ALLEGATION OF RESEARCH MISCONDUCT

This Allegation of Research Misconduct Policy is made and established by the publisher (Academia Edu Cendekia Indonesia/AEDUCIA) based on the ethical standards and best practice guidelines recommended by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE). The policy aims to ensure integrity, transparency, and fairness in all editorial and publishing processes of the Indonesian Journal of Guidance and Counseling Studies (IJGCS).

1. Definition of Research Misconduct

Research misconduct refers to unethical behavior in the conduct, review, or reporting of research, including but not limited to:

  • Fabrication: Making up data or results and recording or reporting them.
  • Falsification: Manipulating research materials, equipment, or processes, or altering data or results so that the research is not accurately represented.
  • Plagiarism: Using another person's ideas, processes, results, or words without proper acknowledgment.
  • Citation Manipulation: Intentionally including irrelevant or excessive self-citations or citations to boost citation metrics.
  • Redundant Publication: Publishing the same or substantially similar material in multiple outlets without appropriate disclosure.

Honest errors or differences in interpretation or opinion do not constitute misconduct.

2. Scope and Responsibility

This policy applies to all manuscripts submitted to the Indonesian Journal of Guidance and Counseling Studies (IJGCS), as well as published articles. The Editorial Board, in collaboration with the publisher (Academia Edu Cendekia Indonesia/AEDUCIA), is responsible for responding to all allegations of research misconduct in a fair, confidential, transparent, and timely manner, in accordance with the COPE guidelines.

3. Procedures for Handling Allegations

Initial Assessment

  • All allegations of misconduct must be submitted in writing to the Editor-in-Chief.
  • The editorial team will assess whether the allegation is credible and falls within the scope of research misconduct.
  • Anonymous allegations may be considered if supported by verifiable evidence.

Notification of the Author(s)

  • The corresponding author, representing all co-authors, will be formally notified of the allegation.
  • Authors will be given the opportunity to respond and provide evidence within a reasonable timeframe.
  • Other co-authors may also be contacted if necessary.

Investigation and Expert Review

  • The editorial board may initiate an internal review and consult independent experts (e.g., statistical reviewers) to assess the validity of the claim.
  • If institutional misconduct is suspected, the case will be referred to the author’s affiliated institution for formal investigation.
  • IJGCS will fully cooperate with institutional reviews and investigations.

Outcomes and Editorial Actions: Depending on the findings, IJGCS may take one or more of the following actions:

  • Rejection of the manuscript if it is under review.
  • Retraction of published articles, accompanied by a clear explanation and a link to the original article.
  • Publication of a correction or an expression of concern in cases of minor issues or honest errors.
  • Banning the author(s) from future submissions for a specified period.
  • Notifying relevant parties, including institutions, funders, and other journals, where appropriate.

4. Confidentiality and Fair Process

  • All allegations and investigations will be handled with strict confidentiality to protect the rights and identities of all parties involved.
  • The accused will be given a fair and equal opportunity to respond to the allegations.
  • The identity of the whistleblower will be protected unless disclosure is required by law or agreed upon by the whistleblower.

5. Institutional Role

IJGCS expects full cooperation from research institutions in investigating allegations of misconduct. While IJGCS may conduct preliminary assessments, formal investigations are primarily the responsibility of the author’s affiliated institution.

6. Publisher’s Commitment to Ethical Publishing

Academia Edu Cendekia Indonesia (AEDUCIA), as the publisher of IJGCS, is committed to maintaining editorial independence and high ethical publishing standards. AEDUCIA ensures that editorial decisions are made solely on the basis of academic merit and integrity, free from commercial influence. The publisher will support efforts to address misconduct that spans multiple journals or publishers.

The explanation of Allegation of Research Misconducts follows the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), which can be accessed at https://publicationethics.org/misconduct