Allegations of Research Misconduct

Milkiyah is committed to maintaining the integrity of the scholarly record and upholding the highest standards of publication ethics. The journal takes all allegations of research misconduct seriously and will investigate them in accordance with the principles of fairness, confidentiality, transparency, and the guidelines of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).

Research misconduct includes, but is not limited to, the following:

1. Plagiarism

Plagiarism occurs when authors present another person's ideas, data, words, figures, tables, or other intellectual property as their own without proper acknowledgment. This includes direct copying of text without appropriate citation, paraphrasing substantial portions of another work without attribution, using images, figures, data, or research findings without permission or proper citation, as well as self-plagiarism or the redundant reuse of previously published material without adequate disclosure. Such practices constitute a serious violation of publication ethics and undermine the integrity of scholarly communication. If plagiarism is identified during the peer review process, the manuscript may be rejected immediately. If plagiarism is discovered after publication, the journal may take appropriate corrective actions, including issuing a correction, publishing an expression of concern, or retracting the article, depending on the severity of the misconduct.

2. Data Fabrication

Data fabrication refers to the intentional creation or invention of research data, observations, interviews, survey responses, documents, or research findings that never actually existed. This form of misconduct includes inventing research participants or respondents, creating fictitious datasets, and reporting experiments, observations, or field studies that were never conducted. Data fabrication seriously compromises the validity and reliability of scholarly research and constitutes a fundamental violation of research integrity and publication ethics.

Any confirmed case of data fabrication will be treated as a serious ethical breach and may result in manuscript rejection, article retraction, notification of the author's institution, or other appropriate corrective actions deemed necessary by the Editorial Team.

3. Data Falsification

Data falsification involves the manipulation of research data, materials, methods, or results with the intention of producing misleading conclusions or creating a false representation of research findings. Such misconduct may include altering data points, selectively omitting significant results without scientific justification, manipulating statistical analyses, or modifying images, tables, graphs, and other research materials in ways that distort the accuracy of the reported outcomes. Data falsification undermines the credibility, transparency, and reliability of scholarly research and constitutes a serious violation of research integrity and publication ethics. The journal will carefully investigate any allegation or suspicion of data falsification and may take appropriate editorial actions, including manuscript rejection, publication of corrections, article retraction, or notification to the author's affiliated institution, depending on the nature and severity of the misconduct.

4. Duplicate Submission and Redundant Publication

Duplicate submission and redundant publication occur when authors submit the same or substantially similar manuscript to more than one journal simultaneously or publish overlapping research without proper disclosure. Such misconduct includes concurrent submission of a manuscript to multiple journals, republication of substantially similar work without appropriate acknowledgment or justification, and the division of a single study into multiple papers solely for the purpose of increasing publication counts.

These practices waste editorial and peer-review resources, distort the scholarly record, and violate accepted standards of publication ethics. Authors are therefore required to ensure that submitted manuscripts are original, have not been published elsewhere, and are not under consideration by another journal. Where duplicate submission or redundant publication is confirmed, the journal may take appropriate editorial actions, including manuscript rejection, article retraction, and notification of the authors' affiliated institutions or other relevant publishers, depending on the nature and severity of the case.

5. Authorship Misconduct

Authorship should accurately reflect the contributions of all individuals who have significantly participated in the conception, design, execution, analysis, or interpretation of the research. Unethical authorship practices include gift authorship, where individuals are listed as authors despite having made little or no contribution; guest authorship, where prominent individuals are included to increase the likelihood of publication; ghost authorship, where individuals who made substantial contributions are not acknowledged as authors; and the exclusion of eligible contributors from the author list. Such practices undermine transparency, accountability, and the integrity of the scholarly record. To ensure compliance with ethical authorship standards, the journal may request author contribution statements, supporting documentation, or additional clarification whenever authorship disputes or concerns arise. Where authorship misconduct is confirmed, the journal may take appropriate editorial actions in accordance with its publication ethics policies.

6. Citation Manipulation

Citation manipulation occurs when references are included primarily for the purpose of increasing citation counts rather than supporting the scholarly quality, relevance, and academic discussion of a manuscript. This unethical practice may take various forms, including excessive self-citation, coercive citation by editors or reviewers, and citation stacking among authors, institutions, or journals intended to artificially inflate bibliometric indicators. Such practices can misrepresent the significance, influence, or impact of particular authors, articles, or journals and undermine the integrity of scholarly communication. Authors are therefore expected to cite only sources that are directly relevant to their research and contribute meaningfully to the development of their arguments. Any suspected case of citation manipulation will be carefully evaluated by the Editorial Team, and appropriate editorial actions may be taken where misconduct is identified.

7. Peer Review Manipulation

The integrity of the peer review process is fundamental to scholarly publishing and plays a crucial role in ensuring the quality, credibility, and reliability of published research. Peer review manipulation occurs when individuals attempt to interfere with, compromise, or influence the review process in an improper manner. Such misconduct may include providing false reviewer identities, creating fake reviewer accounts, submitting reviews under fraudulent identities, or attempting to influence editorial decisions through deceptive practices. These actions undermine the fairness, transparency, and objectivity of the evaluation process and represent a serious violation of publication ethics. Any allegation or evidence of peer review manipulation will be thoroughly investigated by the Editorial Team, and confirmed cases may result in manuscript rejection, article retraction, notification of relevant institutions, and other appropriate sanctions in accordance with the journal's ethical standards and publication policies.

8. Undisclosed Conflicts of Interest

Authors, reviewers, and editors must disclose any financial, institutional, personal, or professional relationships that could influence their judgment. Failure to disclose relevant conflicts of interest may lead to investigation and corrective action.

Handling Allegations

Milkiyah takes all allegations of research misconduct seriously. Upon receiving an allegation, the Editorial Team will undertake an initial assessment and may request additional information, clarification, or supporting evidence from the relevant parties. The investigation will be conducted in accordance with applicable publication ethics standards and COPE guidelines. All available evidence will be carefully reviewed before an editorial decision is reached. The outcome of the investigation will be communicated to the concerned authors and, where appropriate, to their affiliated institutions. Throughout the process, the journal will maintain strict confidentiality and ensure a fair, impartial, and transparent investigation while safeguarding the rights of all parties involved.

Appeals and Complaints

Authors have the right to respond to allegations and may appeal editorial decisions by submitting a written explanation and supporting evidence to the Editorial Office. Appeals will be reviewed independently whenever possible.

Commitment to Research Integrity

Milkiyah is dedicated to safeguarding research integrity and maintaining trust in scholarly communication. All participants in the publication process are expected to uphold the highest standards of academic honesty, transparency, and ethical conduct.