Allegations of Research Misconduct
Research misconduct refers to serious violations of research and publication integrity, including fabrication, falsification, plagiarism, citation manipulation, data manipulation, duplicate or redundant publication, unethical research practices, and other forms of academic misconduct that may occur during the conduct of research, manuscript preparation, peer review, or publication.
JELTE: Journal of English Language Teaching and Education is committed to maintaining the accuracy, transparency, and integrity of the scholarly record. When an allegation of research misconduct is received, the Editor and Editorial Board will assess the concern fairly and follow appropriate publication-ethics procedures. Where applicable, JELTE will refer to the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) Core Practices and relevant COPE guidance when handling allegations and suspected misconduct.
A submitted manuscript found to involve research or publication misconduct may be rejected or withdrawn from consideration. If misconduct is confirmed in an article that has already been published, JELTE may issue an appropriate Correction, Expression of Concern, or Retraction, depending on the nature and severity of the issue. Any post-publication notice will be linked to the original article to maintain transparency and preserve the integrity of the scholarly record.
Investigation Procedure
When an allegation is received, the Editor will initially assess whether the concern is sufficiently credible and falls within the scope of research or publication misconduct. The Editor may also consider whether the person or party making the allegation has any relevant conflict of interest.
If the allegation appears to have reasonable grounds, the Editor may contact the corresponding author and request a detailed explanation and supporting documentation on behalf of all authors. Authors are expected to cooperate fully with the investigation and provide relevant data, records, ethical approvals, or other documentation when requested.
The Editor and Editorial Board may seek additional assessment from qualified experts, reviewers, or specialists when necessary. For example, statistical expertise may be sought when the allegation concerns data analysis or statistical reporting.
If an investigation determines that misconduct has not occurred but identifies an error, ambiguity, or insufficient explanation, the journal may request clarification, additional analysis, or correction of the published record. Where appropriate, a Correction Notice or other editorial communication may be issued.
For serious allegations involving institutional research practices, authors' conduct, or matters that require formal investigation beyond the journal's authority, JELTE may refer the matter to the relevant institution or organization for further investigation.
Editorial Actions
Depending on the findings and severity of the case, JELTE may take one or more of the following actions:
JELTE recognizes that maintaining the integrity of the scholarly record is a shared responsibility among authors, reviewers, editors, institutions, and publishers. All allegations will therefore be handled as fairly, confidentially, and objectively as possible, while respecting the rights of all parties involved.
