Allegation of Research Misconduct

JEBMES takes allegations of publication ethics violations and research misconduct seriously. Such violations may include data fabrication or falsification, plagiarism, citation manipulation, duplicate or redundant publication, omission of significant information, and other breaches of research ethics.

The editors will assess each allegation to determine whether the available information warrants further investigation. Where appropriate, they may request explanations and supporting evidence from the authors concerned, consult relevant reviewers or experts, and contact the institution where the research was conducted. Those involved will have an opportunity to respond. Information related to the manuscript and the investigation will be handled confidentially, as appropriate to the case.

If an allegation concerns a published article, JEBMES will assess its effect on the reliability and integrity of the scholarly record. Depending on the findings, the journal may issue a correction, an expression of concern, or a retraction. JEBMES may coordinate with the relevant institution if further investigation is needed. Cases are handled in accordance with JEBMES publication ethics policies and the guidelines of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).

Article Retraction

JEBMES may consider retracting an article when there is strong evidence that its findings or conclusions are unreliable because of a major error or misconduct, including data fabrication or falsification, plagiarism, duplicate publication without adequate disclosure, unethical research, or another serious breach.

If only part of an article is affected and its main findings remain reliable, JEBMES may publish a correction instead of retracting the article. If the available evidence is insufficient to determine the article’s reliability while an investigation is ongoing, the journal may issue an expression of concern.

A retraction notice will clearly identify the affected article and explain the reasons for retraction in an objective and factual manner. The notice will be linked to the article. Editors make decisions about corrections or retractions based on the available evidence and, where relevant, the findings of the institution’s investigation.

This policy is informed by the JEBMES Publication Ethics statement, the JEBMES Plagiarism Policy, and the COPE Retraction Guidelines.