Research Misconduct Policy

The Journal of Contemporary Social Sciences (TJCSS) is committed to protecting the integrity, accuracy, and reliability of the scholarly record. The journal does not tolerate research misconduct at any stage of submission, peer review, publication, or post publication.

This policy applies to authors, reviewers, editors, editorial board members, and all persons involved in the journal’s publication process.

TJCSS follows recognized principles of publication ethics and refers to relevant guidance from the Committee on Publication Ethics when investigating allegations. Reference to COPE guidance does not mean that TJCSS is a formal COPE member.

1. Definition of Research Misconduct

Research misconduct includes deliberate, reckless, or seriously negligent conduct that compromises the integrity of research or publication.

It may include:

  • Fabrication of data, interviews, survey responses, sources, or results
  • Falsification or manipulation of data
  • Plagiarism
  • Duplicate or redundant publication
  • Inappropriate manipulation of images, tables, or figures
  • Selective omission of data intended to mislead readers
  • Misrepresentation of research methods or findings
  • Fabrication or manipulation of references
  • Citation manipulation
  • Peer review manipulation
  • Undisclosed conflicts of interest
  • Unethical treatment of research participants
  • Failure to obtain required ethical approval or informed consent
  • Misrepresentation of ethical approval
  • Inappropriate authorship
  • Unauthorized use of confidential information
  • Submission of a manuscript without the knowledge or consent of all authors
  • Undisclosed use of artificial intelligence that affects the integrity of the work

Honest errors, reasonable differences in interpretation, and legitimate academic disagreement are not normally considered research misconduct.

2. Data Fabrication

Data fabrication means inventing research materials, participants, interviews, observations, survey responses, measurements, statistical results, or other information and presenting them as genuine.

TJCSS considers fabricated data a serious form of misconduct.

3. Data Falsification

Data falsification includes changing, omitting, selecting, or manipulating data, images, methods, or results in a way that creates a misleading account of the research.

Legitimate data cleaning must be described accurately and must not be used to produce a predetermined result.

4. Plagiarism

Plagiarism includes presenting another person’s words, ideas, arguments, data, figures, tables, images, or other intellectual work without appropriate acknowledgement.

Plagiarism also includes improper paraphrasing, translation plagiarism, and substantial reuse of an author’s previously published material without disclosure or citation.

Plagiarism concerns will be handled according to the journal’s Plagiarism Policy.

5. Citation Manipulation

Authors, reviewers, and editors must not attempt to increase citations through inappropriate means.

Unacceptable practices include:

  • Adding irrelevant references
  • Requiring citations for personal benefit
  • Requiring unnecessary citations to TJCSS
  • Participating in citation exchange arrangements
  • Citing sources that were not consulted
  • Misrepresenting the findings of cited sources

6. Peer Review Manipulation

Peer review manipulation includes:

  • Providing false reviewer names or identities
  • Supplying fabricated reviewer email addresses
  • Reviewing one’s own manuscript under another identity
  • Attempting to influence reviewer selection improperly
  • Contacting reviewers without editorial permission
  • Interfering with the confidentiality of peer review
  • Offering benefits in return for favourable review
  • Using false accounts during submission or review

Evidence of peer review manipulation may result in immediate rejection or retraction.

7. Reporting Suspected Misconduct

Anyone may report suspected misconduct involving a submitted or published article.

A report should include:

  • Full name and contact details of the complainant
  • Title and link of the relevant article or manuscript
  • Clear description of the concern
  • Supporting documents, evidence, or references
  • Explanation of any relevant conflict of interest

Anonymous allegations may be considered when they include specific and credible evidence. The journal may be unable to investigate vague or unsupported allegations.

8. Initial Assessment

The editor will conduct an initial assessment to determine:

  • Whether the concern falls within the journal’s responsibility
  • Whether supporting evidence is available
  • Whether the allegation appears credible
  • Whether immediate action is required
  • Whether another institution should be involved

An allegation will not be treated as proven misconduct merely because it has been submitted.

9. Investigation Procedure

Where further investigation is justified, TJCSS may:

  • Contact the corresponding author
  • Request responses from all authors
  • Ask for original data or research records
  • Request ethical approval documents
  • Seek advice from independent experts
  • Contact the authors’ institution
  • Consult the relevant ethics committee
  • Suspend manuscript review or publication
  • Add an expression of concern to a published article

The person against whom the allegation is made will normally be given a fair opportunity to respond.

10. Confidentiality

Allegations will be handled confidentially as far as reasonably possible.

Information will only be shared with persons or institutions whose involvement is necessary for the assessment or investigation.

The journal cannot guarantee complete confidentiality if disclosure is required to investigate the matter, protect research participants, or correct the scholarly record.

11. Possible Outcomes

Depending on the evidence and seriousness of the matter, TJCSS may:

  • Take no further action
  • Request clarification
  • Require revision
  • Issue a warning
  • Reject the manuscript
  • Suspend the editorial process
  • Publish a correction
  • Publish an expression of concern
  • Retract the article
  • Notify the author’s institution
  • Notify an ethics committee or funding body
  • Take other appropriate action

Decisions will be based on the available evidence, seriousness of the conduct, effect on the published record, and relevant ethical guidance.

12. False or Malicious Allegations

TJCSS will not tolerate knowingly false or malicious allegations intended to harm an author, reviewer, editor, or institution.

A complaint submitted in good faith will not be considered malicious merely because it is not upheld