Allegations of Research Misconduct

Allegations of Research Misconduct Policy

Policy Statement

The Indonesian Journal of Islamic Economics and Finance (IJIEF) takes all allegations of research misconduct seriously and is committed to addressing such matters fairly, confidentially, transparently, and promptly. This policy applies to allegations related to manuscripts currently under review as well as to articles that have already been published.
The journal’s procedures for managing allegations of research misconduct are guided by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and adhere strictly to internationally recognized best practices in publication ethics.

Identification and Prevention

IJIEF implements reasonable and proactive measures to identify and prevent the submission or publication of manuscripts involving research misconduct. These measures include thorough initial editorial screening, automated similarity checks (using Turnitin/iThenticate), ethical evaluations during the peer-review process, and continuous post-publication monitoring.
Under no circumstances shall the journal, its editors, reviewers, or publisher encourage, facilitate, or knowingly allow research misconduct to occur. Any ethical concerns identified at any stage of the editorial or publication process will be addressed promptly in accordance with the journal’s established policies.

Scope of Allegations

Research misconduct includes, but is not limited to:
  • Plagiarism (unattributed copying of text, ideas, or intellectual property) and self-plagiarism;
  • Redundant or duplicate publication (submitting/publishing identical or substantially similar work in multiple outlets);
  • Citation manipulation (excessive or irrelevant self-citations or forced citations);
  • Data fabrication or falsification (manipulating research data, images, or results);
  • Undisclosed conflicts of interest (financial, institutional, or personal);
  • Unethical research practices (lack of institutional review board approval or participant consent);
  • Breaches of authorship standards (ghost, gift, or guest authorship).
Allegations may be raised by readers, reviewers, editors, institutional representatives, or third parties, and may pertain to either a manuscript under consideration or a published paper.

Reporting and Assessment

Allegations of research misconduct must be submitted in writing to the Editor-in-Chief via the journal’s official contact email address. Anonymous allegations may be considered at the Editor’s discretion, provided they are supported by credible, verifiable evidence.
Upon receipt of an allegation, the Editor-in-Chief will conduct an initial assessment to determine whether the complaint falls within the scope of research misconduct and contains sufficient evidence to warrant a formal investigation. All parties involved will be treated with discretion, and strict confidentiality will be maintained throughout the assessment process.

Investigation and Outcomes

When an allegation is deemed credible, the Editor-in-Chief will initiate a formal investigation, which may involve consultation with handling editors, editorial board members, or external ethics advisory panels. The corresponding author(s) will be notified of the allegation in writing and given a fair opportunity to provide a detailed response and supporting evidence within a designated timeframe (typically 14–21 days).
Based on the findings of the investigation, IJIEF may take appropriate editorial actions, including but not limited to:
  1. Closing the case with no action, if the allegations are proven to be unsubstantiated;
  2. Requesting clarification or minor corrections from the author(s);
  3. Rejecting the manuscript, if the work is still under peer review;
  4. Publishing a formal Corrigendum/Erratum, Expression of Concern, or Retraction, if the article has already been published;
  5. Notifying author affiliations, funding agencies, or governing bodies, where serious misconduct is substantiated.
If an author fails to respond or provides an unsatisfactory explanation within the stipulated timeframe, the journal reserves the right to proceed with appropriate editorial actions based on the available evidence.

Communication and Closure

Authors will be formally informed of the final decision and any corrective actions taken. Complainants will also be notified of the outcome in accordance with confidentiality standards.
A case is considered officially closed once all necessary editorial actions have been executed. Detailed records of the proceedings will be securely archived by the IJIEF Editorial Office for internal reference, auditability, and accountability.

Relationship to Other Policies

This policy forms an integral part of IJIEF's governance framework and should be read alongside the journal’s:
  • Publication Ethics and Malpractice Statement
  • Retraction, Correction, and Expression of Concern Policy
  • Manuscript Withdrawal Policy
Together, these documents uphold the highest standards of publishing integrity and safeguard the scientific record.