Allegation of Research Misconduct

Research misconduct refers to fabrication, falsification, citation manipulation, plagiarism, or other serious deviations from accepted research and publication practices in conducting, reviewing, or reporting research. When authors are suspected of engaging in research misconduct or other significant irregularities involving articles submitted to or published in Genius Journal of Nursing (GJN), the Editors are responsible for safeguarding the accuracy and integrity of the scholarly record.

In cases of suspected misconduct, the Editor-in-Chief and Editorial Board will follow established best practices, including the guidelines of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and other internationally recognized standards for handling research errors, falsification, and fabrication. The process begins with an initial assessment of the allegation and, where appropriate, may proceed to a formal investigation conducted by the Editors.

A manuscript found to involve research misconduct will be rejected immediately. If misconduct is identified after publication, appropriate corrective actions will be taken. These actions may include the publication of a correction, expression of concern, retraction with replacement, or full retraction of the article. Any retraction notice will be clearly identified and permanently linked to the original article.

The first step in addressing an allegation involves evaluating the credibility and validity of the claim and determining whether it falls within the definition of research misconduct. Consideration will also be given to any potential conflicts of interest among individuals raising the allegation.

If substantial research irregularities are suspected, the corresponding author will be contacted and asked to provide a detailed explanation on behalf of all co-authors. Following evaluation of the response, the Editors may seek additional expert assessment, including statistical, methodological, or subject-matter review when necessary.

In situations where misconduct is unlikely but errors are identified, appropriate measures such as clarifications, additional analysis, correction notices, or letters to the Editor may be issued to maintain the accuracy and integrity of the scholarly record.

When appropriate, the institutions affiliated with the authors may be notified and requested to conduct independent investigations. Authors, journals, and research institutions share a collective responsibility to ensure the reliability, transparency, and credibility of published research.

The procedures for handling allegations of research misconduct in Genius Journal of Nursing (GJN) follow the principles and best practices established by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).