Allegations of Misconduct

Processes and Policies for Identifying and Addressing Allegations of Misconduct

The Quest Journal is committed to maintaining high ethical standards in academic publishing. The following processes and policies outline how allegations of misconduct, including plagiarism, data falsification, and fabrication, are identified, reviewed, and addressed.

1. Definitions of Misconduct

• Plagiarism: The use of another’s work, ideas, or words without appropriate attribution, including duplicate publication or self-plagiarism.
• Data Falsification and Fabrication: The manipulation or invention of data, results, or findings that misrepresent research outcomes.
• Authorship Misrepresentation: Incorrectly attributing or omitting authorship, including ghost authorship or gift authorship.
• Other Unethical Behavior: Any actions that violate standard ethical guidelines in research and publication, such as improper citations, conflicts of interest, or breaches of confidentiality.

2. Identification of Misconduct

• Initial Screening: All submissions are subjected to plagiarism detection software, such as Turnitin or iThenticate, and are reviewed by editors for originality, integrity, and adherence to journal guidelines.
• Peer Review Checks: Reviewers are encouraged to report suspected cases of misconduct they encounter during the peer review process, such as data inconsistencies, text duplication, or issues with authorship.
• Third-Party Allegations: The Quest Journal also accepts concerns raised by third parties, including readers, reviewers, or research institutions, regarding potential misconduct in published or submitted works.

3. Investigation Procedure

• Preliminary Assessment: Upon receiving an allegation, the editor-in-chief or assigned editorial staff conducts an initial review to assess the credibility and specificity of the complaint.
• Formal Investigation: If the claim warrants further review, a formal investigation is initiated, involving the editorial board or an ethics committee as needed. Authors may be contacted for clarification and are encouraged to provide supporting evidence.
• Consultation with Institutions: In serious cases of potential falsification, fabrication, or systemic plagiarism, The Quest Journal may consult the authors' affiliated institution(s) to assist in verifying the legitimacy of the data and findings.

4. Actions and Sanctions for Misconduct

• For Minor Offenses (e.g., unintentional duplication, minor citation errors): Authors are given a chance to revise their work, correct issues, and re-submit after addressing the identified problems.
• For Major Offenses (e.g., substantial plagiarism, fabricated data):
  • Manuscript Rejection: For submissions found to contain serious ethical violations, the manuscript will be immediately rejected.
  • Retraction of Published Articles: If misconduct is confirmed post-publication, The Quest Journal will issue a formal retraction notice, explaining the reason for the retraction to maintain transparency.
  • Author Sanctions: Depending on the severity of the misconduct, authors may face additional sanctions, such as being barred from future submissions for a specified period or reporting the case to their institution or relevant academic bodies.

5. Transparency and Confidentiality

• Confidential Handling of Allegations: All allegations and investigations are treated with confidentiality. Information is disclosed only to those directly involved in the investigation process.
• Author’s Right to Respond: Authors are given the opportunity to respond to allegations before any formal decision is made. All communications are documented to ensure a fair and unbiased process.
• Public Notification of Retractions and Corrections: In cases where retraction or correction is necessary, a detailed notice will be published in the journal, ensuring readers are informed of the change.

6. Appeals Process

• If authors disagree with the findings of a misconduct investigation, they have the right to submit an appeal. Appeals are reviewed by an independent panel or the editorial board, which will issue a final decision.

7. Commitment to Ethical Standards

• The Quest Journal follows the ethical guidelines established by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and is committed to fostering an environment of integrity in research and publishing. All editors, reviewers, and authors are expected to adhere to these standards in their conduct.