01

Division of responsibility

—  The journal is responsible for the integrity of its own editorial processes and of the record it publishes.

—  Research institutions and employers are normally responsible for investigating the conduct of researchers, for access to the evidence they hold, and for any disciplinary action.

02

When the journal contacts an institution

—  When the editors have a credible concern about plagiarism, fabrication, falsification, unethical research, authorship, misleading reporting, or an undisclosed conflict of interest, they may ask the authors for an explanation and may contact the institution or employer.

—  Where evidence could be altered or lost, or the concern is very serious, the institution may be contacted earlier.

—  Where several journals may be affected, editors share only the minimum facts needed, and only as far as confidentiality, the law, and COPE guidance allow.

03

Cooperation

The journal cooperates with legitimate enquiries by institutions and gives them the relevant facts, subject to the confidentiality of peer review, legal duties, and the protection of personal data.

04

The record does not wait

A finding of misconduct by an institution is not always needed before the journal corrects the record. If published information is unreliable, misleading, or materially wrong, the journal may issue a correction, an expression of concern, or a retraction even when an investigation is still pending or has made no finding. See Correction, Retraction and Withdrawal.

05

Records

Contacts with institutions, and the answers, are kept in the confidential case file.

06

Related

Research Misconduct  ·  Correction & Retraction  ·  Whistleblowing  ·  Publication Ethics

07

Sources

This policy is based on the guidance of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE):