Allegations of Misconduct

1. Introduction
The journal "Uzbek Journal of Modern Physics" is fully committed to maintaining the integrity of scientific data and upholding the highest standards of publication ethics. This policy outlines our procedures for addressing allegations of misconduct in research and publication of scientific works. We follow the core principles and recommendations of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) when considering all such allegations. Our goal is to ensure a fair, thorough, and transparent process for all parties involved, guaranteeing the validity of the research we publish.

2. Description
Misconduct in research and publication undermines the integrity of the research and scientific data. The "Uzbek Journal of Modern Physics" defines misconduct in accordance with established ethical principles. These include, but are not limited to:

  • Fabrication: Inventing data or results and recording or reporting them.

  • Falsification: Manipulating research materials, equipment, or processes, or altering or excluding data or results in such a way that the research is inaccurately presented in the research record.

  • Plagiarism: Appropriating others' ideas, processes, results, or texts without proper attribution. This includes self-plagiarism or duplicate publication.

  • Authorship issues: Improper attribution of authorship, such as gift authorship, ghost authorship, or guest authorship, or denying authorship to individuals who meet the criteria for authorship.

  • Citation manipulation: Methods aimed at inflating citation counts or otherwise distorting the importance or context of cited works.

  • Undisclosed conflicts of interest: Failure to disclose financial or other interests that may unduly influence actions of authors, reviewers, or editors.

  • Research ethics violations: Violations of established ethical standards in research involving humans or animals or failure to obtain necessary ethical approvals.

  • Peer review manipulation: Undermining the peer review process, such as by proposing dishonest reviewers or attempting to exert undue influence on reviewers' or editors' decisions.

Allegations of misconduct may arise at any stage of the publication process (before or after) or may be related to the conduct of the research itself. The "Uzbek Journal of Modern Physics" investigates allegations regardless of their source, which may include authors, reviewers, editors, readers, or whistleblowers.

3. Policy

  • Commitment to Investigation: The "Uzbek Journal of Modern Physics" will treat all allegations of misconduct seriously and conduct a thorough and impartial investigation in accordance with COPE guidelines.

  • Confidentiality: We strive to maintain confidentiality for all parties involved in the investigation. The identities of whistleblowers will be protected, and information will be disclosed only to those involved in the investigation or as required by law or governing authorities.

  • Fairness and Objectivity: The "Uzbek Journal of Modern Physics" aims to ensure a fair, objective, and impartial investigation process for all parties. The accused will be presumed innocent until proven guilty, and they will be given a reasonable opportunity to respond to any allegations.

  • Timeliness: The "Uzbek Journal of Modern Physics" strives to conduct investigations in a timely manner, ensuring thoroughness. All parties will be informed about the progress of the investigation and expected timelines, as necessary.

  • Cooperation: We expect full cooperation from all parties involved in the investigation, including authors, reviewers, and institutional representatives, if applicable.

  • Whistleblower Handling: The "Uzbek Journal of Modern Physics" has a clear policy for handling allegations from whistleblowers, ensuring fair treatment and protection from retaliation, to the extent possible within the journal's competence.

  • Scope: This policy applies to all manuscripts submitted to or published in the "Uzbek Journal of Modern Physics", as well as all individuals involved in the publication process.

    4. Technical Aspects of Implementation and Materialization of the Policy

    • Reporting Misconduct:

      • Allegations of misconduct should be reported directly to the editor-in-chief of the "Uzbek Journal of Modern Physics". Contact information is available on the journal's website.

      • The report must be submitted in writing and include as many specific details and supporting evidence as possible (e.g., manuscript identification number, information about the alleged misconduct, relevant documents or data). Anonymous reports may be considered if sufficient verifiable evidence is provided.

    • Initial Assessment:

      • After receiving the report, the editor-in-chief (or the appointed ethics committee/official, if one has been established) will conduct an initial assessment to determine whether the report is credible, sufficiently specific, and falls under the scope of this policy.

      • If the allegation is deemed unsubstantiated or outside the scope of the issue, it may be dismissed at this stage, and the complainant will be notified, if possible.

    • Investigation Process:

      • If the initial assessment indicates the merit of the allegation of misconduct, an official investigation will be initiated.

      • The editor-in-chief will lead the investigation, possibly forming a small committee from the editorial board or consulting external experts as necessary.

      • Notification of the accused: The accused will be notified of the allegation (without disclosing the identity of the complainant, if necessary and appropriate) and provided with supporting evidence. The accused will be given a reasonable opportunity to respond in writing.

      • Evidence Collection: The investigation will include a thorough review of all relevant evidence, which may include the manuscript or article in question, raw data, statistical analysis, review reports, correspondence between authors and the journal, and any other relevant documentation.

      • Consultation: In complex cases, the "Uzbek Journal of Modern Physics" may consult with COPE or seek legal advice.

      • Involvement of Institutions: If the alleged misconduct is related to the research process or involves serious ethical violations, the "Uzbek Journal of Modern Physics" may notify the relevant institutions where the accused authors are employed or other relevant bodies (such as funding organizations) and request them to conduct an investigation in accordance with their internal procedures. The journal typically waits for the results of institutional investigations before making a final decision but may take interim measures (e.g., expressing concern) if deemed necessary.

    • Outcomes and Actions:
      Based on the results of the investigation, the "Uzbek Journal of Modern Physics" will determine the appropriate course of action in line with COPE's recommendations. Possible outcomes include:

      • No Misconduct: If the investigation concludes that the allegation is unfounded, all parties will be notified, and the case will be closed. The "Uzbek Journal of Modern Physics" may consider publishing a statement in the case of public allegations.

      • Minor Misconduct: If minor errors or violations are found (e.g., minor plagiarism, undeclared conflict of interest with no substantial impact on the results), actions may include:

        • Issuance of an official warning or explanatory letter to the author(s).

        • Requesting authors to correct the manuscript or published article (e.g., by publishing a list of errors or corrections).

      • Serious Misconduct: If serious misconduct is confirmed (e.g., fabrication, falsification, major plagiarism, or other violations that jeopardize the validity or integrity of the work), actions may include:

        • Rejection of the submitted manuscript.

        • Retraction of the published article: an official retraction notice will be published with clear reasons for retraction and a link to the original article. The retraction will be clearly defined in indexing services.

        • Expression of Concern: If the investigation does not yield definitive results, but there are substantial doubts about the integrity or reliability of the published work, the "Uzbek Journal of Modern Physics" may issue an expression of concern.

        • Notification to Institutions/Organizations: Informing the institutions, employers, funding bodies, or relevant professional organizations of the investigation results so that they can take appropriate action.

        • Embargo on Future Publications: The "Uzbek Journal of Modern Physics" reserves the right to impose an embargo on future publications from authors who have committed serious misconduct for a specific period.

    • Appeals:
      Authors or others wishing to appeal the decision of the "Uzbek Journal of Modern Physics" regarding allegations of misconduct must submit an official written appeal to the editor-in-chief, outlining the reasons for the appeal and providing any new evidence. The appeal will be reviewed by the editor-in-chief and, possibly, the editorial board or an independent consultant.

    • Record Keeping and Communication:
      The "Uzbek Journal of Modern Physics" will maintain confidential records of all allegations, investigations, and outcomes. The journal will communicate the results of the investigation and any actions taken to the relevant parties (complainant, accused, and relevant institutions). Public statements (e.g., retractions, corrections) regarding published articles will be published in the journal.

    • Preventive Measures:
      The "Uzbek Journal of Modern Physics" seeks to prevent misconduct through:

      • Providing clear ethical guidelines for authors and reviewers.

      • Implementing reliable peer review processes.

      • Using tools such as plagiarism detection software.

      • Training editors, reviewers, and authors on publication ethics.

    This policy will be periodically reviewed and updated as necessary to reflect current best practices in publication ethics.


ISSN 3093-8686 (Online)