12journal policy.pmd


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Journal Pol icy on Research Misconduct1

(Final March 13, 2009)2

PRINCIPLES

The journals3 published by the Off ice of the V ice-Chancellor for Research and

Development, University of the Philippines Diliman (OVCRD, UP Diliman) uphold

the highest standards of excellence and ethics in the conduct of research. These

being publications of the flagship campus of the only National University of the

Philippines, the editorial boards consider the maintenance of such standards part of

their commitment to public trust and the pure pursuit of new knowledge. As such,

research misconduct shall never be tolerated.

PURPOSE

This document def ines research misconduct, specif ies the internal controls the

journals have formulated to prevent such misconduct, describes the process for

responding to allegations of research misconduct, and identif ies appropriate

disciplinary actions.

DEFINITIONS

Scientif ic misconduct or research misconduct (henceforth these shall be used

interchangeably) is the fabrication, falsif ication, or plagiarism in proposing,

performing, or reviewing research or in reporting research results.4

Fabrication is making up data or results and recording or reporting them.5

Falsification is manipulating research materials, equipment or processes, or changing

or omitting data or results such that the research is not accurately represented in

the research record.

Plagiarism is the appropriation of another person’s ideas, processes, results or words

without giving appropriate credit.

Research misconduct does not include honest error or differences of opinion.



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author is aff iliated as well as the funding agency that supported the research.  The

board shall ensure correction of the literature in the succeeding issue through

various methods as def ined by the board.  These may include errata, retractions, and

apologies to be written by the author concerned.

Moreover, the Board can opt to impose the following sanctions: 1. disallow the

contributor concerned from refereeing a manuscript submission; 2. ban the

contributor from publishing in the journal for a period the Board shall determine.

DISCIPLINARY ACTION

The editorial board does not consider it within its purview to impose disciplinary

sanctions against the contributors concerned. However, in the case of faculty,

researchers, and students from UP Diliman, it shall adhere to the protocol in

processing written complaints against the faculty and employees and support

appropriate disciplinary action stipulated in the Rules and Regulations on the

Discipline of Faculty Members and Employees of the UP Diliman Faculty and

Administrative Manual.

FOOTNOTES

  1 Based on discussions in the meetings held on February 2, 2009 and February 24,
2009 at the OVCRD Conference Room in response to Dean Saloma’s request for
Science Diliman to formulate a scientif ic misconduct policy. In attendance were:
D r. Co r a zo n  D. V i l l a r e a l , R D U O  D i r ec to r, p r e s i d i n g ;  D r  H e n r y J . Ra m o s , P M RG O
Director and Professor, NIP; Atty. Vy va V ictoria Aguirre, OVCRD Legal Consultant;
E d i to r s - i n - C h i e f  D r. M a r i co r  S o r i a n o  (Science Dil iman)  a n d  D r. M a r i a  M a n g a h a s
(S o c i a l  S c i e n c e  D i l i m a n ) .  M s .  N a n i e  D o m i n g o  a n d  M s .  D e r c y  M a r a r a c ,  e d i t o r i a l
assistants for OVCRD journals took down the minutes.

  2 As approved in the meeting of the above discussants on February 24, 2009 at the
OVCRD Conference  Room.

  3 Science Diliman, Social Science Diliman, and Humanities Diliman

  4 Federal Policy on Research  Misconduct, United States of America.

  5 These def initions of the forms of research misconduct are quoted verbatim from
the policy of the Off ice of Research Integrity of the United States Public Health
Service. Similar phrasings of def initions are adopted in the references listed at
the end of this document.