Allegations of Research Misconduct

Allegations of Research Misconduct

The Agro Bali : Agricultural Journal is committed to maintaining the integrity, transparency, and reliability of the scholarly record in agricultural research. All allegations of research misconduct involving submitted manuscripts or published articles will be assessed fairly, objectively, and confidentially, in accordance with established publication ethics principles and relevant guidelines of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).

Types of Research Misconduct

Research misconduct may include, but is not limited to:

  1. Fabrication and falsification of data: Inventing research data or results, manipulating research processes, or altering or selectively omitting data in ways that misrepresent the findings.
  2. Plagiarism and misappropriation: Using another person's ideas, text, data, figures, tables, or other research outputs without appropriate acknowledgment or authorization.
  3. Duplicate or redundant publication: Submitting or publishing substantially overlapping research without appropriate disclosure or justification.
  4. Authorship misconduct: Inappropriate attribution or omission of authorship, fictitious authorship, or unauthorized changes to the author list.
  5. Image, figure, and data manipulation: Inappropriately altering, duplicating, or selectively presenting images, figures, experimental results, or other research evidence.
  6. Research ethics violations: Conducting research involving human participants, animals, plants, genetic resources, or other regulated research materials without required approvals, permissions, consent, or compliance with applicable regulations.
  7. Citation manipulation and peer-review fraud: Inappropriately manipulating citations, providing false reviewer identities, or attempting to compromise the integrity of the peer-review or editorial process.
  8. Undisclosed conflicts of interest: Failing to disclose competing interests that could materially influence the research, its interpretation, or the publication process.

In agricultural research, concerns may also involve the authenticity of field-trial data, laboratory measurements, experimental designs, statistical analyses, images, and records of research permits or approvals.

Honest errors, methodological disagreements, and differences in scientific interpretation do not, by themselves, constitute research misconduct.

Reporting Allegations

Authors, reviewers, readers, research institutions, and other concerned parties may report suspected research misconduct to the Editor-in-Chief or the journal's editorial office.

Reports should include the title or DOI of the relevant article, a clear description of the concern, and supporting evidence, where available. Anonymous reports may be considered if they provide sufficient information for an initial assessment.

Reports should be submitted through the journal's official editorial contact details provided on this website.

Assessment and Investigation

Upon receiving an allegation, the Agro Bali : Agricultural Journal will conduct an initial assessment to determine whether the concern is sufficiently specific and supported to warrant further examination. Where appropriate, the journal may:

  • Request an explanation and relevant supporting documents from the authors concerned.
  • Examine manuscripts, original data, images, similarity reports, research records, and other relevant evidence.
  • Consult independent experts, editorial board members, or relevant specialists.
  • Contact the authors' affiliated institutions, research ethics committees, funders, or other appropriate authorities when necessary.
  • Seek guidance from COPE or other relevant publication ethics resources.

All parties will be treated fairly, and the authors concerned will ordinarily be given an appropriate opportunity to respond. The journal will distinguish allegations from established findings and will not presume misconduct solely because a complaint has been submitted.

Outcomes and Corrective Actions

Depending on the findings and the stage of publication, the Agro Bali : Agricultural Journal may take one or more of the following actions:

  • Reject a submitted manuscript.
  • Request clarification, additional evidence, or appropriate corrections.
  • Publish a correction, expression of concern, or retraction, as appropriate.
  • Notify relevant institutions, funders, or other parties when warranted.
  • Take further measures consistent with the severity of the issue and applicable publication ethics guidance.

Any action concerning a published article will be proportionate to the evidence and intended to preserve the accuracy and integrity of the scholarly record.

Confidentiality and Protection Against Retaliation

The Agro Bali : Agricultural Journal will handle allegations and related documentation confidentially to the extent reasonably possible, subject to the requirements of a fair investigation and applicable policies or laws. Information will be shared only with individuals or organizations whose involvement is necessary to assess or investigate the matter.

The journal does not tolerate knowingly false or malicious allegations. Good-faith reporting of suspected misconduct should not, in itself, result in retaliation.

Policy Review

This policy is informed by the publication ethics resources and research integrity guidance of Elsevier and COPE. It will be reviewed periodically to ensure continued alignment with recognized standards of scholarly publishing.

For further information, please contact the Editor-in-Chief through the official contact details provided on this journal's website.