Research Misconduct

J-EBI (Jurnal Ekonomi dan Bisnis Islam), published by Institut Agama Islam Sufyan Tsauri Majenang (INSIMA), is committed to maintaining academic integrity, transparency, and ethical standards in scholarly publishing. The journal takes allegations of research misconduct seriously and is committed to handling all concerns fairly, confidentially, and objectively.

Allegations may arise before or after publication and may concern authors, reviewers, editors, or other parties involved in the research and publication process. All allegations will be assessed based on credible information and relevant evidence, without presuming misconduct before an appropriate assessment has been conducted.

2. Types of Research Misconduct

Research misconduct may include, but is not limited to:

  1. Fabrication: Inventing data, research results, or observations and presenting them as genuine.

  2. Falsification: Manipulating research materials, methods, data, images, or results in ways that misrepresent the research.

  3. Plagiarism: Using another person's words, ideas, data, or work without appropriate acknowledgment.

  4. Duplicate or Redundant Publication: Publishing substantially overlapping research without adequate disclosure or justification.

  5. Authorship Misconduct: Misrepresenting authorship or contributions, including gift authorship, ghost authorship, or inappropriate exclusion of contributors.

  6. Citation Manipulation: Inappropriately adding or requesting citations to inflate citation counts or manipulate journal metrics.

  7. Ethical Violations: Failing to obtain required ethical approval or informed consent, or improperly handling confidential information or research participants' data.

  8. Undisclosed Conflicts of Interest: Failing to disclose interests that may influence research, peer review, or editorial decisions.

  9. Peer-Review Misconduct: Manipulating the peer-review process, breaching confidentiality, or providing fraudulent reviewer identities or reports.

  10. Misuse of Artificial Intelligence: Using AI tools to fabricate data, generate false references, misrepresent research activities, or otherwise compromise research integrity.

The journal may also investigate other practices that undermine the credibility, reliability, or transparency of scholarly research.

3. Submission of Allegations

Any individual who has credible concerns about suspected research or publication misconduct in a manuscript submitted to or published by J-EBI may report the matter to the editorial team through the journal's official communication channels.

A report should, where possible, include:

  • The title or identification of the manuscript or published article.

  • A clear description of the suspected misconduct.

  • Relevant supporting evidence, such as documents, data, publication links, or specific examples.

  • The reporter's contact details, if they are willing to provide them for follow-up.

The journal may consider anonymous allegations when sufficient information or evidence is provided to permit a meaningful assessment. Allegations should be made in good faith and should not be used to harass, intimidate, or unfairly discredit others.

4. Initial Assessment

Upon receiving an allegation, the editor-in-chief or a designated editor will conduct an initial assessment to determine whether the concern falls within the journal's responsibility and whether sufficient information is available to proceed.

The assessment may include reviewing the manuscript, publication records, similarity reports, research data, peer-review documentation, author declarations, and other relevant evidence.

If the allegation is clearly unsupported or outside the journal's remit, the journal may decide not to proceed. Where further clarification is necessary, the editorial team may request additional information from the reporter or relevant parties.

5. Investigation Procedure

When an allegation warrants further examination, J-EBI will follow a fair and proportionate process that may include the following steps:

  1. Evidence Review: The editorial team examines the available evidence and identifies the issues requiring clarification.

  2. Request for Explanation: The corresponding author or relevant parties are given an appropriate opportunity to respond to the concerns and provide supporting documentation.

  3. Further Verification: Where necessary, the journal may consult independent experts, examine original research materials, or seek clarification from the authors' affiliated institutions or relevant research ethics bodies.

  4. Conflict-of-Interest Management: Any editor involved in the allegation or having a relevant conflict of interest will not lead the assessment or make the decision.

  5. Editorial Determination: The responsible editor evaluates the evidence and determines the appropriate action based on the seriousness of the concern and the reliability of the information available.

The journal may refer a matter to an author's institution or another appropriate body when the investigation requires access to institutional records, original research data, or authority beyond the journal's remit.

6. Confidentiality and Protection Against Retaliation

J-EBI will handle allegations as confidentially as reasonably possible. Information will be shared only with individuals or organizations that have a legitimate role in assessing or resolving the matter, subject to applicable legal and institutional requirements.

The journal does not tolerate intimidation or retaliation against individuals who raise concerns in good faith or participate in an investigation. At the same time, allegations will be handled carefully to protect the rights and reputations of all parties involved.

7. Possible Outcomes and Actions

Depending on the evidence, the seriousness of the concern, and whether the manuscript has been published, the journal may take one or more of the following actions:

  • Request clarification, additional evidence, or corrective revisions.

  • Reject the manuscript if misconduct is substantiated or its integrity cannot be established.

  • Suspend editorial processing while a significant concern is being investigated.

  • Publish a correction when an error can be rectified without invalidating the article's overall reliability.

  • Publish an expression of concern when credible concerns remain unresolved.

  • Retract a published article when its findings are unreliable or serious ethical violations justify retraction.

  • Notify the relevant institution, research ethics committee, or other appropriate authority when warranted.

  • Take proportionate measures in response to serious or repeated misconduct, consistent with the journal's policies and fair editorial procedures.

The journal will document its decisions and take appropriate steps to maintain the integrity of the scholarly record.

8. Allegations Concerning Published Articles

Allegations involving articles already published in J-EBI will be assessed with the same commitment to fairness, confidentiality, and evidence-based decision-making.

Where a published article is found to contain significant errors or ethical breaches, the journal will determine whether a correction, expression of concern, or retraction is appropriate. Any notice issued will identify the affected article and explain the reason for the editorial action clearly.

The journal will preserve the publication record and make relevant notices accessible in accordance with its Correction and Retraction Policy.

9. Responsibilities of Authors and Other Parties

Authors are expected to cooperate with reasonable editorial inquiries and provide accurate explanations or supporting materials when requested. Reviewers and editors must disclose relevant information and maintain confidentiality throughout the process.

All parties are expected to communicate professionally and provide truthful information. Failure to cooperate may be considered alongside the available evidence, but it will not automatically be treated as proof of misconduct.

10. Policy Review

J-EBI may review and update this policy to reflect developments in publication ethics, research integrity, and scholarly publishing practices. This policy should be read alongside the journal's Publication Ethics and Malpractice Statement, Peer Review Process, Conflict of Interest Policy, and Correction and Retraction Policy.