Research Integrity
O.G IJRIS is committed to protecting the integrity of the research record through honesty, accountability, transparency, responsible conduct, and fair academic processes from the beginning of a research project through publication and post-publication review.
Research integrity is a responsibility, not a formality
Research integrity refers to the ethical and responsible conduct of research at every stage of the scholarly process. It requires researchers and academic stakeholders to present methods, evidence, analysis, authorship and conclusions honestly and accurately.
The integrity of a research publication depends not only on the final manuscript, but also on how evidence was collected, documented, analysed, interpreted, reviewed, communicated and preserved. O.G IJRIS therefore treats integrity as a continuous responsibility shared by the research community.
Six foundations of responsible research
These principles provide the baseline for trustworthy research and responsible scholarly communication.
Honesty
Research questions, methods, evidence, results and conclusions must be represented honestly without deliberate deception.
Accuracy
Researchers should take reasonable care to ensure that data, calculations, figures, citations and reported findings are accurate and appropriately supported.
Accountability
Individuals must accept responsibility for the work, decisions, contributions and claims for which they are professionally accountable.
Transparency
Important methodological choices, limitations, relationships, funding influences and relevant conflicts should be disclosed appropriately.
Traceability
Research processes and evidence should be sufficiently documented to support appropriate verification, interpretation and, where possible, reproducibility.
Respect
Research must respect participants, communities, intellectual contributions, research materials and applicable academic and professional standards.
Conduct that can compromise the research record
Serious integrity concerns may arise when research evidence or scholarly responsibility is intentionally distorted, concealed or misrepresented.
Fabrication
Making up data, observations, participants, results, experiments, references or other research information that did not actually exist.
Falsification
Manipulating research materials, processes, data, images, results or reporting in a way that creates a misleading research record.
Plagiarism
Presenting another person's words, ideas, structure, findings or intellectual contribution as one's own without appropriate acknowledgement.
Deceptive Data or Image Manipulation
Altering or selectively presenting data, images, figures or analytical outputs in a misleading manner that affects interpretation.
Misrepresented Authorship
Assigning authorship or contribution credit in a way that deliberately misrepresents who performed or accepted responsibility for the work.
Undisclosed Conflicts
Concealing relationships or interests that could reasonably affect the interpretation, review or editorial handling of research.
Honest error, questionable practice and misconduct
Not every research problem represents deliberate misconduct. O.G IJRIS supports proportionate assessment based on evidence, intent, impact and context.
Honest Error
- Unintentional calculation or transcription error.
- Methodological limitation that is openly reported.
- Correctable mistake discovered after submission.
- Good-faith disagreement over interpretation.
Questionable or Misconduct Practice
- Repeated disregard for established research safeguards.
- Selective reporting intended to create a misleading impression.
- Concealment of material evidence or conflicts.
- Deliberate fabrication, falsification or plagiarism.
Integrity begins before publication
A trustworthy publication is built through responsible decisions throughout the research lifecycle.
Plan
Define the research question, methods, responsibilities and ethical safeguards.
Collect
Gather evidence responsibly and document the source, conditions and relevant procedures.
Analyse
Apply appropriate analytical methods without manipulating evidence to obtain a preferred outcome.
Report
Communicate findings, limitations, contributions and relevant conflicts accurately.
Preserve
Maintain appropriate records and evidence supporting the published research record.
Documentation creates an accountable audit trail
Preserve the evidence behind the claim
Researchers should maintain appropriate records that allow important research decisions and findings to be understood, assessed and, where appropriate, verified. The required level of documentation may vary according to discipline, methodology, law, institutional policy and the nature of the research.
Integrity is a collective academic responsibility
Researchers
Conduct and report research honestly, maintain records, disclose relevant concerns and take responsibility for their contributions.
Supervisors & Institutions
Provide appropriate oversight, training, research governance and fair mechanisms for addressing concerns.
Reviewers
Evaluate research objectively, preserve confidentiality and raise substantive integrity concerns responsibly.
Editors
Protect the integrity of the publication process, investigate credible concerns and document appropriate editorial decisions.
Concerns must be assessed fairly and responsibly
A concern about research integrity should be handled through a proportionate, evidence-based process. Allegations should not automatically be treated as established misconduct, and individuals raising concerns in good faith should be protected from inappropriate retaliation.
AI and Research Integrity
Artificial intelligence may support research activities, but it does not transfer academic responsibility from the human researcher to a tool or system. Researchers remain responsible for verifying the accuracy, originality, relevance and ethical status of material used in their work.
A structured response to an integrity concern
O.G IJRIS applies a structured approach designed to protect the integrity of the record while maintaining fairness to all parties.
Concern Identified
A possible integrity issue is raised.
Initial Review
Relevance and credibility are assessed.
Evidence Review
Relevant records and explanations are examined.
Response
Relevant researchers or parties may respond.
Decision
A proportionate evidence-based outcome is determined.
Action
Corrective or editorial action is implemented where required.
Our Commitment to Research Integrity
O.G IJRIS is committed to maintaining a scholarly environment in which evidence is respected, responsibility is visible, concerns are assessed fairly, and the research record is protected with professionalism and transparency.