Buletin Ilmiah IMPAS is committed to maintaining the integrity, accuracy, and reliability of the scholarly record. The journal takes all allegations of research and publication misconduct seriously and will examine concerns fairly, confidentially, and in accordance with recognized principles of publication ethics.

Research misconduct may include, but is not limited to, fabrication, falsification, plagiarism, inappropriate manipulation of data or images, unethical research practices, authorship misconduct, duplicate or redundant publication, citation manipulation, undisclosed conflicts of interest, or other practices that may compromise the integrity of research and scholarly publication.

Reporting Suspected Misconduct

Anyone, including readers, reviewers, editors, authors, or other parties, may report suspected research misconduct related to a manuscript submitted to or an article published in Buletin Ilmiah IMPAS.

An allegation should be made in good faith and should provide sufficient information or supporting evidence to enable the Editorial Team to assess the concern. Anonymous allegations may be considered when they contain specific and verifiable evidence.

The identity of the complainant will be treated confidentially to the extent reasonably possible during the investigation.

Handling Allegations

When an allegation of research misconduct is received, the Editorial Team will conduct an initial assessment to determine whether the concern is credible and falls within the journal's responsibility.

Where further investigation is warranted, the journal may:

• request an explanation and supporting documentation from the author(s);
• examine the manuscript, research data, images, references, similarity reports, or other relevant materials;
• seek clarification from reviewers, editors, or other relevant parties;
• consult independent experts when necessary; and
• contact the author's institution or other appropriate authority when the matter requires investigation beyond the journal's capacity.

The journal will not make a final determination solely on the basis of an allegation. Authors concerned will normally be given an opportunity to respond to the allegations and provide relevant clarification or evidence.

Misconduct Identified Before Publication

If credible evidence of misconduct is identified during submission, peer review, or editorial processing, the journal may suspend the review process while the matter is examined.

Depending on the nature and severity of the case, the Editorial Team may request clarification or correction, reject the manuscript, withdraw it from the editorial process, or refer the matter to the relevant institution or authority.

Misconduct Identified After Publication

Allegations concerning already published articles will also be investigated. When a published article is found to contain significant errors or misconduct that affect the reliability or integrity of the scholarly record, Buletin Ilmiah IMPAS may take appropriate post-publication action.

Such action may include issuing a correction, expression of concern, or retraction, depending on the circumstances and seriousness of the case. The journal will maintain a transparent record of any formal post-publication action.

Fairness and Confidentiality

All allegations will be handled objectively and without discrimination. Editors and other individuals involved in examining a case should disclose any conflicts of interest that could affect their impartiality.

Information relating to an allegation will be shared only with parties whose involvement is necessary for the assessment or investigation of the case. The journal will seek to protect both complainants and respondents from unsupported accusations while ensuring that credible concerns are properly investigated.

Institutional Investigation

Buletin Ilmiah IMPAS recognizes that the journal's role is primarily to protect the integrity of the published scholarly record. The journal does not replace universities, research institutions, funding agencies, or other competent bodies in conducting formal investigations of research misconduct.

When an allegation requires access to research records, institutional documentation, or investigative authority beyond the journal's capacity, the Editorial Team may refer the matter to the relevant institution or competent authority and cooperate with any resulting investigation.

Editorial Decision

Editorial actions will be determined based on the available evidence, the author's response, and, where applicable, the findings of an institutional investigation. The primary consideration in any decision is the integrity and reliability of the scholarly record.

Buletin Ilmiah IMPAS reserves the right to correct the scholarly record whenever reliable evidence demonstrates that published material is inaccurate, unreliable, or the result of research or publication misconduct.