Allegations of Research Misconduct

Research misconduct includes fabrication, falsification, citation manipulation, and plagiarism at any stage of conducting, reviewing, documenting, writing, or reporting research. When authors are implicated in research misconduct or serious irregularities are identified in an article published in SINOV : Media Informasi Penelitian Kabupaten Semarang, the Editors are responsible for protecting the accuracy and integrity of the scholarly record.

In handling allegations, the Editors and Editorial Board follow the Core Practices and guidance issued by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) to ensure that complaints are assessed fairly and that potential misconduct is addressed consistently.

Handling an Allegation

1

Initial Assessment

The Editors assess whether the allegation is sufficiently substantiated and falls within the scope of research misconduct, while considering any conflicts of interest from the complainant.

2

Notice to the Authors

When potential misconduct is identified, the corresponding author is informed of the allegation and invited to provide a detailed response on behalf of all co-authors.

3

Further Evaluation

The Editors may seek further assessment from experts. If misconduct appears unlikely, clarification, additional analysis, or a correction notice may be sufficient.

4

Institutional Investigation

Where necessary, the journal may refer the matter to the relevant author's institution for an impartial investigation to maintain the accuracy of the scholarly record.

5

Outcome

Depending on the findings, the journal may reject a manuscript, issue a correction, publish an expression of concern, issue a retraction with replacement, or retract a published article based on the seriousness of the concern.

Retraction Policy

An article may be retracted when there is clear evidence of circumstances that seriously undermine the reliability, originality, ethical compliance, or integrity of the publication. These circumstances may include:

  • Unreliable findings/data resulting from misconduct (fabrication/falsification) or serious errors.
  • Redundant publication of findings without adequate cross-referencing, permission, or justification.
  • Plagiarism or substantial duplication of the work of others.
  • Serious violations of research ethics (absence of ethical approval or informed consent).
  • Manipulation or compromise of the peer-review or editorial process.
  • Undisclosed conflicts of interest that materially affect the research integrity.
  • Serious breaches of copyright or other legal obligations related to publication.

Retraction decisions are made by the Editor-in-Chief in consultation with the Editorial Board following a documented assessment. Authors are given an opportunity to respond before a decision is made.

When retracted, a formal retraction notice is published and linked to the original article. The original article remains available in the archive to preserve the scholarly record but is clearly labelled as retracted.

Corrections & Expressions of Concern

Where a concern does not warrant full retraction, the journal may publish a correction or an expression of concern (e.g., when an investigation is inconclusive or underway). This notice may be replaced once the matter is settled.

Commitment to Research Integrity

Retraction is intended to correct the scholarly record and maintain confidence in published research, not to punish authors. The journal is committed to fairness, transparency, and due process.

Further Guidance

For further information on publication ethics and handling research misconduct, consult the guidelines by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).

Read COPE Core Practices ↗