Allegation of Research Misconduct

1. Policy Statement

The Journal of Tourism Sustainability (JTOS), published by Politeknik Negeri Bandung, is committed to maintaining the integrity, credibility, transparency, and ethical standards of scholarly research and publication.

JTOS takes all allegations of research and publication misconduct seriously, whether they concern manuscripts under editorial consideration or articles that have already been published.

All allegations will be assessed fairly, objectively, confidentially, and in accordance with relevant guidance provided by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).

An allegation does not constitute proof of misconduct. All parties involved must be treated fairly, and editorial decisions must be supported by appropriate evidence.

2. Scope of Research Misconduct

Research and publication misconduct may include, but is not limited to, the following:

  • Fabrication: Inventing research data, survey responses, interview transcripts, observations, research participants, or findings and presenting them as genuine research evidence.
  • Falsification: Manipulating research materials, procedures, data, images, or results in a manner that misrepresents the research.
  • Plagiarism: Using another person's words, ideas, findings, data, or intellectual contributions without appropriate acknowledgment.
  • Duplicate or Redundant Publication: Publishing or submitting substantially overlapping research without adequate disclosure, citation, or legitimate scholarly justification.
  • Authorship Misconduct: Misrepresenting authorship, including ghost authorship, gift authorship, unauthorized authorship changes, or omission of individuals who meet authorship criteria.
  • Citation Manipulation: Inappropriately adding or requesting citations to inflate citation metrics or create misleading representations of scholarly influence.
  • Peer-Review Manipulation: Interfering with the independence or integrity of the peer-review process, including fabricated reviewer identities, fraudulent reviews, or undisclosed conflicts of interest.
  • Research Ethics Violations: Conducting or reporting research involving human participants, communities, or sensitive information without appropriate ethical safeguards, informed consent, or necessary institutional approvals.
  • Undisclosed Conflicts of Interest: Concealing financial, institutional, professional, or personal interests that may materially affect research interpretation or editorial evaluation.
  • Misuse of Artificial Intelligence: Using AI-assisted technologies to fabricate data, falsify evidence, generate fictitious references, conceal plagiarism, or otherwise misrepresent the research process or findings.

3. Reporting Allegations

JTOS welcomes credible reports of suspected research or publication misconduct from readers, reviewers, editors, authors, research institutions, and other concerned parties.

Allegations should be submitted through the journal's official editorial communication channel:

Editorial Office:
Journal of Tourism Sustainability (JTOS)
Politeknik Negeri Bandung
Email: jtos@polban.ac.id

A report should, where possible, include:

  • Identification of the manuscript or published article concerned.
  • A clear description of the alleged misconduct.
  • Relevant documentary evidence or supporting sources.
  • An explanation of how the identified concern may affect research or publication integrity.
  • Contact information for further clarification, where the complainant is willing to provide it.

Anonymous allegations may be considered when they contain sufficient credible and verifiable information to justify editorial assessment.

JTOS will not dismiss credible allegations solely because they are submitted anonymously.

4. Initial Assessment

Upon receiving an allegation, the Editor-in-Chief or a designated editor will conduct a preliminary assessment to determine whether the concern falls within the journal's editorial responsibility and whether sufficient information is available to proceed.

The preliminary assessment may include:

  1. Reviewing the submitted complaint and supporting documentation.
  2. Examining the manuscript, published article, or related editorial records.
  3. Assessing available research data, citations, figures, or other relevant materials.
  4. Determining whether further clarification or additional evidence is necessary.
  5. Identifying any potential conflicts of interest among individuals responsible for the assessment.

JTOS may use similarity-checking software, bibliographic verification, and other appropriate tools to support preliminary screening.

Automated assessment results will not be treated as conclusive evidence of misconduct.

5. Investigation and Editorial Procedures

When an allegation warrants further examination, JTOS will follow a structured and proportionate editorial assessment process.

The process may involve the following steps:

  1. Documentation: Recording the allegation and preserving relevant evidence and editorial correspondence.
  2. Preliminary Evaluation: Assessing the credibility, relevance, and potential seriousness of the concern.
  3. Author Clarification: Contacting the author or authors concerned and providing an opportunity to respond to the substantive allegations.
  4. Evidence Assessment: Reviewing author explanations, research documentation, available records, and independent expert opinions when necessary.
  5. Institutional Referral: Referring serious allegations to the relevant research institution when formal investigation is required.
  6. Editorial Decision: Determining appropriate action based on the available evidence and the reliability of the scholarly record.
  7. Documentation and Follow-Up: Recording the decision and implementing any required editorial or post-publication action.

The journal's editorial assessment does not replace formal research misconduct investigations conducted by authorized research institutions.

6. Fairness, Confidentiality, and Due Process

JTOS is committed to ensuring that allegations of research misconduct are handled impartially and without unnecessary disclosure of confidential information.

Individuals accused of misconduct will be given a reasonable opportunity to provide explanations and supporting evidence.

Editorial correspondence, unpublished manuscripts, research data, and information related to ongoing assessments will be handled confidentially, subject to applicable legal obligations and legitimate investigative needs.

Editors involved in a case must disclose relevant conflicts of interest and, when necessary, withdraw from handling the allegation.

Where an allegation concerns the Editor-in-Chief or another responsible editor, the publisher or an appropriately independent editorial representative will oversee the assessment.

JTOS will seek to protect complainants who report concerns in good faith from inappropriate retaliation within the journal's editorial processes.

7. Cooperation with Research Institutions

JTOS recognizes that research institutions have primary responsibility for investigating serious allegations concerning the conduct of their affiliated researchers.

When necessary, JTOS may contact relevant institutions to request clarification, share documented concerns, or seek the outcome of an institutional investigation.

The journal may cooperate with institutions, publishers, or other journals when concerns involve multiple publications or systematic manipulation of the scholarly publication process.

Information sharing will be limited to what is relevant and appropriate for the investigation and will respect applicable confidentiality and data-protection requirements.

8. Allegations Concerning Submitted Manuscripts

When potential misconduct is identified before publication, JTOS may take appropriate editorial measures, including:

  • Requesting additional information, raw data, research documentation, or methodological clarification.
  • Temporarily suspending editorial consideration while material concerns are assessed.
  • Requesting correction or revision when problems are remediable.
  • Rejecting manuscripts when serious integrity concerns are substantiated.
  • Referring significant allegations to the authors' institutions when warranted.

Manuscripts will not be rejected on grounds of research misconduct solely because an unverified allegation has been received.

9. Allegations Concerning Published Articles

Allegations concerning published articles will be evaluated according to the nature of the reported concern, the available evidence, and its potential impact on the reliability of the published scholarly record.

Depending on the circumstances, JTOS may take the following actions:

9.1 Correction

A correction may be issued when a published article contains an error or omission that requires public clarification but does not invalidate the overall reliability of the research findings.

9.2 Expression of Concern

An expression of concern may be published when substantial concerns regarding the reliability or integrity of an article remain unresolved, particularly when an investigation is ongoing, inconclusive, or significantly delayed.

9.3 Retraction

A retraction may be issued when the editorial team determines that an article contains serious problems that render its findings unreliable, including confirmed fabrication, falsification, substantial plagiarism, unethical research, or other major integrity violations.

Retraction is intended to correct the scholarly record and protect its integrity rather than to punish the authors.

A retracted article will ordinarily remain accessible in the journal archive with a clear retraction notice linked to the original publication.

10. Editorial Misconduct and Peer-Review Integrity

Allegations involving editors, reviewers, or individuals participating in the publication process will be assessed with the same commitment to impartiality and accountability.

Such allegations may include:

  • Misuse of confidential manuscript information.
  • Undisclosed conflicts of interest.
  • Manipulation of editorial decisions.
  • Fabricated or compromised peer review.
  • Unauthorized use of unpublished research.
  • Discriminatory or retaliatory editorial conduct.

Where appropriate, an independent editorial representative or the publisher will oversee the assessment.

11. Communication of Outcomes

JTOS will communicate relevant editorial decisions to the parties concerned, subject to confidentiality and legal considerations.

When a correction, expression of concern, or retraction is required, the journal will publish an appropriate notice that clearly identifies the affected article and explains the reason for the editorial action.

Public notices will be linked to the original article and made openly accessible.

JTOS will avoid unnecessarily disclosing personal information or making unsupported statements concerning individual responsibility.

12. Appeals and Reconsideration

Authors or other directly affected parties may request reconsideration of an editorial decision by submitting a reasoned explanation and relevant supporting evidence.

An appeal should identify the decision being challenged and explain the factual or procedural grounds for reconsideration.

Where practicable, an appeal will be assessed by an editor or representative who was not directly responsible for the original decision.

The existence of an appeal does not automatically suspend necessary action to protect the integrity of the published scholarly record.

13. Record Keeping and Policy Review

JTOS will maintain appropriate confidential documentation of misconduct allegations, editorial assessments, correspondence, decisions, and subsequent actions.

Records will be retained and managed in accordance with applicable institutional policies, legal requirements, and responsible data management practices.

This policy may be reviewed periodically to reflect developments in publication ethics and research integrity standards.

Research Integrity Statement

JTOS is committed to addressing allegations of research misconduct through fair assessment, appropriate evidence, confidentiality, institutional cooperation, and transparent editorial action.

The primary purpose of this policy is to safeguard research integrity and maintain trust in the scholarly record.

References and Supporting Guidelines