Allegations of Research Misconduct Policy

Natural Resources for Human Health is committed to maintaining the highest standards of integrity and ethical conduct in research and publication. We take allegations of research misconduct seriously and adhere to the guidelines set forth by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) to ensure fair and transparent handling of such cases.

Definition of Research Misconduct

Research misconduct includes, but is not limited to:

• Fabrication: Making up data or results and recording or reporting them.
• Falsification: Manipulating research materials, equipment, or processes, or changing or omitting data or results such that the research is not accurately represented.
• Plagiarism: The appropriation of another person’s ideas, processes, results, or words without giving appropriate credit.

Reporting Misconduct
Allegations of misconduct should be reported to the Editor-in-Chief of Natural Resources for Human Health. Reports should include:

• A clear description of the alleged misconduct.
• Supporting evidence or information to support the allegation.
• Contact information for follow-up, if necessary.

Anonymous reports will be considered; however, providing contact information may facilitate a more thorough investigation.

Investigation Process
1. Preliminary Assessment:

• Upon receipt of an allegation, the Editor-in-Chief will conduct a preliminary assessment to determine if the allegation has merit and falls within the scope of research misconduct.
• If the allegation is deemed unfounded, no further action will be taken.

2. Formal Investigation:

• If warranted, a formal investigation will be initiated. The Editor-in-Chief will appoint an investigative committee comprising editorial board members and external experts, as needed.
• The investigation will be conducted confidentially, and all parties involved will be treated fairly and with respect.

3. Outcome:

• The investigative committee will provide a report with findings and recommendations to the Editor-in-Chief.
• If misconduct is confirmed, appropriate actions will be taken, which may include correction or retraction of the published work, notification to affected parties, and reporting to relevant authorities or institutions.

4. Appeal:

• Authors have the right to appeal decisions made by the investigative committee. Appeals must be submitted in writing with new evidence or arguments that may not have been considered during the initial investigation.

Consequences of Misconduct

Consequences of confirmed research misconduct may include:

• Retraction or correction of published articles.
• Notification to the author’s institution or funding agency.
• Notification to the author’s institution or funding agency.
• Prohibition from submitting to the journal for a specified period.
• Other actions deemed necessary by the journal or publisher.

Commitment to Ethical Standards
Natural Resources for Human Health is dedicated to upholding the principles of ethical research and publication. We encourage researchers to adhere to the highest integrity standards and report any misconduct concerns to ensure the scientific record's credibility and trustworthiness.