Research Misconduct Policies

Metaverse Science, Society and Law is committed to upholding the highest standards of integrity and ethics in scholarly publishing. The journal takes all allegations of research misconduct seriously and follows established procedures to investigate and address any breaches of ethical standards.

Definition of Research Misconduct

Research misconduct includes, but is not limited to:

• Fabrication: Making up data, results, or findings and recording or reporting them as if they were real.
  
• Falsification: Manipulating research processes, equipment, data, or results in a way that misrepresents the research.
  
• Plagiarism: Using another person’s work, ideas, or words without appropriate attribution, including self-plagiarism and text recycling.
  
• Misrepresentation of authorship: Excluding rightful contributors or including individuals who did not meet authorship criteria.
  
• Image or data manipulation: Altering figures, images, or datasets in a misleading or deceptive manner.
  
• Redundant publication: Submitting or publishing the same content in multiple outlets without proper disclosure or justification.
  
• Unethical research involving human or animal subjects: Failing to obtain necessary approvals, informed consent, or follow applicable ethical standards.
  
• Undisclosed conflicts of interest: Failure to disclose relevant personal, financial, or institutional interests that may affect the objectivity of the research.
  
  

Handling Allegations of Misconduct

When suspected misconduct is identified, the journal will:

1. Conduct a preliminary assessment of the evidence provided.
   
2. Contact the authors for an explanation, requesting supporting documentation if needed.
   
3. Follow COPE guidelines in investigating the case and determining the appropriate course of action.
   
4. Refer serious cases to the authors’ institutions or relevant bodies for formal investigation.
   
   

Possible Editorial Actions

Depending on the severity and outcome of the investigation, the journal may take one or more of the following actions:

• Reject the manuscript prior to or during peer review.
  
• Publish a correction, expression of concern, or retraction.
  
• Ban authors from submitting to the journal for a specified period.
  
• Notify funding bodies, institutions, or relevant academic authorities.
  
  

Post-Publication Misconduct

If misconduct is discovered after publication, the journal will evaluate the evidence and, if necessary, update the published record through:

• Correction (Erratum) – for honest errors that do not affect the validity of the findings.
  
• Expression of Concern – where serious concerns exist, but conclusive evidence is lacking.
  
• Retraction – for confirmed cases of misconduct or invalidated results.
  
  

Confidentiality and Fairness

All allegations and investigations will be handled confidentially and fairly. Accused individuals will be given the opportunity to respond to any claims made against them. Accusations will not affect the consideration of manuscripts unless substantiated.