Allegation of research misconduct

Alleged Research Ethics Violations

Research ethics violations include fabrication, falsification, citation manipulation, and plagiarism at any stage—from the preparation, execution, review, and documentation of research to the reporting of findings. If an author is found to have committed an ethical violation, or if serious concerns arise regarding an article previously published in another journal, the editors are obligated to uphold the accuracy and integrity of the scholarly record.

In addressing alleged violations, the editors and the editorial board follow the *Core Practices* and guidelines established by the *Committee on Publication Ethics* (COPE) to ensure that all complaints are resolved fairly and that ethical breaches are handled consistently. Manuscripts proven to involve ethical violations will be rejected. If an article that has already been published is found to involve an ethical violation, it will be retracted, with a link to the original publication provided if deemed necessary.

Handling Alleged Misconduct

  1. Initial Assessment. Editors first assess whether a complaint has a solid basis and whether it falls within the definition of research ethics misconduct. They also consider whether the party raising the allegation has any conflict of interest regarding the matter.
  2. Notification to Authors. If a potential violation or serious irregularity is identified, the allegation is communicated to the corresponding author, who is then requested to provide a comprehensive response on behalf of all co-authors.
  3. Further Evaluation. Once a response is received and assessed, editors may conduct further evaluation, which may include seeking input from experts, such as statistical reviewers. If it is determined that misconduct is unlikely to have occurred, a clarification or additional analysis—published as a letter to the editor, often accompanied by a correction notice or amendments to the original article—may be considered sufficient.
  4. Institutional Investigation. Institutions are expected to conduct a thorough and impartial investigation into alleged research ethics misconduct. Authors, journals, and institutions all share responsibility for the accuracy of the scientific record.
  5. Final Outcome. Depending on the findings, the journal may issue a correction, an "expression of concern," a replacement of the article, or a formal retraction. The journal *Ius Constituendum* is committed to taking appropriate action based on the assessment results to uphold the validity and integrity of the scientific record.

Article Retraction

An article published in SJDGGE (Sumatra Journal of Disaster, Geography, and Geography Education) may be retracted if there is clear evidence of any of the following conditions:

 

  1. The findings or data are unreliable, whether due to research misconduct—such as data fabrication or falsification—or unintentional errors, such as miscalculations or estimation mistakes.
  2. The findings have been published elsewhere without appropriate cross-referencing, permission, or justification, constituting redundant publication.
  3. The article contains plagiarism or substantial duplication of another party's work.
  4. The reported research violates ethical standards, including the absence of required ethical approval or necessary informed consent.
  5. The peer-review or editorial process has been manipulated or compromised.
  6. There is an undisclosed, significant conflict of interest that could materially affect the integrity or interpretation of the research.
  7. There is a serious violation of copyright or other legal obligations related to the publication.

Decisions regarding the retraction of an article are made by the Editor-in-Chief in consultation with the Editorial Board, following a thorough, impartial, and documented review process. Authors will be informed of any concerns that arise and provided with an opportunity to respond before a final decision is reached.

When an article is retracted, a formal retraction notice will be promptly published and linked to the original publication. The original article will remain in the journal’s archives to preserve the scholarly record, but it will be clearly labeled and marked with a "Retracted" watermark. The notice will state the reasons for the retraction in a factual and objective manner and identify the party initiating the retraction—whether it be the authors, the Editor, or the Publisher.

If the issues identified do not warrant a full retraction, the journal may instead publish a correction, an "expression of concern," or a retraction followed by a replacement of the article, adhering to the same documented review and notification procedures. An expression of concern may be issued when an investigation is inconclusive or still ongoing; this will subsequently be replaced by either a formal retraction notice or a statement confirming the resolution of the matter once the case is concluded.

The purpose of a retraction is to correct the scholarly record and maintain trust in that record, not to penalize the authors. SJDGGE (Sumatra Journal of Disaster, Geography and Geography Education) adheres to the Retraction Guidelines published by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE)—accessible via the COPE Retraction Guidelines—and upholds the principles of fairness, transparency, and due process at every stage of the procedure.