Process for Identification of and Dealing with Allegations of Research Misconduct
Process for Identification of and Dealing with Allegations of Research Misconduct
Thailand and the World Economy (TWE) is committed to upholding research integrity. All allegations of research misconduct — including fabrication, falsification, plagiarism (including self-plagiarism), duplicate or dual submission, improper authorship, undisclosed conflicts of interest, undisclosed use of generative AI, and violation of research ethics — will be investigated in accordance with the guidelines of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).
Sources of allegations. Concerns may be raised by reviewers, editors, readers, other researchers, or institutions, or may be identified through the journal's automated screening tools (Turnitin for plagiarism and AI-generated content). All allegations must be submitted in writing to the Editor-in-Chief with supporting evidence.
Investigation process.
- Preliminary review — The Editor-in-Chief evaluates the credibility of the allegation within 10 working days.
- Notification — If credible, the corresponding author is notified in writing and invited to respond within 30 days; all listed co-authors are also informed.
- Formal investigation — The Editor-in-Chief may consult the editorial board, subject-matter experts, and may contact the author(s)' institution(s) for an institutional investigation, particularly in serious cases.
- Determination — Based on the evidence and the author(s)' response, the Editor-in-Chief decides on an appropriate course of action.
- Right of appeal — Authors may appeal the decision within 30 days.
Possible actions. Depending on severity, actions may include: rejection of the manuscript; publication of a correction, expression of concern, or retraction; notification of the author(s)' institution and funding bodies; a ban on future submissions; and, in the most serious cases, notification of other journals or regulatory bodies.
Confidentiality and fairness. The identities of the complainant and the accused author(s) will be kept confidential to the extent possible. Both parties will be treated fairly, given adequate opportunity to be heard, and the outcome will be based on evidence.
Post-publication concerns will be handled with the same rigour; where misconduct is confirmed, a correction, expression of concern, or retraction notice will be published and linked to the original article.
