Publication Ethics and Misconduct

Qaulan: Jurnal Komunikasi dan Penyiaran Islam is committed to maintaining the highest standards of academic integrity, research ethics, and responsible scholarly publishing. The journal follows internationally recognized principles of publication ethics and is guided by the recommendations and best practices of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).

This policy applies to all parties involved in the publication process, including authors, reviewers, editors, editorial board members, and the publisher.

1. GENERAL PRINCIPLES

Qaulan is committed to:

Maintaining the integrity of the scholarly record.
Ensuring fairness and transparency in editorial decisions.
Protecting the confidentiality of manuscripts.
Preventing plagiarism and other forms of academic misconduct.
Ensuring responsible authorship and contributorship.
Managing conflicts of interest appropriately.
Maintaining an objective and confidential peer-review process.
Correcting the scholarly record when errors or misconduct are identified.
Investigating allegations of misconduct fairly and confidentially.

Editorial decisions should be based primarily on the manuscript's academic quality, originality, relevance, methodological rigor, and scholarly contribution, without discrimination based on personal or institutional characteristics. (DOI)

2. RESPONSIBILITIES OF AUTHORS

Authors are responsible for ensuring that submitted manuscripts represent original and ethically conducted research.

Authors must:

Submit original work.
Ensure that the manuscript has not been published previously.
Ensure that the manuscript is not simultaneously submitted to another journal.
Properly acknowledge all sources.
Provide accurate and complete citations.
Report research findings honestly.
Avoid fabrication and falsification of data.
Declare relevant conflicts of interest.
Disclose funding sources where applicable.
Ensure that all listed authors meet appropriate authorship criteria.
Obtain appropriate ethical approval where required.
Obtain informed consent where research involves human participants, where applicable.
Respond appropriately to editorial and reviewer comments.
Cooperate with the editorial office if questions arise concerning research integrity.

3. AUTHORSHIP AND CONTRIBUTORSHIP

Authorship should be limited to individuals who have made a substantial intellectual contribution to the research and manuscript.

Authors should agree on:

The list of authors.
The order of authors.
Individual contributions.
The corresponding author.

Individuals who contributed to the research but do not meet authorship criteria may be acknowledged appropriately.

The journal does not permit:

Gift authorship
Honorary authorship
Ghost authorship
Adding authors without their knowledge or consent
Removing legitimate authors without appropriate agreement

Any request to add, remove, or change the order of authors after submission must be justified and approved by all affected authors and may require editorial review.

4. ORIGINALITY AND DUPLICATE SUBMISSION

Manuscripts submitted to Qaulan must be original.

Authors must not submit substantially the same manuscript to more than one journal simultaneously.

The following practices are considered unethical:

Duplicate publication
Redundant publication
Simultaneous submission
Republishing substantially identical content without appropriate disclosure
Fragmenting one study into multiple publications solely to increase publication output

If related manuscripts have been published or submitted elsewhere, authors should disclose this information to the editor.

5. PLAGIARISM

Qaulan considers plagiarism to be a serious violation of publication ethics.

Plagiarism includes, but is not limited to:

Copying text without proper citation.
Presenting another person's ideas as one's own.
Using another researcher's data without acknowledgment.
Reproducing substantial portions of published work without appropriate attribution.
Improper paraphrasing that conceals the original source.
Self-plagiarism or inappropriate reuse of one's previously published material.

Manuscripts may be subjected to similarity or plagiarism screening during the editorial process.

Where plagiarism is identified, the editorial team may:

Request clarification from the authors.
Reject the manuscript.
Require correction.
Notify the relevant institution where appropriate.
Issue a correction or retraction for published articles.
Take other appropriate actions based on the seriousness of the case.

6. FABRICATION AND FALSIFICATION

Qaulan strictly prohibits research fabrication and falsification.

Fabrication

Fabrication refers to making up research data, results, participants, sources, or other research information that did not actually exist.

Falsification

Falsification refers to manipulating research materials, data, procedures, images, results, or other research information in a way that misrepresents the research.

Authors are expected to maintain appropriate research records and provide clarification or supporting information when reasonably requested by the editorial team.

7. CITATION MANIPULATION

Citation practices must serve legitimate scholarly purposes.

The following practices are prohibited:

Excessive self-citation without academic justification.
Coordinated citation arrangements intended to artificially increase citations.
Requiring authors to cite editors or reviewers without legitimate scholarly justification.
Adding irrelevant references solely to increase citation counts.
Manipulating citations to improve journal or author metrics.

Reviewers and editors should recommend citations only when they are genuinely relevant to the manuscript. COPE's publication-ethics principles specifically recognize citation manipulation as an integrity concern. (DOI)

8. DATA AND RESEARCH INTEGRITY

Authors must ensure that research data and results are reported accurately.

Where applicable, authors should retain sufficient research records to support the published findings.

The journal may request clarification or supporting information when there are reasonable concerns regarding:

Data authenticity
Data consistency
Statistical analysis
Research procedures
Images or figures
Research participants
Sources of evidence

If serious concerns cannot be satisfactorily resolved, the journal may take appropriate editorial action.

9. RESEARCH ETHICS

Research involving human participants should comply with applicable ethical principles and institutional requirements.

Where applicable, manuscripts should provide information concerning:

Ethical approval
Institutional review
Informed consent
Participant confidentiality
Protection of personal information
Research risks and safeguards

Authors must not disclose personally identifiable information about research participants without appropriate permission or ethical justification.

10. CONFLICT OF INTEREST

Authors, reviewers, and editors must disclose potential conflicts of interest that could influence the research or editorial process.

Potential conflicts may include:

Financial relationships
Employment relationships
Institutional relationships
Personal relationships
Academic competition
Professional relationships
Funding arrangements
Other interests that may affect objectivity

The existence of a conflict does not necessarily prevent publication, provided that it is appropriately disclosed and managed.

11. RESPONSIBILITIES OF REVIEWERS

Reviewers are expected to:

Provide objective and constructive assessments.
Maintain manuscript confidentiality.
Declare conflicts of interest.
Evaluate manuscripts based on academic merit.
Avoid personal criticism of authors.
Avoid using unpublished information for personal advantage.
Complete reviews within the agreed timeframe.
Identify relevant ethical concerns.
Avoid inappropriate citation requests.

Reviewers must not share, reproduce, or use unpublished manuscript content without authorization. These principles are consistent with established ethical guidance for peer reviewers. (DOI)

12. RESPONSIBILITIES OF EDITORS

Editors are responsible for ensuring a fair and ethical editorial process.

Editors should:

Evaluate manuscripts objectively.
Protect the confidentiality of submissions.
Select appropriate reviewers.
Manage conflicts of interest.
Ensure appropriate peer review.
Investigate credible allegations of misconduct.
Maintain editorial independence.
Correct the scholarly record when necessary.
Avoid discrimination or inappropriate bias.
Make decisions based on scholarly merit.

Editors should not use unpublished information from submitted manuscripts for personal research or advantage.

13. RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE PUBLISHER

The publisher supports the editorial team in maintaining the integrity of the journal.

The publisher should:

Support editorial independence.
Provide appropriate publishing infrastructure.
Maintain the integrity of published content.
Support investigations of suspected misconduct.
Facilitate corrections and retractions when necessary.
Preserve the scholarly record.

The publisher does not interfere with editorial decisions concerning the academic evaluation of manuscripts.

14. PEER-REVIEW MISCONDUCT

Qaulan applies a Double-Blind Peer Review system.

Peer-review misconduct may include:

Manipulating reviewer identities.
Providing fraudulent reviewer information.
Undisclosed conflicts of interest.
Sharing confidential manuscripts.
Appropriating unpublished ideas or findings.
Intentionally delaying a review for personal advantage.
Providing biased or malicious reviews.
Manipulating citations.
Attempting to influence editorial decisions improperly.

Suspected peer-review manipulation will be investigated by the editorial team.

15. ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND ETHICAL USE

Authors remain responsible for the originality, accuracy, integrity, and ethical compliance of their manuscripts.

AI tools must not be used to fabricate:

Data
Research participants
References
Results
Citations
Experimental procedures
Research evidence

Where AI tools are used substantially in manuscript preparation or research, authors should disclose their use when required by the journal's applicable policy.

AI tools must not replace the authors' responsibility for scholarly judgment.

Reviewers must also protect manuscript confidentiality and should not upload unpublished manuscripts or substantial portions of manuscripts to external AI systems that could compromise confidentiality.

16. COMPLAINTS AND ALLEGATIONS OF MISCONDUCT

Qaulan takes allegations of publication or research misconduct seriously, whether they arise before or after publication.

Concerns may be raised by:

Authors
Reviewers
Editors
Readers
Researchers
Institutions
Other credible sources

Allegations should provide sufficient information or evidence to allow the editorial team to assess the concern.

The journal will handle allegations confidentially and fairly.

Where necessary, the journal may request information from authors, reviewers, institutions, or other relevant parties.

The editorial team may follow applicable COPE guidance when handling allegations of misconduct. COPE recommends that journals have clear procedures for allegations arising both before and after publication. (DOI)

17. INVESTIGATION PROCEDURE

When a credible allegation is received, the journal may follow these general steps:

Step 1 — Preliminary Assessment

The editor evaluates whether the allegation has sufficient basis for further consideration.

Step 2 — Evidence Review

Relevant manuscript files, editorial records, reviewer reports, citations, data, and other available evidence may be examined.

Step 3 — Author Response

Where appropriate, the corresponding author may be asked to provide an explanation or supporting documentation.

Step 4 — Further Consultation

The editor may consult:

Editorial Board members
Independent experts
Reviewers
Institutional representatives
Research ethics authorities

Step 5 — Editorial Decision

Depending on the findings, the journal may:

Take no further action.
Request clarification.
Request correction.
Reject the manuscript.
Suspend publication.
Issue an editorial notice.
Publish a correction.
Publish an expression of concern.
Retract the article.
Refer the matter to an appropriate institution.

The response will depend on the seriousness and evidence associated with the case.

18. CORRECTIONS

If an error is identified in a published article that does not invalidate the main findings, the journal may publish a Correction or Erratum.

Corrections may address:

Typographical errors
Author information
Affiliations
Minor factual errors
Metadata errors
Other issues that can be corrected without invalidating the article

The correction should clearly identify the original article and explain the necessary amendment.

19. EXPRESSIONS OF CONCERN

An Expression of Concern may be published when there are serious questions regarding a published article but the available evidence is not yet sufficient to justify immediate retraction.

An Expression of Concern may remain associated with the article while an investigation is ongoing.

20. RETRACTION

An article may be retracted when the published research is determined to contain serious problems that invalidate its reliability or when significant publication misconduct has been established.

Potential reasons for retraction include:

Fabricated data
Falsified data
Serious plagiarism
Duplicate publication
Major methodological or ethical violations
Fraudulent research
Serious undisclosed conflicts of interest
Manipulated peer review
Other circumstances that substantially compromise the integrity of the published record

A retracted article will remain part of the journal's scholarly record but will be clearly identified as RETRACTED.

21. POST-PUBLICATION DISCUSSION

Qaulan recognizes the importance of post-publication scholarly discussion.

Readers and researchers who identify substantial concerns regarding a published article may contact the editorial office with appropriate evidence.

The journal may consider:

Corrections
Editorial comments
Expressions of concern
Retractions
Other appropriate post-publication actions

Post-publication concerns will be assessed objectively and independently.

COPE's transparency principles emphasize that journals should have mechanisms for post-publication discussion and for correcting or retracting articles when necessary. (DOI)

22. APPEALS

Authors may appeal an editorial decision when they believe that:

A significant factual error occurred.
The editorial process was not properly followed.
Reviewer comments contain demonstrable factual or procedural errors.
Relevant information was not considered.

Appeals must be submitted in writing and should provide clear reasons and supporting evidence.

The appeal will be evaluated independently by the editorial team.

An appeal does not guarantee that the original decision will be changed.

23. SANCTIONS

Depending on the seriousness of misconduct, the journal may apply one or more appropriate measures, including:

Request for correction.
Rejection of the manuscript.
Withdrawal of a manuscript.
Retraction of a published article.
Publication of an editorial notice.
Temporary restriction on future submissions.
Notification to the author's institution.
Notification to relevant research or academic authorities.
Other appropriate actions consistent with publication-ethics principles.

Sanctions will be proportionate to the seriousness of the violation and based on available evidence.

24. ETHICAL RESPONSIBILITY

All participants in the publication process share responsibility for maintaining the integrity of the scholarly record.

Authors are responsible for honest research and original scholarship.

Reviewers are responsible for fair, confidential, and constructive evaluation.

Editors are responsible for fair and independent editorial decisions.

Editorial Board Members support the journal in maintaining academic and ethical standards.

The Publisher supports the journal's infrastructure and preservation of scholarly integrity.

25. COMMITMENT TO ACADEMIC INTEGRITY

Qaulan is committed to publishing research that contributes meaningfully to the development of Islamic Communication, Broadcasting, Da'wah Communication, Islamic Media, Digital Communication, and related interdisciplinary fields.

The journal recognizes that publication ethics is essential to maintaining trust among researchers, authors, reviewers, editors, institutions, and readers.

Accordingly, Qaulan: Jurnal Komunikasi dan Penyiaran Islam follows principles of transparency, accountability, confidentiality, fairness, academic independence, and research integrity throughout the publication process. These principles are aligned with internationally recognized scholarly publishing standards, including COPE guidance. (DOI)

ETHICAL COMMITMENT AT A GLANCE

Area	Qaulan's Policy
Peer Review	Double-Blind Peer Review
Plagiarism	Strictly Prohibited
Fabrication	Strictly Prohibited
Falsification	Strictly Prohibited
Duplicate Publication	Prohibited
Simultaneous Submission	Prohibited
Citation Manipulation	Prohibited
Authorship Manipulation	Prohibited
Conflict of Interest	Must Be Disclosed
Reviewer Confidentiality	Required
Research Ethics	Required Where Applicable
AI Misuse	Prohibited
Corrections	Available Where Necessary
Retraction	Applied When Required
Post-Publication Review	Permitted
Appeals	Available
Ethical Framework	COPE-Informed

Ethical Standard: Integrity • Transparency • Confidentiality • Accountability • Fairness • Academic Independence