Policy on Handling Research and Publication Misconduct

E-Jurnal Matematika (MTK)

E-Jurnal Matematika (MTK) (published by the Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Udayana University) is committed to upholding the highest standards of integrity, mathematical rigor, and ethics in scholarly publishing. The journal treats all allegations of research and publication misconduct with utmost seriousness and handles every concern objectively, impartially, and confidentially, in accordance with internationally accepted standards and guidelines established by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).

1. Definition of Research and Publication Misconduct

In the context of theoretical, applied, and computational mathematics, research misconduct includes, but is not limited to:

  • Fabrication and Falsification: Generating synthetic, artificial, or fabricated data/results and presenting them as authentic empirical observations or actual numerical simulations; deliberately manipulating numerical experiments, computational outputs, parameter intervals, or phase portraits to produce misleading outcomes.
  • Mathematical and Proof Misconduct: Presenting fraudulent, plagiarized, or deliberately misleading mathematical proofs; intentionally misrepresenting theoretical derivations, lemmas, or theorems.
  • Plagiarism and Redundant Publication: Reproducing the work, formulations, proofs, algorithms, or language of others without appropriate attribution; redundant submission or duplicate publication (self-plagiarism).
  • Authorship Malpractice: Inclusion of guest, gift, or ghost authors; excluding legitimate contributors who made substantial intellectual contributions to the mathematical proofs or modeling; or listing non-human entities (e.g., AI/LLMs) as authors.
  • Citation Manipulation and Misrepresentation: Fabricating non-existent sources (hallucinated citations); intentionally misattributing mathematical results; or engaging in coercive citation practices.
  • Undisclosed Conflicts of Interest: Failing to declare financial, institutional, or personal competing interests that could bias scholarly assessment.

E-Jurnal Matematika (MTK) evaluates suspected misconduct in accordance with the relevant COPE Flowcharts and the COPE Guidelines on Cooperation between Research Institutions and Journals on Research Integrity Cases.

2. Reporting Allegations

Authors, reviewers, editors, mathematicians, academic institutions, and readers may report suspected misconduct involving manuscripts under evaluation or articles already published in E-Jurnal Matematika (MTK).

  • Reports should provide a clear, factual description of the concern, identifying the specific sections, equations, proofs, code, or datasets in question, supported by relevant comparative documentation or evidence.
  • Allegations must be submitted directly to the Editor-in-Chief via the official editorial office email provided on the journal’s website.
  • The journal encourages good-faith reporting. An allegation alone is not considered definitive proof of misconduct; all cases are assessed through due process.

3. Initial Assessment and Investigation

Upon receiving an allegation:

  1. The Editor-in-Chief or a designated senior editor conducts a preliminary evaluation to determine the substance, plausibility, and scope of the concern.
  2. The journal examines all available evidence objectively and, where appropriate, may consult independent mathematical experts, computational specialists, or senior members of the Editorial Board under strict confidentiality.
  3. In matters concerning suspected data or algorithmic fabrication, E-Jurnal Matematika (MTK) follows the steps outlined in the COPE Flowchart: Fabricated Data in a Submitted/Published Manuscript, which includes requesting raw simulation code, original datasets, and step-by-step mathematical work from the authors.
  4. The corresponding author is notified and given an equitable opportunity to provide a formal written explanation along with supporting technical materials. The journal avoids premature conclusions and reviews the author’s response alongside the primary evidence.

4. Cooperation with Research Institutions

Where an allegation requires an inquiry that exceeds the journal’s jurisdictional or investigative remit (such as forensic examination of institutional computers, lab records, or personnel disputes), E-Jurnal Matematika (MTK) may refer the case to the author’s affiliated institution, university integrity office, or research funding body.

  • This cooperation adheres strictly to the COPE Guidelines on Cooperation between Research Institutions and Journals.
  • The journal may share relevant comparative documentation and request updates regarding the progress and outcome of the institutional inquiry.
  • If an institution fails to respond within a reasonable timeframe, the journal reserves the right to proceed with an independent assessment based on the available mathematical evidence to protect the integrity of the scholarly record.

5. Confidentiality and Fair Treatment

E-Jurnal Matematika (MTK) treats all allegations, correspondence, and evidence confidentially to the fullest extent permitted by law and institutional regulations.

  • Information is shared solely with individuals who directly require access to evaluate the matter (e.g., designated editors, external subject-matter experts, or institutional integrity officials).
  • The rights, reputation, and due process of all parties—both the complainant and the individuals accused—are protected throughout the proceedings.
  • All communications remain objective, factual, professional, and free from bias.

6. Editorial Actions and Outcomes

Depending on the gravity of the findings and the publication stage of the manuscript, E-Jurnal Matematika (MTK) may take one or more of the following actions:

  • During Peer Review / Prior to Publication:
    • Request technical corrections, revised proofs, or code verification;
    • Suspend peer review or production pending the outcome of the inquiry;
    • Issue an immediate formal rejection of the manuscript;
    • Impose a temporary or permanent submission moratorium on the responsible authors.
  • Post-Publication:
    • Publish an Erratum / Corrigendum if an honest mathematical error is identified that does not compromise the paper’s fundamental conclusions;
    • Publish an Expression of Concern if an institutional investigation is ongoing or conclusive evidence is temporarily unavailable but significant concerns persist;
    • Issue a formal Retraction if there is verified evidence of mathematical invalidity, severe proof flaws, computational fabrication, plagiarism, or redundant publication, following the COPE Retraction Guidelines;
    • Notify the author’s institutional leadership or funding agency where warranted.

7. Allegations Involving Editors or Reviewers

Allegations of misconduct involving members of the Editorial Board or peer reviewers (such as breach of confidentiality, intellectual property appropriation, coercive citation, or review bias) are evaluated independently:

  • Any editor or reviewer with a declared or apparent conflict of interest is recused immediately from handling the case.
  • The investigation is overseen by the Editor-in-Chief, an independent senior editor, or referred to the publisher (Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Udayana University) to ensure an impartial decision.

8. Good-Faith Reporting vs. Malicious Allegations

E-Jurnal Matematika (MTK) expects all concerns to be brought forward in good faith. An allegation that cannot ultimately be substantiated after thorough review is not automatically classified as a false report.

However, knowingly submitting forged evidence or filing demonstrably malicious, frivolous, or vexatious allegations will be regarded as an ethical breach and may be referred to the complainant’s home institution for appropriate action.

9. Record Keeping and Policy Updates

The Editorial Office maintains comprehensive, secure, and confidential records of all reported allegations, correspondence, expert evaluations, and ultimate determinations, in compliance with standard data protection regulations.

This policy is reviewed periodically by the Editorial Board of E-Jurnal Matematika (MTK) to reflect updates in international publication ethics, legal frameworks, and evolving COPE recommendations.