Screening for Plagiarism

Research misconduct includes fabrication, falsification, citation manipulation, and plagiarism in producing, conducting, reviewing research, and writing articles by authors or in reporting research results. When allegations of misconduct arise concerning articles published in the Journal of SAKAGURU, the Editor is responsible for ensuring the accuracy and integrity of the scientific record.

  1. Initial Assessment

The Editor and the Editorial Board will follow COPE's best practices to address and resolve complaints of research misconduct. This process involves the following steps:

  • Validity of Allegations: The Editor will first assess the validity of the allegations to determine if they align with the definitions of research misconduct, including fabrication, falsification, citation manipulation, or plagiarism.
  • Conflict of Interest: The Editor will consider any potential conflicts of interest related to the individual making the allegations to ensure impartiality in the investigation.
  1. Investigation Process

If the allegations are deemed credible, the Editor will proceed with a thorough investigation, which includes:

  • Author Notification: The allegations will be communicated to the corresponding author (on behalf of all co-authors) to provide a detailed response.
  • Expert Involvement: Depending on the nature of the allegations, additional expert reviewers, such as statistical reviewers, may be consulted to evaluate the validity of the claims.
  • Evaluation of Response: The Editor will review the author’s response and any additional expert input to determine whether the allegations are substantiated.
  1. Actions Based on Findings

Based on the investigation’s outcomes, several actions may be taken:

  • No Misconduct Found: If no misconduct is identified, clarification or additional analysis may be published as a letter to the editor, along with a correction notice if necessary.
  • Misconduct Confirmed: If research misconduct is confirmed:
    • Manuscript Rejection: Manuscripts found to contain misconduct will be rejected.
    • Publication Retraction: For published papers, a retraction notice will be issued and linked to the original article to correct the scientific record. The retraction notice will clearly state the reasons for retraction.
  1. Institutional Involvement

Institutions involved in the research are expected to conduct their own thorough investigations of the allegations. The journal will cooperate with institutional inquiries and support efforts to maintain the accuracy and integrity of the scientific record.

  1. Responsibility and Integrity

Authors, journals, and institutions share a critical obligation to uphold the validity and integrity of the scientific record. By addressing concerns about scientific misconduct appropriately and taking necessary actions, such as corrections, retractions, or retractions with replacement, the Journal of SAKAGURU will continue to fulfill its commitment to maintaining the highest standards of research integrity.