Allegation of Research Misconduct

ALLEGATIONS OF RESEARCH MISCONDUCT POLICY

Al-Maqasid: Jurnal Ilmu Kesyariahan dan Keperdataan is committed to upholding the integrity, credibility, transparency, and ethical standards of scholarly publishing, particularly in the fields of Islamic law, Sharia studies, civil law, and related legal disciplines. The journal takes all allegations of research and publication misconduct seriously and is committed to assessing such concerns fairly, objectively, independently, and confidentially in accordance with internationally recognized publication ethics principles and relevant guidance issued by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).

1. Definition of Research Misconduct

Research misconduct refers to practices that violate accepted ethical standards in the conduct, reporting, authorship, review, or publication of scholarly research.

Such misconduct may include, but is not limited to, fabrication or falsification of research data, plagiarism, inappropriate manipulation of research findings or supporting materials, misrepresentation of legal sources or research evidence, unethical research practices, undisclosed conflicts of interest, authorship misconduct, duplicate publication, and other activities that may compromise the validity, originality, reliability, or integrity of scholarly work.

In the context of Islamic legal and civil law research, misconduct may also involve the deliberate misrepresentation of legal documents, judicial decisions, statutory provisions, religious texts, or other primary and secondary sources used to support research findings.

Al-Maqasid evaluates suspected misconduct based on the nature of the allegation, the available evidence, and applicable ethical standards. When necessary, the journal refers to the COPE Guidelines on Cooperation between Research Institutions and Journals on Research Integrity and Publication Misconduct Cases.

2. Reporting Allegations

Authors, reviewers, readers, editors, academic institutions, and other concerned parties may report suspected research or publication misconduct involving manuscripts submitted to or articles published in Al-Maqasid: Jurnal Ilmu Kesyariahan dan Keperdataan.

Reports should include a clear description of the alleged misconduct and, where possible, supporting documents, relevant evidence, or references that may assist the editorial team in evaluating the concern.

Allegations should be submitted to the editorial team through the official contact information provided on the journal's website.

The journal encourages responsible and good-faith reporting. However, an allegation alone does not constitute sufficient evidence that research misconduct has occurred. All reports will be evaluated carefully before any conclusions or editorial decisions are made.

3. Initial Assessment and Investigation

Upon receiving an allegation, the Editor-in-Chief or an authorized editor will conduct an initial assessment to determine whether the reported concern falls within the journal's editorial responsibilities and whether sufficient evidence is available to proceed.

The editorial team may request additional information or supporting documentation from the person submitting the allegation.

Al-Maqasid will evaluate all available evidence objectively and may consult independent reviewers, subject-matter experts, research integrity specialists, or other qualified individuals when necessary.

In cases involving suspected fabrication or falsification of research data, the journal may refer to the COPE Flowchart: Fabricated Data in a Submitted Manuscript.

The author or authors concerned will normally be provided with an opportunity to respond to the allegations and submit relevant explanations, original research materials, or other supporting evidence.

The editorial team will consider the author's response alongside the available evidence and will avoid reaching premature conclusions before a fair assessment has been completed.

4. Cooperation with Research Institutions

When an allegation requires formal investigation beyond the journal's editorial authority, or when serious concerns arise regarding research integrity, Al-Maqasid may communicate with the author's affiliated institution, employer, research integrity office, research funding organization, or another appropriate authority.

The journal may provide relevant documentation, request clarification, or seek information concerning the findings of an institutional investigation, subject to applicable confidentiality, legal, and ethical requirements.

This approach follows the COPE guidance on cooperation between research institutions and journals, which emphasizes effective communication and appropriate collaboration in resolving research integrity concerns.

If the relevant institution does not respond or the matter remains unresolved, the journal may issue follow-up requests or consider referring the concern to another appropriate authority, depending on the seriousness of the allegation.

The absence of a response from an author or institution will not automatically be interpreted as evidence that misconduct has occurred.

5. Confidentiality and Fair Treatment

Al-Maqasid is committed to handling allegations of research misconduct with appropriate confidentiality, impartiality, and procedural fairness.

Information concerning allegations, supporting evidence, correspondence, and investigations will be disclosed only to individuals or institutions with a legitimate need to participate in the assessment or investigation, subject to applicable legal and ethical obligations.

The journal will make reasonable efforts to protect the rights, professional reputations, and legitimate interests of all parties involved, including individuals who report concerns and those against whom allegations have been made.

All communications and editorial decisions will be based on documented evidence, objective assessment, and relevant ethical considerations.

The journal's procedures are consistent with applicable COPE guidance on research integrity and publication misconduct.

6. Actions and Outcomes

Depending on the nature of the allegation, the available evidence, the seriousness of the concern, and the publication status of the manuscript or article, Al-Maqasid may take one or more of the following actions:

  1. Request clarification, additional documentation, or supporting evidence from the relevant parties.

  2. Temporarily suspend the peer-review or editorial decision-making process while serious concerns are being assessed.

  3. Reject a submitted manuscript when substantial ethical violations are established.

  4. Require authors to correct inaccurate or misleading information in a manuscript or published article.

  5. Publish a formal correction or an expression of concern when appropriate.

  6. Retract a published article when the findings or scholarly record are substantially compromised.

  7. Notify the author's institution, research funding organization, or other relevant authority when formal investigation or further action is necessary.

  8. Implement other proportionate editorial measures consistent with the journal's publication ethics policies.

All actions will be based on the available evidence and will be proportionate to the nature and seriousness of the concern.

For suspected ethical violations involving submitted manuscripts, the journal may consult the COPE Flowchart: Suspected Ethical Problem in a Submitted Manuscript.

When an allegation concerns an already published article, Al-Maqasid will assess whether a correction, expression of concern, or retraction is necessary to preserve the accuracy, reliability, and integrity of the scholarly record.

Any post-publication action will be implemented in accordance with the journal's correction and retraction policies and applicable publication ethics guidance.

7. Allegations Against Editors or Reviewers

Allegations of research or publication misconduct involving the Editor-in-Chief, editorial board members, reviewers, or other individuals participating in the editorial and publication process will be handled fairly, independently, and impartially.

An editor or reviewer who is directly involved in an allegation or has a relevant conflict of interest must not participate in the investigation, evaluation, or final decision concerning that allegation.

When necessary, Al-Maqasid may appoint an independent editor, consult an external expert, or refer the matter to the publisher, affiliated institution, or another appropriate authority to ensure an objective and transparent assessment.

The journal is committed to maintaining editorial independence and preventing conflicts of interest from influencing the handling of research misconduct allegations.

8. Good-Faith Reporting and False Allegations

Al-Maqasid encourages authors, reviewers, readers, researchers, and members of the academic community to report suspected misconduct responsibly, honestly, and in good faith.

Reports should be based on reasonable concerns and, whenever possible, supported by accurate information and relevant evidence.

An allegation that cannot be substantiated will not automatically be classified as a false or malicious report.

However, knowingly submitting fabricated evidence, deliberately making false accusations, or intentionally attempting to damage another researcher's professional reputation may be referred for appropriate consideration.

The journal distinguishes between allegations made in good faith that are subsequently unconfirmed and allegations demonstrated to have been submitted dishonestly or maliciously.

The editorial team will apply fair and proportionate procedures in addressing both research misconduct allegations and concerns regarding deliberately false reports.

9. Records and Follow-Up

Al-Maqasid will maintain appropriate records of reported research misconduct concerns, relevant correspondence, supporting evidence, editorial assessments, decisions, and actions taken.

All records will be managed in accordance with applicable confidentiality, data protection, institutional, and publication ethics requirements.

The editorial team may communicate with authors, complainants, reviewers, affiliated institutions, or other relevant parties to request additional information, monitor the progress of an investigation, or determine whether further editorial action is necessary.

Where misconduct concerns affect a published article, the journal will take appropriate steps to ensure that the scholarly record remains accurate, transparent, and reliable.

Al-Maqasid: Jurnal Ilmu Kesyariahan dan Keperdataan is committed to addressing allegations of research misconduct responsibly, supporting fair and appropriate investigations, maintaining accountability in editorial decision-making, and safeguarding public trust in scholarly publications.

The journal may periodically review and revise this policy to reflect developments in publication ethics, applicable institutional policies, and updated recommendations issued by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).