Allegations of Misconduct

1. Introduction

The Journal of Health Promotion and Behavior (JHPB) is committed to upholding the integrity of the scholarly record and maintaining the highest standards of publication ethics. This policy outlines the procedures followed by JHPB in addressing allegations of research and publication misconduct. The journal adheres to the Core Practices and guidelines of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) in handling such allegations. JHPB aims to ensure a fair, thorough, transparent, and impartial process for all parties involved while safeguarding the credibility and reliability of the research it publishes.

2. Description

Research and publication misconduct undermines the integrity of scientific research and the scholarly record. JHPB defines misconduct in accordance with established publication ethics guidelines. Misconduct includes, but is not limited to, the following:

·  Fabrication: Inventing data or results and recording or reporting them as genuine research findings.

·  Falsification: Manipulating research materials, equipment, or processes, or changing or omitting data or results in ways that misrepresent the research record.

·  Plagiarism: Using another person's ideas, processes, results, or words without appropriate acknowledgment. This also includes self-plagiarism and redundant publication.

·  Authorship Issues: Inappropriate attribution of authorship, including gift, guest, or ghost authorship, or the exclusion of individuals who meet the criteria for authorship.

·  Citation Manipulation: Inappropriate citation practices intended to inflate citation counts or misrepresent the relevance, significance, or context of cited works.

·  Undeclared Conflicts of Interest: Failure by authors, reviewers, or editors to disclose financial or non-financial interests that could improperly influence their work or decisions.

·  Breach of Research Ethics: Violations of established ethical standards for research involving human participants or animals, including failure to obtain the necessary ethical approvals or informed consent where applicable.

·  Peer Review Manipulation: Attempts to compromise the integrity of the peer review process, including the use of fraudulent reviewer identities or improper attempts to influence editorial decisions.

Allegations of misconduct may arise at any stage of the publication process, before or after publication, or may concern the conduct of the research itself. JHPB will consider allegations regardless of their source, including authors, reviewers, editors, readers, institutions, or whistleblowers.

3. Policy

·   Commitment to Investigate: JHPB takes all allegations of potential research and publication misconduct seriously and will assess and investigate them fairly, thoroughly, and impartially, following applicable COPE guidance.

·   Confidentiality: JHPB will protect the confidentiality of all parties involved to the extent reasonably possible. The identity of complainants and whistleblowers will be protected where appropriate, and information will be shared only with individuals who need it for the investigation or where disclosure is required by applicable legal or institutional procedures.

·   Fairness and Objectivity: JHPB is committed to conducting objective and unbiased investigations. Individuals accused of misconduct will be given a reasonable opportunity to respond to the allegations and provide relevant evidence before a decision is made.

·   Timeliness: JHPB will endeavor to handle allegations promptly while allowing sufficient time for a thorough and fair assessment. Relevant parties will be informed of progress and anticipated timelines where appropriate.

·   Cooperation: JHPB expects relevant parties, including authors, reviewers, editors, institutions, and other individuals involved in an investigation, to cooperate with reasonable requests for information and evidence.

·   Protection of Whistleblowers: JHPB will handle allegations from whistleblowers responsibly and seek to protect them from retaliation within the journal's authority and applicable procedures.

·   Scope: This policy applies to all manuscripts submitted to JHPB, all articles published by the journal, and all individuals involved in its editorial and publication processes.

4. Procedures for Implementing the Policy

4.1. Reporting an Allegation

Allegations of research or publication misconduct should be submitted in writing to the Editor-in-Chief of JHPB using the contact details provided on the journal's website.

Reports should include as much specific information and supporting evidence as possible, such as the manuscript or article title, manuscript identification number, description of the alleged misconduct, and relevant documents or data. Anonymous allegations may be considered when sufficient verifiable information is provided to allow a meaningful assessment.

4.2. Initial Assessment

Upon receiving an allegation, the Editor-in-Chief, or a designated editorial ethics officer or committee where applicable, will conduct a preliminary assessment to determine whether the allegation is sufficiently specific, supported by credible information, and within the scope of this policy.

Allegations that lack sufficient supporting information or fall outside the journal's remit may be closed at this stage. Where possible and appropriate, the complainant will be informed of the decision.

4.3. Investigation Process

If the preliminary assessment indicates a credible possibility of misconduct, JHPB will initiate a formal investigation proportionate to the nature and seriousness of the allegation.

The investigation may include the following steps:

·   Appointment of Investigators: The Editor-in-Chief will oversee the process and may appoint appropriate members of the editorial board or independent experts. Individuals with potential conflicts of interest will not participate in decisions concerning the case.

·   Notification and Right to Respond: The individual(s) concerned will be informed of the allegations and given a reasonable opportunity to respond in writing. The complainant's identity will not be disclosed unnecessarily, subject to fairness and applicable requirements.

·   Collection and Assessment of Evidence: JHPB will examine relevant materials, including manuscripts, published articles, raw research data, statistical analyses, peer review reports, editorial correspondence, ethics approval documents, and other pertinent records.

·   Consultation with Experts: For complex cases, JHPB may seek advice from COPE, independent subject experts, research integrity specialists, or legal counsel, as appropriate.

·   Institutional Involvement: Where allegations concern the conduct of research, serious ethical violations, or matters requiring institutional authority, JHPB may contact the relevant author's institution, employer, funding body, or other appropriate organization and request further investigation. The journal may consider institutional findings when reaching its decision. Where necessary, interim measures, including an Expression of Concern, may be issued to alert readers to unresolved questions about a publication.

4.4. Outcomes and Actions

Following the assessment of the available evidence, JHPB will determine the appropriate action in accordance with applicable publication ethics guidance and the seriousness of the findings.

a. No Misconduct Established

If the evidence does not substantiate the allegation, the case will be closed. Relevant parties will be informed where appropriate. If necessary, JHPB may issue a clarification when public statements or concerns have materially affected the scholarly record.

b. Minor Misconduct or Correctable Errors

Where the investigation identifies minor breaches or errors that do not substantially undermine the validity or integrity of the research, JHPB may take one or more of the following actions:

·    Issue a formal warning or request a written explanation from the author(s).

·    Request appropriate corrections to the manuscript or published article.

·    Publish a correction, erratum, or corrigendum where necessary.

·    Provide guidance on compliance with the journal's publication ethics requirements.

c. Serious Misconduct

Where serious misconduct is established, including fabrication, falsification, substantial plagiarism, or other violations that compromise the reliability or integrity of the research, JHPB may take one or more of the following actions:

·     Rejection of a Submitted Manuscript: Reject the manuscript when the findings or conduct of the research violate the journal's ethical or editorial requirements.

·     Retraction of a Published Article: Retract the article when the published work is unreliable or otherwise meets the journal's retraction criteria. A retraction notice will explain the reasons for the action and be linked to the original article. The retraction will be clearly identified in the journal's publication records.

·     Expression of Concern: Publish an Expression of Concern when substantial questions remain about the integrity or reliability of a published article and the available evidence does not yet permit a final conclusion.

·     Notification of Relevant Institutions: Notify the author's institution, employer, funding body, or other relevant organization when appropriate and justified by the findings.

·     Restrictions on Future Submissions: Consider restrictions on future submissions in cases of serious or repeated misconduct, provided that any such action is proportionate, justified, and consistent with the journal's editorial policies.

All decisions will be based on the available evidence and the circumstances of the individual case. JHPB will distinguish between honest errors, questionable research practices, and deliberate misconduct.

4.5. Appeals

Authors or other directly affected parties may appeal a decision concerning an allegation of misconduct by submitting a written request to the Editor-in-Chief. The appeal should explain the grounds for reconsideration and include any relevant new evidence.

Appeals will be reviewed impartially by the Editor-in-Chief or an appropriate independent editor or advisor who was not involved in the original decision, where practicable. The outcome of the appeal will be communicated to the relevant parties.

4.6. Record Keeping and Communication

JHPB will maintain appropriate confidential records of allegations, investigations, evidence, decisions, and actions taken, in accordance with applicable privacy and record-retention requirements.

The journal will communicate investigation outcomes to relevant parties, including complainants, accused individuals, and institutions where appropriate. When action is required to correct the published scholarly record, JHPB will issue the appropriate public notice, such as a correction, Expression of Concern, or retraction.

4.7. Preventive Measures

JHPB is committed to preventing research and publication misconduct through the following measures:

·      Providing clear publication ethics policies and guidance for authors, reviewers, and editors.

·      Implementing a rigorous and transparent peer review process.

·      Using plagiarism detection tools where appropriate.

·      Requiring authors to disclose relevant conflicts of interest and comply with applicable research ethics requirements.

·      Promoting awareness of responsible research conduct and publication ethics among authors, reviewers, and editorial personnel.

·      Reviewing and updating editorial policies to reflect developments in publication ethics and research integrity.

5. Policy Review

JHPB will review this policy periodically and revise it when necessary to maintain alignment with current best practices in research integrity, publication ethics, and applicable COPE guidance.