Research Misconduct

 

Research misconduct includes serious departures from accepted standards of responsible research and scholarly communication. Such misconduct may occur during research, manuscript preparation, submission, peer review, or after publication. The Journal of Decision Support Systems and Multi-Criteria Decision Making (JODESMA) is committed to maintaining research integrity, publication transparency, and responsible scholarly communication.

Forms of Research Misconduct

Research misconduct may include, but is not limited to, the following practices:

  • Fabrication of research data, observations, participants, or results.
  • Falsification or inappropriate manipulation of research materials and findings.
  • Plagiarism or unauthorized appropriation of intellectual material.
  • Duplicate or redundant publication.
  • Improper manipulation of citations.
  • Misrepresentation of authorship or contributions.
  • Manipulation of peer review or editorial processes.
  • Failure to disclose significant conflicts of interest.
  • Misrepresentation of ethical approval or research procedures.
Reporting Concerns

Concerns regarding suspected research misconduct may be communicated to the Editorial Office of the Journal of Decision Support Systems and Multi-Criteria Decision Making (JODESMA) with sufficient information to allow the matter to be assessed. Reports should, where possible, include relevant evidence or supporting documentation. Anonymous concerns may be considered when they contain credible and verifiable information.

Assessment and Possible Actions

Reports of suspected misconduct will be assessed fairly and carefully, taking into account the available evidence and the seriousness of the allegations. Depending on the findings, the Journal of Decision Support Systems and Multi-Criteria Decision Making (JODESMA) may request clarification, require correction, decline a manuscript, suspend editorial processing, issue an expression of concern, withdraw a publication, or retract an article. Serious cases may also be referred to the relevant institution or authority, where appropriate. Any action taken will be proportionate to the findings and intended to protect the integrity of the scholarly record.