The Turkish Journal of Special Education Research and Practice (TRSPED) is committed to promoting integrity, transparency, and ethical conduct in scholarly publishing. The journal expects authors, reviewers, editors, and all individuals involved in the publication process to adhere to internationally recognized standards of research integrity.
TRSPED follows the ethical principles outlined by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and the guidance provided in the Publishing Ethics Resource Kit (PERK).
Definition of Research Misconduct
Research misconduct refers to actions that violate accepted ethical standards in research and scholarly publishing. Misconduct may occur during the research process, manuscript preparation, peer review, or publication.
Examples of research misconduct include, but are not limited to:
- Plagiarism – using the ideas, words, or work of others without proper citation.
- Data fabrication – making up data or results that were never obtained.
- Data falsification – manipulating research materials, equipment, processes, or data.
- Duplicate or redundant publication – publishing the same or substantially similar work in multiple journals.
- Improper authorship – including individuals who did not contribute significantly or excluding those who did.
- Undisclosed conflicts of interest – failing to disclose financial or personal relationships that could influence the research.
- Image manipulation – altering figures or images in a misleading way.
- Peer review manipulation – attempting to influence the review process unfairly.
- Violation of ethical research standards – conducting research without proper ethical approval or informed consent when required.
Detection of Misconduct
TRSPED may detect potential misconduct through:
- plagiarism detection software
- peer reviewer comments
- editorial checks
- concerns raised by readers, reviewers, or institutions
- post-publication review or reporting
All allegations of misconduct are treated seriously and investigated thoroughly.
Investigation Procedure
When a potential ethical concern is identified, the journal follows a structured investigation process consistent with COPE guidelines.
- Initial Assessment
The Editor evaluates the allegation to determine whether it appears credible. - Author Contact
The corresponding author may be contacted and asked to provide clarification or additional documentation. - Evidence Review
The editorial team evaluates available evidence and may consult independent experts if necessary. - Institutional Involvement
If the issue involves serious misconduct, the authors’ institution or relevant research authority may be notified. - Editorial Decision
Based on the findings, the journal determines appropriate editorial action.
Possible Outcomes
If misconduct is confirmed, the journal may take one or more of the following actions:
- request revisions or clarification
- reject the manuscript
- publish a correction
- publish an expression of concern
- retract the article
- notify the authors’ institution or funding agency
The journal will ensure that all actions are taken transparently and in accordance with international ethical standards.
Retraction and Correction Policy
The Turkish Journal of Special Education Research and Practice (TRSPED) is committed to maintaining the accuracy and integrity of the scholarly record. When errors or ethical issues are identified in published articles, the journal takes appropriate actions to correct the literature.
These actions may include corrections, expressions of concern, or retractions.
Corrections (Erratum or Corrigendum)
A correction may be issued when an error is identified in a published article that does not invalidate the main findings of the study.
Examples include:
- typographical errors
- incorrect author affiliations
- minor methodological or data errors
- formatting or reference errors
Corrections will clearly identify the original article and describe the changes made.
Expression of Concern
An expression of concern may be published when:
- there is suspicion of misconduct but the investigation is ongoing
- evidence of misconduct is inconclusive
- the authors’ institution is investigating the issue
This notice informs readers that concerns have been raised regarding the article.
Retraction
A retraction may be issued when:
- research findings are unreliable due to major errors or misconduct
- plagiarism or duplicate publication is confirmed
- data fabrication or falsification is identified
- ethical research standards were violated
- authorship manipulation or serious conflicts of interest are discovered
Retraction notices will:
- clearly identify the retracted article
- explain the reason for the retraction
- remain permanently linked to the original article
Retracted articles will remain available in the journal archive but will be clearly marked as retracted to maintain transparency in the scholarly record.
Author-Initiated Retractions
Authors may request a retraction if they discover significant errors in their work. In such cases, authors are expected to cooperate fully with the editorial process to correct the literature.
Post-Publication Updates
All corrections, expressions of concern, and retractions will be published promptly and linked to the original article to ensure transparency and integrity in the academic record.