1 Misconduct Handling Policy

AJOMENA follows the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) procedures when allegations of misconduct arise. The process is designed to ensure fairness, transparency, and accountability.

1.1 Initial Screening

• Allegation received (from reviewers, readers, editors, or whistleblowers).
• Editorial office conducts a preliminary check (plagiarism software, data verification, authorship review).
• If minor issues (e.g., citation errors), authors are contacted for correction.
• If serious concerns, proceed to formal investigation.

1.2 Formal Investigation

• Editor-in-Chief appoints an Ethics Committee or designated editorial board members.
• Authors are notified of the allegation and given an opportunity to respond.
• Evidence is collected (manuscript files, peer review reports, data sets, correspondence).
• External experts may be consulted if necessary.

1.3 Decision Pathways

• No Misconduct Found → Manuscript continues through peer review or remains published.
• Minor Misconduct (e.g., honest error, citation omission) → Correction or erratum issued.
• Serious Misconduct (e.g., plagiarism, data fabrication, falsification, duplicate publication, unethical research) → Retraction or rejection issued, with notice linked to the article.

1.4 Outcomes

• Correction: For errors that do not affect conclusions.
• Retraction: For unreliable findings or proven misconduct.
• Expression of Concern: Published when investigations are ongoing or inconclusive.
• Ban on Submissions: Authors found guilty of serious misconduct may be barred from submitting for a defined period.

1.5 Reporting & Transparency

• All decisions are documented and communicated to authors.
• Institutions or funders may be notified if misconduct is confirmed.
• Notices (corrections, retractions, concerns) remain part of the permanent scholarly records.

2 Corrections and Retractions Policy

AJOMENA is committed to maintaining the integrity of the scholarly record through transparent post-publication updates when necessary.

2.1 Corrections

Corrections are issued when minor errors are identified that do not affect the overall validity or conclusions of the published article.

These may include:

• Typographical or formatting errors
• Minor data labelling or figure inaccuracies
• Author affiliation or metadata corrections

Corrections are clearly documented and linked to the original article without altering the published record.

2.2 Retractions

Retractions are issued when published research is found to be invalid, unreliable, or ethically compromised.

Grounds for retraction include:

• Data fabrication or falsification
• Plagiarism or duplicate publication
• Serious methodological or analytical errors affecting conclusions
• Ethical violations (e.g., lack of approval or consent)

Retracted articles remain accessible but are clearly marked as “Retracted” to preserve the scholarly record.

3 Expressions of Concern

An Expression of Concern is issued when:

• There is credible evidence of potential misconduct or serious error
• An investigation is ongoing but not yet concluded
• Immediate clarification is required to alert readers

This notice serves as a temporary measure until a final editorial decision is made.

4. Permanence and Transparency

All post-publication notices (corrections, retractions, and expressions of concern):

• Remain permanently linked to the original article
• Are clearly visible on the article landing page
• Do not remove or replace the original publication record

This ensures full transparency and preservation of the academic record.

5. Editorial Oversight

All decisions regarding corrections and retractions are guided by:

• COPE (Committee on Publication Ethics) guidelines
• Editorial board review and approval
• Evidence-based investigation procedures

6 Allegation of Misconduct

AJOMENA is committed to maintaining high standards of publication ethics, academic integrity, and research transparency. Allegations of misconduct are handled in line with COPE guidelines and international best practices.

Allegations may include:

• Plagiarism
• Data fabrication or falsification
• Duplicate or redundant publication
• Inappropriate authorship practices
• Unethical research conduct
• Citation manipulation
• Any breach of academic or publication integrity

Allegations may be submitted by:

• Authors
• Reviewers
• Readers
• Editors
• Institutional representatives

Upon receipt of an allegation:

• The editorial office conducts an initial confidential assessment.
• Supporting evidence may be requested where necessary.
• If the allegation is credible, a formal investigation is initiated by the Editor-in-Chief or an independent senior editor.
• The author(s) concerned are given an opportunity to respond within a specified timeframe.
• All investigations are conducted fairly, confidentially, and impartially.

Possible actions may include:

• Rejection of the manuscript
• Retraction of a published article
• Publication of a correction
• Publication of an expression of concern
• Notification of the authors’ institution
• Temporary or permanent restriction from future submissions

AJOMENA maintains confidentiality throughout the investigation process and ensures that all cases are handled in a manner that protects the integrity of the scholarly record.

7 Complaint Process

AJOMENA provides a formal complaint process to ensure transparency, accountability, and fairness in its editorial and publishing operations.

Complaints may relate to:

• Editorial decisions
• Peer review conduct
• Publication ethics concerns
• Review delays
• Perceived editorial bias
• Breaches of confidentiality
• Procedural irregularities during manuscript handling

Complaint procedure:

• Complaints must be submitted in writing to the editorial office.
• The complaint must include sufficient details and supporting evidence where applicable.
• The complaint is acknowledged within a reasonable timeframe.
• The matter is assigned to a senior editorial member who was not involved in the original process.
• A preliminary review is conducted to determine the validity and nature of the complaint.
• Additional information may be requested from relevant parties where necessary.
• The process is handled confidentially and impartially.

Possible outcomes include:

• Clarification of editorial decisions
• Correction of procedural issues
• Revision of internal processes
• Other appropriate remedial action where justified

AJOMENA handles complaints independently, fairly, and without bias, in accordance with COPE best practice guidelines.

8 Appeal Process

AJOMENA provides a structured appeal process to ensure fairness and accountability in editorial decision-making.

Authors may appeal an editorial decision where they believe there has been:

• A procedural error
• An error in evaluation
• Misinterpretation of the manuscript
• A significant oversight during peer review or editorial assessment

Appeal procedure:

• Appeals must be submitted in writing to the editorial office within a reasonable timeframe.
• The appeal must clearly state the grounds for reconsideration.
• Supporting evidence or detailed justification must be provided.
• Appeals based only on disagreement with editorial judgement will not be considered.
• The manuscript and review records are reassigned to an independent senior editor not involved in the original decision.
• The independent editor reviews the editorial handling and peer review reports.
• Additional independent reviewers may be consulted where necessary.
• The process is conducted confidentially and impartially.

Possible outcomes include:

• Upholding the original decision
• Requesting further revision and re-evaluation
• Overturning the original decision and proceeding with renewed review or acceptance

The decision reached at the end of the appeal process is final. AJOMENA handles all appeals in accordance with COPE best practice guidelines and international standards of editorial integrity.