Allegation of Research Misconduct Policy

Seltics Journal: Scope of English Language Teaching, Literature and Linguistics Journal is committed to upholding research integrity and responsible scholarly publishing. The journal takes allegations of research misconduct seriously and handles them fairly, confidentially, and in accordance with the principles of publication ethics.

1. Forms of Research Misconduct

Research or publication misconduct may include, but is not limited to:

  1. Fabrication of research data or results.
  2. Falsification, manipulation, or misleading presentation of data, findings, or research materials.
  3. Plagiarism or inappropriate use of another person's work.
  4. Duplicate or redundant publication and undisclosed simultaneous submission.
  5. Inappropriate authorship or misrepresentation of author contributions.
  6. Manipulation of the peer-review or editorial process.
  7. Undisclosed conflicts of interest that may materially affect the integrity of the research or publication.
  8. Conducting research without required ethical approval or consent, where applicable.
  9. Citation manipulation or other practices intended to distort the scholarly record.
  10. Other practices that seriously undermine the reliability, transparency, or ethical integrity of research and publication.

Honest errors or legitimate differences of scholarly opinion will not automatically be considered research misconduct.

2. Reporting an Allegation

Any reader, author, reviewer, editor, or other concerned party may report suspected research misconduct to the Editorial Team through the journal's official contact address.

Reports should include, where possible, the title or DOI of the relevant article, a clear description of the concern, supporting evidence, and the complainant's contact information. Anonymous reports may also be considered if sufficient information is provided to permit an initial assessment.

3. Assessment and Investigation

Upon receiving an allegation, the Editorial Team will:

  1. Acknowledge receipt of the report where contact information is available.
  2. Conduct an initial assessment to determine whether the allegation is sufficiently specific and supported by relevant information.
  3. Request clarification or additional evidence from the complainant, author(s), or other relevant parties when necessary.
  4. Provide the author(s) concerned with a reasonable opportunity to respond to the allegation.
  5. Consult independent experts, the publisher, or the author's affiliated institution when appropriate.
  6. Determine the appropriate editorial action based on the available evidence and the outcome of the assessment.

The journal will not treat an allegation as proven solely because a complaint has been submitted. Investigations will be conducted impartially, and relevant parties will be treated fairly.

4. Role of the Author's Institution

Where an allegation requires a formal institutional investigation, the journal may refer the matter to the relevant institution or research organization. The journal's role is to protect the integrity of the publication record; it does not replace the institution's responsibility for conducting formal investigations into the conduct of its researchers.

The journal may cooperate with institutional investigations and consider their findings when deciding whether editorial action is necessary.

5. Possible Outcomes

Depending on the nature and seriousness of the case, possible outcomes include:

  • No further action if the allegation is not substantiated.
  • A request for clarification or correction of the manuscript.
  • Rejection of a submitted manuscript.
  • Publication of a correction or an expression of concern.
  • Retraction of a published article.
  • Notification to the author's institution, publisher, or other relevant parties where appropriate.

The journal will determine the action proportionate to the evidence and its implications for the scholarly record.

6. Confidentiality and Protection Against Retaliation

Allegations will be handled as confidentially as reasonably possible. Information will be shared only with parties who need it to assess or resolve the matter, subject to applicable legal and ethical requirements.

The journal will not tolerate threats, harassment, or retaliation against individuals who raise concerns in good faith. Knowingly false or malicious allegations may be addressed appropriately.

7. Editorial Independence

Editorial decisions arising from allegations of misconduct will be based on research integrity, the available evidence, and the journal's ethical policies. The journal may refer to relevant Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) guidance when handling such cases.