Allegations of Research Misconduct

Lontar : Jurnal Ilmu Komunikasi is committed to maintaining research integrity and ethical standards throughout the publication process. The journal takes allegations of research misconduct seriously and handles them fairly, confidentially, and in accordance with recognized publication ethics principles.

1. Types of Research Misconduct

Research misconduct may include, but is not limited to:

  • Fabrication: Inventing research data, results, or findings that were not obtained through the reported research process.
  • Falsification: Manipulating research materials, methods, data, or results in a way that misrepresents the research.
  • Plagiarism: Using another person's ideas, words, data, or work without appropriate acknowledgment.
  • Duplicate or redundant publication: Publishing substantially overlapping work without appropriate disclosure or justification.
  • Authorship misconduct: Misrepresenting authorship or contributor roles.
  • Citation manipulation: Inappropriately manipulating citations to distort the scholarly record.
  • Other unethical practices: Conduct that compromises the reliability, transparency, or integrity of the research or publication process.

2. Reporting Suspected Misconduct

Authors, reviewers, readers, and other concerned parties may report suspected research or publication misconduct to the editorial office through the journal's official contact channels.

Reports should include a clear description of the concern and, where available, supporting evidence such as relevant publications, documents, data, or correspondence.

The journal will assess reports based on the information provided and may request additional clarification or evidence where necessary.

3. Assessment and Investigation

The editor-in-chief or an authorized editor will conduct an initial assessment to determine whether the allegation warrants further examination.

Where appropriate, the journal may:

  1. Request an explanation or supporting documentation from the authors concerned.
  2. Consult relevant editorial board members or independent experts.
  3. Contact the authors' affiliated institutions or other appropriate bodies when a formal investigation is necessary.
  4. Preserve relevant editorial records and maintain confidentiality to the extent possible.

The journal will seek to ensure that all parties are treated fairly and that conclusions are based on available evidence rather than unsupported allegations.

4. Possible Actions

Depending on the nature and seriousness of the findings, the journal may take one or more of the following actions:

  • Reject the submitted manuscript.
  • Request corrections or additional clarification.
  • Suspend the editorial process while the matter is being assessed.
  • Publish a correction, an expression of concern, or a retraction when warranted.
  • Inform the relevant institution or other appropriate body.
  • Take other actions consistent with the journal's publication ethics policies.

Actions will be proportionate to the nature of the misconduct and the reliability of the evidence.

5. Confidentiality and Fairness

All allegations will be handled with appropriate confidentiality. Information will be shared only with individuals or institutions reasonably necessary for the assessment or resolution of the matter.

The journal will provide the parties concerned with a reasonable opportunity to respond before reaching an editorial conclusion, where appropriate.

6. Good-Faith Reporting

The journal encourages good-faith reporting of suspected misconduct. Allegations should be supported by relevant information and should not be used to harass, intimidate, or unfairly discredit researchers.

Lontar : Jurnal Ilmu Komunikasi aims to protect the integrity of the scholarly record while respecting the rights and responsibilities of authors, reviewers, editors, and readers.