Allegations of misconduct

CODEVERSE: Journal of Emerging Digital Realities upholds the highest standards of integrity and ethics in scholarly publishing. This policy outlines the process for handling allegations of misconduct in research or publication. CODEVERSE: Journal of Emerging Digital Realities takes all allegations of misconduct, whether pre-publication or post-publication, seriously and follows a fair and impartial investigative procedure. The journal follows the Core Practices outlined by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).

Types of Misconduct
Allegations of misconduct may include, but are not limited to:

  • Plagiarism: Copying or using someone else's work, ideas, or intellectual property without proper attribution.
  • Fabrication: Creating false or fictitious data or results.
  • Falsification: Manipulating or altering research data or results to misrepresent the findings.
  • Authorship Misconduct: Inappropriate authorship attribution or guest/gift authorship.
  • Conflict of Interest: Failure to disclose relevant financial, personal, or professional relationships that could         influence the research findings.
  • Research Misconduct: Violation of ethical standards or research integrity.

Reporting Allegations
Allegations of misconduct can be reported by anyone, including authors, reviewers, readers, or whistleblowers who believe that research misconduct has occurred or unethical practices are evident.

Whistleblower Protection
CODEVERSE: Journal of Emerging Digital Realities recognizes the importance of protecting whistleblowers who report allegations of misconduct in good faith. Whistleblowers will be treated with confidentiality, and their identity will be protected throughout the investigation process.

Investigation Process
Upon receiving an allegation of misconduct, CODEVERSE: Journal of Emerging Digital Realities will initiate an unbiased and thorough investigation. The investigation may involve consulting relevant experts, examining original data, and seeking clarification from all parties involved.

Pre-Publication Allegations
If misconduct is alleged before the publication of an article in CODEVERSE: Journal of Emerging Digital Realities, the editorial board may decide to postpone publication pending the investigation's outcome.

Post-Publication Allegations
If misconduct is alleged after the publication of an article in CODEVERSE: Journal of Emerging Digital Realities, the journal will follow a post-publication investigation process to assess the validity of the allegations and take appropriate actions if misconduct is confirmed.

Corrective Actions
If misconduct is substantiated, CODEVERSE: Journal of Emerging Digital Realities may take various corrective actions, including but not limited to:

  • Retracting the article.
  • Issuing a correction or erratum.
  • In serious cases, CODEVERSE: Journal of Emerging Digital Realities might imposie sanctions on responsible authors or contributors.
  • Notifying relevant institutions or authorities.

 

Communication and Transparency
CODEVERSE: Journal of Emerging Digital Realities will communicate the outcome of the investigation to the complainant, the accused individuals, and any affected parties. Additionally, the journal will make the investigation process and its outcome publicly available, ensuring transparency and accountability.

Review of the Policy
CODEVERSE: Journal of Emerging Digital Realities will periodically review and update this policy to align with the evolving best practices in handling allegations of misconduct. Any revisions to this policy will be communicated to stakeholders and published on the journal's website.