' institution.
- Proportionate Sanctions: Confirmed misconduct leads to actions commensurate with the offense's severity, including
rejection/retraction, publication of a notice of misconduct, and
notification to relevant institutions and regulatory bodies.
