Allegation of Research Misconducts

EduSphere: Journal of Education and Learning takes all allegations of research misconduct seriously. Research misconduct includes, but is not limited to, fabrication, falsification, plagiarism, unethical research practices, and the failure to disclose conflicts of interest. The journal follows a structured process to address any such allegations.

1. Initial Assessment

When an allegation of research misconduct is received, the editor-in-chief, in consultation with the editorial board, will conduct an initial assessment to determine whether the allegation has sufficient merit to warrant further investigation. If the allegation is deemed credible, a formal investigation will be initiated.

2. Investigation Process

The investigation process will involve reviewing the evidence and, if necessary, requesting clarification or further documentation from the authors involved. During this process, confidentiality will be maintained, and all parties will be treated fairly.

The handling of allegations of research misconduct aligns with the guidelines established by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), accessible at https://publicationethics.org/misconduct.

3. Outcomes

If research misconduct is confirmed, the editorial team will take appropriate actions, which may include:

• Retraction of the published article.
• Notification to the author's institution or funding bodies.
• Correction or clarification of the published record, if necessary.

4. Retraction Process

If a published article is found to contain significant errors or misconduct, the journal will initiate the retraction process. The retraction process adheres to the Retraction Guidelines outlined by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), available at https://publicationethics.org/files/retraction%20guidelines.pdf. Retraction notices will provide clear reasons for the retraction and distinguish between cases of honest error and misconduct.