Allegations of Research Misconduct

CHEMISTRY PROGRESS is committed to maintaining the highest standards of research integrity, transparency, and publication ethics. The journal takes all allegations of research misconduct seriously and is committed to handling such matters fairly, confidentially, and objectively.

1. Definition of Research Misconduct

Research misconduct includes, but is not limited to, fabrication, falsification, plagiarism, inappropriate manipulation of research data or images, unethical research practices, and other actions that compromise the reliability or integrity of scientific research.

  • Fabrication: Making up data, results, experiments, or research records and reporting them as genuine.

  • Falsification: Manipulating research materials, equipment, processes, data, or results in a way that misrepresents the research findings.

  • Plagiarism: Using another person's ideas, words, data, or other intellectual contributions without appropriate acknowledgment.

  • Image or data manipulation: Inappropriately altering, selectively presenting, or misrepresenting research images, figures, tables, or datasets.

  • Other forms of misconduct: Practices that violate applicable research ethics, publication standards, or institutional requirements, including undisclosed conflicts of interest or improper authorship practices where relevant.

Honest errors, differences in scientific interpretation, or legitimate disagreements do not necessarily constitute research misconduct.

2. Reporting Allegations

Authors, reviewers, editors, readers, and other interested parties may report suspected research misconduct involving manuscripts submitted to or articles published in CHEMISTRY PROGRESS.

Reports should include a clear description of the suspected misconduct and, where possible, supporting evidence such as relevant publications, data, images, documents, or other verifiable information. Allegations should be submitted to the journal's editorial office through its official contact channels.

The journal will handle reports confidentially to the extent possible and will take appropriate measures to protect individuals who raise concerns in good faith.

3. Investigation Procedure

Upon receiving an allegation, the editorial team will conduct an initial assessment to determine whether the concern falls within the journal's responsibility and whether sufficient information is available to proceed.

Where appropriate, the journal may:

  1. Request additional information or clarification from the complainant.

  2. Examine the manuscript, publication, research data, supporting materials, and relevant documentation.

  3. Contact the corresponding author or other relevant authors to request an explanation.

  4. Consult independent experts or the journal's editorial board when necessary.

  5. Contact the authors' affiliated institutions, research ethics committees, funders, or other appropriate bodies when further investigation is required.

The journal will avoid premature conclusions and will assess the available evidence impartially. Investigations will respect confidentiality, procedural fairness, and the legitimate interests of all parties involved.

4. Editorial Actions

If the allegation is substantiated, CHEMISTRY PROGRESS will take appropriate action according to the nature and severity of the misconduct. Possible actions include:

  • Rejecting the manuscript if it has not yet been published.

  • Requesting corrections or additional clarification when the issue can be appropriately resolved without compromising the integrity of the research.

  • Publishing a correction, an expression of concern, or a retraction for a published article, as appropriate.

  • Notifying the authors' affiliated institutions, relevant research bodies, or other appropriate parties when warranted.

  • Restricting future submissions or taking other editorial measures when justified by the findings and consistent with the journal's policies.

Any action will be proportionate to the established findings and the potential impact on the reliability of the scientific record.

5. Responsibilities of Authors and Institutions

Authors are responsible for ensuring the accuracy, integrity, and ethical conduct of their research. They must retain appropriate research records, provide accurate and complete information when requested, and cooperate reasonably with legitimate editorial inquiries.

Authors' affiliated institutions are generally responsible for conducting formal investigations into alleged research misconduct within their jurisdiction. CHEMISTRY PROGRESS may refer serious or unresolved concerns to the relevant institution and consider the outcome when making editorial decisions.

6. Confidentiality and Protection Against Retaliation

CHEMISTRY PROGRESS will handle allegations discreetly and share information only with individuals or organizations who need it for assessment or investigation, subject to applicable legal, ethical, and procedural requirements.

The journal does not tolerate knowingly false or malicious allegations. At the same time, individuals who raise concerns in good faith should not be subjected to retaliation through the journal's editorial processes.

7. Commitment to Publication Ethics

CHEMISTRY PROGRESS follows recognized publication ethics principles, including relevant guidance from the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), to support responsible editorial decision-making and protect the integrity of the scientific record.

All allegations will be assessed on their merits, and appropriate actions will be taken to uphold the reliability, transparency, and credibility of research published in the journal.