Allegations of Research Misconduct

Jurnal Keluarga Sehat Sejahtera (JKSS) is committed to maintaining the highest standards of research integrity, transparency, and ethical scholarly publishing. The journal takes all allegations of research misconduct seriously and handles them fairly, confidentially, and in accordance with recognized publication ethics principles, including the guidance of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).

Research misconduct may include, but is not limited to, fabrication or falsification of data, plagiarism, duplicate publication, inappropriate authorship, undisclosed conflicts of interest, unethical research practices, manipulation of the peer-review process, and other violations of research integrity.

1. Reporting Allegations

Authors, reviewers, editors, readers, and other parties may report suspected research or publication misconduct to the editorial team of JKSS through the journal's official contact channels.

Reports should include sufficient information to allow the editorial team to assess the allegation, such as the title of the manuscript or article, a description of the suspected misconduct, and relevant supporting evidence, where available.

The journal will consider allegations regardless of the identity or institutional affiliation of the person submitting the report.

2. Preliminary Assessment

Upon receiving an allegation, the editorial team will conduct a preliminary assessment to determine whether the concern falls within the journal's responsibility and whether sufficient information is available for further examination.

The editor may request additional information or supporting documentation from the reporting party or other relevant individuals when necessary.

3. Investigation Procedure

If an allegation warrants further investigation, the editorial team will take appropriate steps to establish the relevant facts. These steps may include:

  1. Reviewing the manuscript, published article, research data, and supporting documents.

  2. Requesting an explanation or clarification from the authors or other relevant parties.

  3. Consulting reviewers, editorial advisers, research ethics committees, or relevant institutions when appropriate.

  4. Assessing the available evidence objectively and maintaining a record of the investigation.

All parties involved will be treated fairly and given an appropriate opportunity to respond to relevant concerns.

4. Confidentiality and Fair Treatment

JKSS will handle allegations and related documentation confidentially to the extent possible. Information will be shared only with individuals who need it to assess or resolve the matter, subject to applicable legal and ethical obligations.

The journal will avoid premature conclusions and will not treat an allegation as proof of misconduct. Decisions will be based on the available evidence and established procedures.

5. Editorial Actions

If research misconduct is established or a serious concern remains unresolved, the journal may take appropriate action depending on the nature and severity of the case. Possible actions include:

  • Requesting corrections or additional clarification.

  • Rejecting a manuscript or suspending its editorial processing.

  • Publishing a correction, expression of concern, or retraction for a published article, where justified.

  • Informing the relevant institution, research ethics committee, or other appropriate authority when necessary.

  • Restricting future submissions in serious cases, where justified and consistent with the journal's policies.

Any action will be proportionate to the evidence and the seriousness of the issue.

6. Appeals and Responses

Authors or other affected parties may submit a reasoned response or appeal to the editorial team if they believe a decision was based on incomplete information, a procedural error, or a misunderstanding of the evidence.

The editorial team will review the appeal impartially and may seek independent advice when appropriate. The final decision will be communicated to the relevant parties.

7. Post-Publication Concerns

Concerns raised after publication will be assessed with the same care as allegations involving manuscripts under review. Where necessary, JKSS will take steps to correct the scholarly record through an appropriate correction notice, expression of concern, or retraction.

8. Ethical Standards

All authors, editors, reviewers, and contributors are expected to uphold research integrity and cooperate appropriately with legitimate investigations. JKSS follows the principles and recommendations of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) to promote responsible research and trustworthy scholarly communication.

Reference: Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE). Core Practices. Available at: https://publicationethics.org/core-practices