Research Misconduct & Whistleblower Policy

Pakistan Social Sciences Review (PSSR) is committed to upholding high standards of academic integrity and publication ethics. To safeguard the scholarly record, the journal actively monitors, investigates, and resolves all instances of suspected research misconduct or publishing malpractice.

Categories of Academic Misconduct

Actions that violate institutional ethics or scholarly integrity include, but are not limited to:

  • Data Falsification & Fabrication: Manipulating, inventing, or selectively presenting empirical data, images, or research findings.
  • Plagiarism & Text Recycling: Incorporating others' work, ideas, or text without explicit attribution, as well as unacknowledged self-plagiarism or redundant publication.
  • Peer Review Manipulation: Falsifying reviewer identities, orchestrating fake peer reviews, or compromising review confidentiality.
  • Undisclosed Conflicts of Interest: Concealing financial, personal, or institutional relationships that could bias research design or conclusions.
  • Authorship Misrepresentation: Engaging in ghostwriting, honorary authorship, or unapproved changes to author lists.

Handling Allegations & Institutional Sanctions

The Editor-in-Chief evaluates all formal allegations in accordance with COPE protocols. Investigations are conducted objectively, confidentially, and without bias. Authors under inquiry are given full opportunity to provide written explanations and supporting evidence.

If an investigation confirms research or publication misconduct, PSSR may execute one or more of the following corrective measures:

  • Issuing an official Expression of Concern, formal Correction Notice, or permanent Retraction of the published article.
  • Reporting the findings directly to the author's affiliated institution, ethics committee, or funding body.
  • Imposing a temporary or permanent ban on future manuscript submissions from involved authors.

Whistleblower Protection & Reporting

Members of the academic community—including authors, reviewers, editors, and readers—are encouraged to report any suspected ethical breaches or misconduct. PSSR provides a secure framework for whistleblowers to submit concerns regarding research validity, peer review integrity, or undisclosed competing interests.

Confidentiality Guarantees:

  • All reports are handled with strict confidentiality to protect the identity of the whistleblowing party.
  • Whistleblower identities are disclosed only when required by legal mandate.
  • Retaliation against any individual reporting suspected misconduct in good faith is strictly prohibited.

Investigation Workflow

  1. Preliminary Review: The Editor-in-Chief conducts an initial screening to verify whether the report provides sufficient preliminary evidence.
  2. Formal Inquiry: If warranted, an independent panel comprising editorial board members or external ethics experts is convened.
  3. Institutional Coordination: When necessary, the journal defers complex investigations or primary data audits to the relevant institutional research integrity officers.

Reporting Misconduct

To report a potential ethical breach or file a confidential inquiry, contact the editorial office directly at editor@pssr.org.pk.