Research Misconduct Policy
The Iraqi Journal of Civil Engineering (IJCE) maintains a zero-tolerance policy toward all forms of research misconduct and employs every available measure to prevent the publication of unethical or falsified research. Although there is no universally accepted definition of research misconduct, the Council of Editors broadly categorizes it into actions and behaviors that compromise research integrity. IJCE adopts this definition and adheres strictly to the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) flowcharts and guidelines in addressing any instances of research misconduct.
To ensure the highest standards of academic integrity, IJCE has established comprehensive policies addressing the main forms of research misconduct, including falsification and fabrication of data and piracy and plagiarism.
Falsification and Fabrication of Data
Fabrication refers to the creation of data or results without actual data collection or experimentation, while falsification involves the manipulation, alteration, or selective presentation of research data, materials, or results to produce a misleading outcome. Such misconduct may occur at any stage of research—from data collection and analysis to citation misuse during manuscript preparation.
IJCE actively works to detect and prevent all forms of data fabrication and falsification throughout the publication process, including initial screening, peer review, revision, and even post-publication review. The journal considers it the ethical responsibility of authors, co-authors, reviewers, editors, and readers to report any suspected cases of falsification or fabrication.
In confirmed cases of data falsification or fabrication, IJCE reserves the right to retract or withdraw the affected article and to take appropriate corrective action in accordance with COPE’s ethical guidelines. The journal remains committed to upholding the integrity of the scientific record and promoting transparency, honesty, and accountability in civil engineering research.