Research Integrity Policy

Issued by the Editorial Office, May 2025

1. Purpose and Scope

The Journal of Law, Psychology, and Communication Studies (JLPCS) is committed to maintaining the highest standards of academic integrity. This policy outlines the definitions, principles, and handling procedures regarding research misconduct. It applies to all authors, reviewers, editors, and editorial staff involved in the submission, review, and publication process.

2. Definitions of Research Misconduct

2.1 Plagiarism: Using another’s work, ideas, data, or text without proper attribution. This includes verbatim copying without quotation or citation; paraphrasing without acknowledgment; and presenting others’ ideas or findings as one’s own.

2.2 Fabrication: Making up data, results, references, or research procedures.

2.3 Falsification: Manipulating materials, equipment, or data to misrepresent results.

2.4 Inappropriate Authorship: Misrepresenting contributions, such as gift or ghost authorship.

2.5 Duplicate Submission: Submitting the same or substantially similar manuscript to multiple journals simultaneously.

2.6 Redundant Publication: Republishing content without proper citation or justification.

2.7 Ethics Violations: Conducting research without ethical approval, misusing confidential information, or manipulating the peer review process.

2.8 Other Unethical Practices: Including citation manipulation, data withholding, or the use of fictitious references.

3. Editorial Responsibilities

  • Investigate all allegations confidentially and fairly;
  • Allow involved parties to respond to claims;
  • Take corrective actions including rejection, retraction, or notifying institutions.

4. Procedures for Handling Misconduct

  • Initial Assessment: Conducted by the Editor-in-Chief upon report or detection.
  • Formal Investigation: Involving the Research Ethics Committee if warranted.
  • Author Response: Authors are given 14 days to respond to allegations.
  • Resolution: Actions may include correction, rejection, retraction, or formal notice.

5. Appeals

Authors may appeal decisions within 30 days by submitting a written request with justification. Appeals are reviewed by an independent editorial panel.

6. Alignment with International Standards

JLPCS follows COPE Core Practices, ICMJE recommendations, and applicable German/EU research integrity standards.

7. Contact

For integrity concerns, contact:
JLPCS Editorial Office jlpcs@panorama-sg.com