Allegations of Research Misconduct
DAYA-MAS: Media Komunikasi dan Informasi Hasil Pengabdian dan Pemberdayaan Masyarakat
1. Policy Statement
DAYA-MAS is committed to maintaining academic integrity, transparency, accountability, and ethical standards in the publication of community service and community empowerment articles.
The journal takes allegations of research misconduct seriously and is committed to handling such allegations fairly, objectively, confidentially, and in a timely manner. All allegations will be assessed based on the available evidence and in accordance with the journal's publication ethics policies.
2. Definition of Research Misconduct
Research misconduct refers to actions that violate the principles of honesty, integrity, and accountability in research, community service activities, or the reporting and publication of scholarly work.
Research misconduct may include, but is not limited to:
a. Fabrication: Making up data, participant information, activities, or results that did not occur.
b. Falsification: Manipulating data, documentation, evaluation results, images, or other evidence to misrepresent the actual outcomes of an activity.
c. Plagiarism: Using another person's words, ideas, data, or materials without appropriate acknowledgment.
d. Misrepresentation of Activities: Reporting community service activities, partnerships, participant numbers, or outcomes inaccurately or claiming that activities were conducted when they were not.
e. Unethical Data Collection: Collecting or using personal information, photographs, testimonials, or participant data without appropriate consent or ethical safeguards where required.
f. Authorship Misconduct: Inappropriately assigning authorship, omitting qualifying contributors, or misrepresenting individual contributions.
g. Duplicate or Redundant Publication: Submitting or publishing substantially overlapping work without appropriate disclosure.
8. Undisclosed Conflicts of Interest: Failing to disclose interests that could improperly influence the conduct, reporting, or interpretation of the work.
Honest errors, reasonable differences in interpretation, or methodological limitations do not automatically constitute research misconduct.
3. Reporting Suspected Misconduct
Authors, reviewers, readers, community partners, and other concerned parties may report suspected research misconduct to the editorial team of DAYA-MAS.
Reports should provide sufficient information to enable an initial assessment, including, where available:
• The title or identification of the manuscript or published article.
• A clear description of the suspected misconduct.
• Relevant supporting evidence, documents, or references.
• Contact information for follow-up, where the reporting party is willing to provide it.
The editorial team will review reports in good faith. Confidentiality will be maintained as far as reasonably possible, subject to the requirements of a fair investigation.
4. Initial Assessment
Upon receiving an allegation, the editor-in-chief or an authorized editorial representative will conduct an initial assessment to determine whether the allegation falls within the scope of this policy and whether sufficient information is available to proceed.
The editor may request additional information, consult relevant editorial experts, or seek clarification from the authors.
Where appropriate, the journal may temporarily suspend the editorial or publication process while the concern is assessed.
5. Investigation Procedure
When an allegation warrants further examination, DAYA-MAS will undertake a fair and impartial review. The procedure may include:
a. Examining the manuscript, publication record, supporting documents, and available evidence.
b. Requesting a written explanation from the corresponding author and, where necessary, other authors.
c. Seeking clarification from reviewers, institutions, community partners, or other relevant parties when appropriate.
d. Assessing the evidence objectively and giving the individuals concerned a reasonable opportunity to respond.
e. Documenting the assessment and determining the appropriate editorial action.
The journal will not treat an allegation as proven solely because it has been reported. Decisions will be based on the evidence available and the seriousness of the concern.
6. Possible Editorial Actions
Depending on the nature, severity, and outcome of the assessment, DAYA-MAS may take one or more of the following actions:
• Reject the submitted manuscript.
• Request clarification, corrections, or additional supporting evidence.
• Suspend the review or publication process pending further assessment.
• Correct a published article when a correction is sufficient to address the issue.
• Retract a published article when serious misconduct or other circumstances warrant retraction.
• Notify the relevant author's institution or other appropriate body when justified and consistent with applicable procedures.
• Take additional measures in accordance with the journal's publication ethics policies.
The action taken will be proportionate to the findings and the potential impact on the integrity of the scholarly record.
7. Responsibilities of Authors
All authors are responsible for the accuracy, originality, and integrity of their manuscripts. Authors must:
• Report community service activities and outcomes truthfully.
• Maintain accurate records and supporting evidence where applicable.
• Ensure that participant data, photographs, testimonials, and other documentation are used ethically and with appropriate authorization.
• Disclose relevant funding, partnerships, conflicts of interest, and overlapping publications.
• Cooperate with reasonable editorial requests for clarification or supporting documentation.
• Correct errors or address substantiated concerns in accordance with editorial decisions.
8. Confidentiality and Fair Treatment
DAYA-MAS will handle allegations with appropriate confidentiality and impartiality. Information will be shared only with individuals who need it to assess or resolve the matter, subject to applicable legal, institutional, and ethical obligations.
The journal will seek to protect the rights and reputations of all parties involved and will avoid making public accusations before an appropriate assessment has been completed.
Reports made in good faith will be treated seriously. Deliberately false or malicious allegations may be addressed in accordance with applicable policies.
9. Appeals and Institutional Involvement
Authors may submit a reasoned appeal against an editorial decision concerning alleged misconduct. Appeals must identify the grounds for reconsideration and provide relevant supporting information.
Where the matter requires investigative authority beyond the journal's remit, DAYA-MAS may refer the matter to the relevant author's institution or another appropriate body. The journal retains responsibility for editorial decisions concerning the submitted or published article.
10. Post-Publication Actions
If research misconduct is substantiated after publication, DAYA-MAS will take appropriate steps to maintain the integrity of the scholarly record. Depending on the circumstances, this may include issuing a correction, an expression of concern, or a retraction notice.
Any post-publication notice will explain the nature of the concern and its implications for the published article, while respecting confidentiality and applicable ethical requirements.
11. Policy Review
DAYA-MAS may periodically review this policy to ensure that its procedures remain consistent with accepted publication ethics principles and developments in scholarly publishing.
