Allegation of Research Misconduct

Research misconduct refers to fabrication, falsification, citation manipulation, or plagiarism in producing, performing, reviewing, or reporting research. When authors are found to have been involved in research misconduct or other serious irregularities related to published or submitted articles, the editors of Al-Turath Al-Adabi have a responsibility to ensure the accuracy and integrity of the scholarly record.

In cases of suspected research misconduct, the editors, in consultation with the editorial board, follow the best practices and flowcharts recommended by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) to address complaints fairly and transparently. This process includes an initial assessment and, where necessary, a formal investigation of the allegation.

Manuscripts found to contain research misconduct during the submission or review stage are rejected. If misconduct is identified after publication, appropriate actions are taken, which may include the publication of a correction or a formal retraction linked to the original article.

The investigation process begins by assessing the credibility and validity of the allegation and determining whether it falls within the accepted definition of research misconduct. Any potential conflicts of interest on the part of those making the allegation are also considered.

If the possibility of misconduct exists, the corresponding author is notified and invited to provide a detailed response on behalf of all co-authors. Based on the response and further evaluation, additional expert review (including statistical or methodological review) may be undertaken. In cases where misconduct is not confirmed, clarifications or corrections may be published when appropriate.

Institutions affiliated with the authors are expected to conduct thorough investigations where necessary. Authors, journals, and institutions share a collective responsibility to maintain the integrity of the scholarly record. Through corrective actions such as corrections, retractions, or retractions with replacement, Al-Turath Al-Adabi remains committed to upholding the highest standards of research integrity.

This policy follows the guidelines of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE): https://publicationethics.org/misconduct