Allegations of Misconduct

Introduction

Ekuilibrium : Jurnal Ilmiah Bidang Ilmu Ekonomi is committed to upholding the integrity of the scholarly record and ensuring the highest standards of publication ethics. This policy outlines the procedures for addressing allegations of research and publication misconduct. In handling these allegations, we adhere to the Core Practices and guidelines provided by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE). Our aim is to ensure a fair, thorough, and transparent process for all parties involved, thus maintaining the trustworthiness and academic rigor of the research we publish.

Description

Research and publication misconduct undermines the integrity of scholarly research and the scientific record. Ekuilibrium : Jurnal Ilmiah Bidang Ilmu Ekonomi defines misconduct according to established ethical guidelines, which include, but are not limited to:

Fabrication: Inventing data or results and reporting them as if they were real.
Falsification: Manipulating research materials, equipment, or processes, or altering data or results to misrepresent the research.
Plagiarism: Appropriating someone else's ideas, processes, results, or words without proper acknowledgment, including self-plagiarism or redundant publication.
Authorship Issues: Inappropriate attribution of authorship, such as gift, ghost, or guest authorship, or denying authorship to those who meet the criteria.
Citation Manipulation: Practices aimed at inflating citation counts or misrepresenting the importance or context of cited works.
Undeclared Conflicts of Interest: Failure to disclose financial or other interests that might influence the research or publication process.
Breach of Research Ethics: Violating ethical standards in research involving human or animal subjects, or failing to obtain necessary ethical approvals.
Peer Review Manipulation: Interfering with the peer review process, including suggesting fraudulent reviewers or attempting to influence editorial decisions.

Allegations of misconduct can arise at any stage of the publication process (pre-publication or post-publication) or relate to the conduct of research itself. We will investigate allegations regardless of their source, whether from authors, reviewers, editors, readers, or whistleblowers.

Policy

Commitment to Investigate: Ekuilibrium : Jurnal Ilmiah Bidang Ilmu Ekonomi takes all allegations of misconduct seriously and will conduct a thorough and impartial investigation, adhering to COPE guidelines.
Confidentiality: We will maintain confidentiality throughout the investigation process, protecting the identity of whistleblowers and limiting information disclosure to those directly involved in the process or as required by legal or institutional procedures.
Fairness and Objectivity: We are committed to a fair, objective, and unbiased investigation process. The accused will be presumed innocent until proven otherwise, and they will be given a reasonable opportunity to respond to the allegations.
Timeliness: We will strive to conduct investigations promptly while ensuring thoroughness. All parties will be kept informed of the progress and expected timelines where appropriate.
Cooperation: Full cooperation from all parties, including authors, reviewers, and institutional representatives, is expected throughout the investigation.
Handling Whistleblowers: We will treat whistleblowers fairly and protect them from retaliation, as much as possible within the journal's remit.
Scope: This policy applies to all manuscripts submitted to or published in Ekuilibrium : Jurnal Ilmiah Bidang Ilmu Ekonomi, and to all individuals involved in the publication process.

Technicalities to Achieve and Materialize the Policies

Reporting an Allegation:
Allegations of misconduct should be reported directly to the Editor-in-Chief. The complaint should be made in writing, providing as much specific detail and evidence as possible (e.g., manuscript ID, details of the alleged misconduct, relevant documents or data). Anonymous allegations may be considered if sufficient verifiable evidence is provided.
Initial Assessment:
Upon receiving an allegation, the Editor-in-Chief (or an ethics committee/officer, if applicable) will conduct a preliminary assessment to determine the credibility of the allegation and whether it falls within the scope of this policy. If deemed uncredible or outside the scope, the allegation may be dismissed, with communication sent to the complainant if appropriate.
Investigation Process:
If the initial assessment indicates a credible allegation, a formal investigation will be initiated. The Editor-in-Chief will lead the investigation, possibly forming a committee of editorial board members or seeking external expert advice when necessary.

Notification to the Accused: The accused will be notified of the allegations and given a reasonable opportunity to respond in writing. If requested, the identity of the complainant will remain confidential.
Evidence Gathering: The investigation will involve a careful review of relevant evidence, including the manuscript, raw data, peer review reports, and any correspondence between the authors and the journal.
Consultation: In complex cases, Ekuilibrium : Jurnal Ilmiah Bidang Ilmu Ekonomi may consult COPE for guidance or seek legal counsel.
Institutional Involvement: If the misconduct is related to research processes or involves serious ethical breaches, Ekuilibrium : Jurnal Ilmiah Bidang Ilmu Ekonomi may contact the relevant institution(s) to conduct an internal investigation. The journal will typically await the outcome of institutional investigations before making a final decision, but may take interim actions (e.g., issuing an Expression of Concern) if necessary.

Outcomes and Actions:
Based on the findings, Ekuilibrium : Jurnal Ilmiah Bidang Ilmu Ekonomi will take appropriate action as per COPE guidelines. Possible outcomes include:

No Misconduct: If the allegation is found to be unfounded, all parties will be informed, and the matter will be closed. A public statement may be issued if public accusations were made.
Minor Misconduct: Minor breaches (e.g., minor plagiarism, undeclared conflicts of interest) may result in a formal warning, a correction to the manuscript, or the publication of an erratum.
Serious Misconduct: Serious misconduct (e.g., fabrication, falsification, major plagiarism) may lead to:

Rejection of the manuscript.
Retraction of the published article, with a formal retraction notice and clear reasons for the action.
Expression of Concern if the investigation is inconclusive but there are significant doubts about the work’s integrity.
Notification of the authors' institution(s), employers, and funding bodies, as appropriate.
Imposition of an embargo on future submissions for authors found guilty of serious misconduct.

Appeals: Authors who wish to appeal the decision regarding a misconduct allegation should submit a formal appeal to the Editor-in-Chief, outlining the reasons for the appeal and providing new evidence. The appeal will be reviewed by the Editor-in-Chief and may involve the editorial board or independent advisors.
Record Keeping and Communication:
Ekuilibrium : Jurnal Ilmiah Bidang Ilmu Ekonomi will maintain confidential records of all allegations, investigations, and outcomes. The journal will communicate the results of the investigation to the relevant parties and will issue public statements (e.g., retractions, corrections) as necessary.
Preventive Measures:
To prevent misconduct, Ekuilibrium : Jurnal Ilmiah Bidang Ilmu Ekonomi will: