Allegations of Misconduct

  1. Home
  2. About Us

Our Policies

Allegations of Misconduct

SE Publications handles allegations of research misconduct according to guidelines set by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), which can be found at https://publicationethics.org/core-practices. Authors must carefully review the journal's author instructions and ethical policies before submission, ensuring adherence to these terms. While authors may suggest potential reviewers, all reviewers' qualifications and potential conflicts of interest are thoroughly checked before invitation.

Reports of research misconduct may concern published articles or manuscripts under review. The process for handling complaints of author misconduct is conducted with sensitivity, confidentiality, and in the following manner:

  • The journal's editorial office receives a complaint alleging research misconduct in a submitted or published article.
  • The complainant specifies the nature of misconduct, such as plagiarism, providing clear details including highlighted passages and references to original and suspected articles.
  • An investigation is conducted by the editorial office, involving communication between the journal's editor and the corresponding author(s) of the implicated article.
  • The corresponding author(s) are asked to provide a factual explanation and any available evidence.
  • If the author(s) acknowledge the misconduct complaint, the editorial office will proceed as follows depending on the circumstances:
    • If the article has already been published, corrective measures such as issuing an erratum or retraction may be required to address the issue. However, there may be disagreements regarding the wording of the correction.
    • If the misconduct is identified during the review process, the review may continue, with the author(s) making necessary revisions as appropriate.
  • If there is no response within the specified timeframe or the explanation provided is deemed unsatisfactory, the article may be rejected permanently. Prior to making a final decision, input will be sought from experts at relevant institutions or other authorities as needed.
  • The complainant will be notified of the outcome once the matter is resolved. Upon resolution, the complaint case will be considered closed.

Journals

Policies & Ethics

Resources

Information