Scientific Misconduct Policy

The Libyan Journal of Dentistry takes a firm and principled stance against all forms of scientific and publication misconduct. This policy defines what the journal regards as misconduct, how concerns are raised, and how they are investigated.

Definition of Scientific Misconduct

LJD regards each of the following as scientific or publication misconduct:

  • Fabrication — Making up data, results, observations, or events that did not occur and presenting them as if they did.
  • Falsification — Manipulating research materials, equipment, processes, data, or results in a way that misrepresents the research record.
  • Plagiarism — Presenting another person's ideas, text, data, figures, or wording as one's own without proper attribution.
  • Self-plagiarism (text recycling and redundant publication) — Reusing substantial portions of one's own previous work, including data or text, without disclosure and citation.
  • Duplicate or simultaneous submission — Submitting the same work, or substantially overlapping work, to more than one journal at the same time.
  • Image manipulation — Splicing, duplicating, selectively enhancing, or otherwise altering scientific images in a way that misrepresents the data.
  • Citation manipulation — Excessive self-citation, coercive citation, or citation stacking intended to inflate journal or author metrics.
  • Ghost, gift, or honorary authorship — Omitting an individual who qualifies as an author or including one who does not.
  • Undisclosed conflicts of interest — Failing to disclose a financial or non-financial relationship that could reasonably be perceived as influencing the work.
  • Breach of research ethics — Conducting research on human or animal subjects without appropriate ethical approval or informed consent.
  • Peer-review manipulation — Suggesting fabricated reviewers, intercepting review correspondence, or otherwise interfering with the peer-review process.
  • Breach of confidentiality by reviewers or editors — Disclosing or using unpublished material from a submitted manuscript for any purpose other than the assigned review.

Honest Error versus Misconduct

The journal distinguishes between honest error — an unintentional mistake made in good faith despite reasonable care — and misconduct, which involves intent to deceive or reckless disregard for truth. Honest errors are addressed through the Corrections & Retractions policy; misconduct triggers the procedures set out in §IV-11.

Screening and Prevention

  • All submitted manuscripts are screened using iThenticate plagiarism-detection software before being sent for peer review.
  • Reviewers and editors are trained to recognize signs of fabrication, falsification, image manipulation, and citation manipulation.
  • Image files may be subjected to additional technical examination where image integrity is in question.

Reporting Concerns

Concerns about possible misconduct may be raised by authors, co-authors, reviewers, editors, readers, institutions, or any other party. Concerns should be sent in writing to [email protected], with as much detail as possible, including: the article or submission concerned; the specific nature of the concern; and any supporting evidence. The journal protects the confidentiality of the person raising the concern wherever the law and the nature of the investigation permit.

Standards Followed

LJD's response to alleged misconduct follows the standards of: the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) flowcharts; the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE) Recommendations; the World Association of Medical Editors (WAME); and, where applicable, the national research-integrity framework of Libya and of the authors' country.