Publication Ethics & Malpractice

Journal Mahasiswa: Jurnal Ilmiah Penalaran dan Penelitian Mahasiswa is committed to maintaining the highest standards of publication ethics and academic integrity. The journal upholds the principles of honesty, transparency, accountability, and fairness throughout the publication process.

This Publication Ethics and Malpractice Statement is established in accordance with the recommendations and Core Practices of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE). It applies to all parties involved in the publication process, including authors, editors, reviewers, and the publisher.

The journal does not tolerate any form of research misconduct or unethical publication practices. All manuscripts submitted to the journal must demonstrate originality, academic integrity, and compliance with applicable ethical standards.

1. Responsibilities of Authors

Authors submitting manuscripts to Journal Mahasiswa are expected to:

Ensure that submitted manuscripts are original works and have not been published previously or submitted simultaneously to another journal.
Provide accurate, honest, and transparent information regarding research methods, data, findings, and conclusions.
Properly acknowledge all sources, references, and contributions from other researchers.
Avoid plagiarism, self-plagiarism, data fabrication, data falsification, citation manipulation, and other forms of academic misconduct.
Ensure that all individuals listed as authors have made substantial scholarly contributions to the research and have approved the final manuscript.
Disclose all relevant financial and non-financial conflicts of interest.
Obtain appropriate ethical approval and informed consent when research involves human participants, animals, or sensitive personal information, where applicable.
Cooperate with the editorial team during the review, revision, and investigation processes.

2. Responsibilities of Editors

The editors of Journal Mahasiswa are responsible for ensuring that the editorial and publication processes are conducted fairly, objectively, and transparently.

Editors must:

Evaluate manuscripts based on their academic quality, originality, relevance, and contribution to the journal's scope.
Ensure that editorial decisions are independent and free from discrimination based on nationality, institutional affiliation, gender, religion, or personal background.
Maintain the confidentiality of submitted manuscripts and related editorial communications.
Select qualified and independent reviewers with appropriate expertise.
Identify and appropriately manage potential conflicts of interest.
Investigate allegations of research misconduct or publication malpractice.
Take appropriate corrective action when ethical violations are identified, including rejection, correction, expression of concern, or retraction, where necessary.
Protect the integrity of the scholarly record.

3. Responsibilities of Reviewers

Reviewers play an important role in maintaining the academic quality and integrity of published research.

Reviewers are expected to:

Conduct manuscript evaluations objectively, professionally, and constructively.
Maintain strict confidentiality regarding all manuscripts received for review.
Identify relevant published works that have not been properly cited.
Report any suspected plagiarism, data manipulation, duplicate publication, or other ethical concerns to the editor.
Disclose any potential conflicts of interest that may affect their impartiality.
Decline review invitations when they lack the necessary expertise or cannot complete the review within the agreed timeframe.
Refrain from using unpublished information obtained through the peer-review process for personal or professional advantage.

4. Research Misconduct and Publication Malpractice

Journal Mahasiswa considers the following practices to constitute serious violations of research integrity and publication ethics:

a. Plagiarism

The use of another person's ideas, words, data, figures, or research findings without appropriate acknowledgment or citation.

b. Data Fabrication

The invention or creation of research data, results, or findings that do not exist.

c. Data Falsification

The manipulation, alteration, omission, or misrepresentation of research data, materials, images, or results.

d. Duplicate or Redundant Publication

The submission or publication of substantially similar research in more than one publication without appropriate disclosure or justification.

e. Authorship Misconduct

The inappropriate inclusion or exclusion of individuals as authors, including gift authorship, guest authorship, and ghost authorship.

f. Citation Manipulation

The intentional inclusion of irrelevant references or inappropriate citation practices intended to artificially increase citation counts.

g. Peer-Review Manipulation

Any attempt to improperly influence or compromise the peer-review process, including the use of fabricated reviewer identities or manipulated reviewer recommendations.

h. Undisclosed Conflicts of Interest

Failure to disclose financial, personal, professional, or institutional relationships that could influence the research or editorial process.

5. Procedures for Handling Allegations of Misconduct

Any allegation of research misconduct or publication malpractice will be taken seriously, regardless of whether it is reported before or after publication.

The journal follows a fair, confidential, and evidence-based procedure:

Receipt of Allegation: Allegations may be submitted by authors, reviewers, readers, institutions, or other concerned parties to the editorial office.
Preliminary Assessment: The editor-in-chief or an appointed editor evaluates the allegation to determine whether sufficient grounds exist for further investigation.
Evidence Examination: Relevant documents, manuscript versions, research data, similarity reports, and other supporting evidence may be examined.
Author Notification: The corresponding author and relevant parties may be contacted and given an opportunity to provide clarification or a response.
Further Investigation: Where necessary, the journal may consult independent experts or contact the relevant author's institution or research organization.
Editorial Decision: Following an assessment of the available evidence, the editorial team determines the appropriate action.
Documentation: The investigation and resulting editorial decision are documented to maintain transparency and accountability.

The journal will make reasonable efforts to protect the confidentiality of all parties involved during the investigation.

6. Possible Editorial Actions and Sanctions

Depending on the seriousness and nature of the violation, Journal Mahasiswa may take one or more of the following actions:

Request clarification or additional supporting documentation from the authors.
Require correction or substantial revision of the manuscript.
Reject the manuscript before publication.
Suspend the editorial process while an investigation is conducted.
Issue a correction notice or an expression of concern for an already published article.
Retract a published article when the reliability or integrity of its findings is seriously compromised.
Notify the relevant author's institution or research organization when appropriate.
Decline future submissions from individuals involved in serious or repeated misconduct, where justified.