Research misconduct includes fabrication, falsification, citation manipulation, or plagiarism during the preparation, conduct, or review of research and the writing of articles, as well as in the reporting of research results. If an author is found to have engaged in research misconduct or other serious irregularities concerning an article published in a scientific journal, the editors are responsible for ensuring the accuracy and integrity of the scientific record.

In cases of alleged misconduct, the editors and the editorial board of PSEJ will follow the best practices established by COPE (Committee on Publication Ethics) to facilitate the resolution of complaints and address such misconduct fairly. This process includes an investigation into the allegations by the editorial team. Submitted manuscripts found to contain such misconduct will be rejected. If misconduct is discovered in an article that has already been published, the article may be retracted, with a retraction notice linked to the original publication.

The initial step involves determining the validity of the allegations and assessing whether they align with the definition of research misconduct. This preliminary stage also includes verifying whether the party raising the allegations has any relevant conflicts of interest.

If there is a possibility of scientific misconduct or other substantial research irregularities, the allegations will be communicated to the corresponding author, who will be asked to provide a detailed response on behalf of all co-authors. Once the response is received and evaluated, further review or the involvement of experts (such as statistical reviewers) may be required. In cases where it is determined that no misconduct occurred, a clarification or additional analysis published as a "letter to the editor" and often accompanied by a correction or erratum to the original article is generally considered sufficient.

The relevant institutions are expected to conduct an appropriate and thorough investigation into any allegations of scientific misconduct. Ultimately, authors, journals, and institutions bear a significant obligation to ensure the accuracy of the scientific record. This involves responding appropriately to concerns regarding scientific misconduct and taking necessary actions based on the outcome of an evaluation, such as issuing corrections, retracting articles, or replacing an article with a revised version. PSEJ remains committed to fulfilling its responsibility to uphold the validity and integrity of the scientific record.