RESEARCH MISCONDUCT POLICY

International Journal of Integrated Research and Practice (IJIRP) maintains a zero-tolerance stance regarding academic dishonesty, empirical misrepresentation, and publication fraud. The journal systematically monitors all submissions to uphold scientific integrity.

Anti-Plagiarism Policy

• Detection Protocol: All incoming manuscripts undergo mandatory automated screening using industry-standard plagiarism detection software (such as Turnitin/iThenticate) prior to peer review.
• Acceptable Thresholds: Unoriginal text, verbatim copying without attribution, or structural paraphrasing exceeding 10–15% (excluding references and standard methodology terms) will result in immediate editorial rejection.
• Self-Plagiarism: Authors must refrain from text-recycling or submitting redundant publications based on previously published datasets without explicit citation and justification.

Data Fabrication & Falsification Policy

• Fabrication Prohibition: Manufacturing artificial data, altering experimental figures, or inventing survey results is classified as severe misconduct.
• Falsification & Image Integrity: Selective manipulation of raw data, omission of conflicting variables, or deceptive digital image enhancements (such as selective gel crop/contrast adjustments) is strictly forbidden.
• Audit Verification: Editors reserve the right to request raw, unedited experimental files, analytical scripts, or original survey response sheets at any stage of review or post-publication.

Citation Manipulation Policy

• Coerced Citations: Editors and peer reviewers are explicitly prohibited from directing authors to cite specific journals or individuals solely to artificially inflate citation metrics.
• Irrelevant References: Manuscripts featuring excessive self-citations, excessive citations to a single source, or references unrelated to the scientific content will require complete citation restructuring before further evaluation.

Allegation Investigation Process (COPE Guidelines)

• Reporting Channels: Credible allegations of misconduct raised by reviewers, readers, or whistleblowers must be submitted confidentially to info@ijirp.org.
• Standard Operating Procedure: Investigations are conducted strictly in accordance with COPE flowcharts and guidelines. An independent advisory committee reviews the evidence while maintaining institutional confidentiality.
• Institutional Escalation: If substantiated misconduct is identified, IJIRP will contact the author's affiliated university or funding agency for formal institutional inquiry.

Retraction, Correction, and Expression of Concern Policy

• Errata & Corrigenda: Honest, minor errors or inadvertent inaccuracies that do not invalidate the scientific conclusions will be addressed through a formal Correction Notice linked directly to the original article.
• Expression of Concern: An Expression of Concern will be published if an ongoing investigation into potential misconduct yields inconclusive evidence or if an institutional response is significantly delayed.
• Retractions: Articles containing fabricated data, unpardonable plagiarism, unsafe experimental procedures, or unethical research practice will be formally Retracted following COPE Retraction Guidelines. The original PDF will remain accessible with a permanent watermark declaring its retracted status.