Allegations of Research Misconduct

The TMP Universal Journal of Dental Research and Health  upholds the highest ethical standards in publishing and is committed to addressing allegations of research misconduct promptly and transparently. This policy outlines the procedures for handling allegations of misconduct related to articles submitted to or published by the journal.

Definition of Research Misconduct

Research misconduct refers to the violation of ethical standards in the conduct of research. It includes, but is not limited to:

  • Fabrication: Making up data or results and reporting them as if they were real.
  • Falsification: Manipulating research materials, equipment, or processes, or changing or omitting data or results to misrepresent the research.
  • Plagiarism: Using another person's ideas, processes, results, or words without proper attribution.
  • Other Violations: Such as failure to follow ethical guidelines in human or animal research, ghostwriting, duplicate publication, or improper authorship.

Reporting Allegations

  • Submission of Allegations: Allegations of research misconduct can be reported by any individual, including authors, reviewers, editors, or readers. Complaints should be submitted in writing to the Editor-in-Chief of the journal, providing sufficient details and evidence to support the claim.
  • Confidentiality: The journal will handle all allegations with the utmost confidentiality to protect both the person reporting the misconduct and the individual(s) accused. Information will only be shared with those involved in investigating the allegation.

Investigation Process

  • Preliminary Assessment: Upon receiving an allegation, the Editor-in-Chief will conduct an initial review to determine if the complaint is credible and within the journal's scope. If so, the investigation process will proceed.
  • Formal Investigation: The Editor-in-Chief will appoint an independent committee, which may include members of the editorial board or external experts, to conduct a formal investigation. The accused party will be given an opportunity to respond to the allegations.
  • Institutional Involvement: In cases of serious misconduct, the journal may notify the author’s institution or relevant funding bodies to collaborate on the investigation.

Outcomes of Investigation

  • No Misconduct Found: If the investigation concludes that no misconduct has occurred, the case will be closed, and no further action will be taken.
  • Misconduct Confirmed: If research misconduct is confirmed, appropriate actions will be taken, which may include:
    • Retraction or Correction: Retraction of the article or the issuance of a correction to the published record.
    • Notification: Informing relevant parties, such as the author’s institution, funding agencies, or other publishers.
    • Ban on Future Submissions: The author(s) involved in misconduct may be banned from submitting future articles to the journal for a specified period or permanently.

Retractions and Corrections

  • Retractions: If an article is found to have been affected by serious research misconduct, the journal will retract the article, following the guidelines of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE). A retraction notice will be issued, explaining the reasons for the retraction.
  • Corrections: In cases of minor errors or issues not rising to the level of misconduct, the journal may issue a correction, rather than retracting the article.

Appeals

  • Right to Appeal: Authors who disagree with the findings of the investigation may appeal the decision. Appeals must be submitted in writing, and the Editor-in-Chief will review the appeal with the investigation committee. A final decision will be communicated in writing to the author(s).

Record-Keeping

  • The journal will maintain comprehensive records of all allegations, investigations, and outcomes. These records will be securely stored to protect the confidentiality of those involved and will be available for audit if necessary.

Policy on Retaliation

  • Protection Against Retaliation: The journal is committed to protecting individuals who report allegations of research misconduct in good faith from any form of retaliation. Individuals who feel they have been retaliated against may report this to the Editor-in-Chief for further action.