RSJ is very sensitive to research misconduct and uses all means available to prevent publishing miscounted research. Though there is no standard definition of research misconduct, the Council of Editors defines research misconduct broadly in three categories of action and conducts. RSJ uses this definition of the misconduct in its dealing with the issue and follows strictly the COPE follow chart in dealing with research misconduct. In addition, for each component of the research misconduct, RSJ has many assurance policies as follows
- Mistreatment of research subjects
- Falsification and Fabrication of data
- Piracy and Plagiarism
Protection of Animal rights
RSJ does not publish manuscripts that do not declare a statement about the protection of animal rights. Normally, the journal requires that a statement is declared that research has been reviewed by an institutional review board either the material method section of the manuscript or in the acknowledgment section of the manuscript. RSJ encourages authors to report the registry number of the council certification.
Falsification and Fabrication of data
Fabrication is defined as making up of data without actually collecting or synthesizing scientific data. Falsification is defined as the manipulation of research material in order to reach a favorable result. Fabrication and falsification could happen at any stage of research (in the field) up to the publication of a manuscript where misuse of citation can happen (referencing a citation when the citation does not support the argument). RSJ tries to identify any kind of fabrication or falsification in all levels of manuscript processing, from initial screening to comprehensive evaluation of a revised manuscript and even after a manuscript has been published. Report of any fabrication and falsification is an ethical duty of our authors, co-authors, reviewers, editors, and readers. In any event of falsification or fabrication, RSJ keeps its right to retract or withdraw the fabricated or falsified article. RSJ strictly follows the COPE follow the chart in dealing with fabrication and falsification.