ISSR aligns with COPE definitions regarding unethical behavior. Major forms of misconduct include, but are not limited to:

• Plagiarism: Using another person's ideas, text, data, figures, or words without proper attribution or citation, including self-plagiarism (duplicate publication without clear cross-referencing).
• Data Fabrication and Falsification: Making up research data or results (fabrication), or manipulating research materials, equipment, processes, changing/omitting data, or misrepresenting results so that the research record is not accurately represented (falsification).
• Redundant / Duplicate Publication: Submitting or publishing the same manuscript (or substantially overlapping data/findings) in multiple journals concurrently or sequentially without editorial permission.
• Authorship Violations: Ghost authorship (excluding individuals who made substantial contributions), gift/guest authorship (including individuals who did not contribute), or failing to obtain consent from all listed authors.
• Undisclosed Conflicts of Interest: Failing to declare financial, personal, or professional relationships that could inappropriately bias the research or peer review process.
• Manipulation of Peer Review: Providing fraudulent reviewer suggestions, intercepting peer review correspondence, or creating fake reviewer accounts to bypass genuine editorial evaluation.

When suspected misconduct is identified, ISSR follows the standardized COPE Flowcharts framework:

• Initial Assessment: The Editor-in-Chief evaluates the allegation or automated screening flags (e.g., plagiarism detection software reports) to determine credibility and substance.
• Author Response: The corresponding author is contacted confidentially and given an opportunity to respond to the allegations within a specified timeframe (typically 7 to 14 days).
• Editorial Board Review: If the response is unsatisfactory or absent, the editorial board consults with institutional authorities or subject matter experts following COPE guidelines.
• Resolution: Depending on the severity of the infraction, appropriate actions are executed swiftly.

Depending on the proof and severity of the misconduct, ISSR reserves the right to impose the following sanctions:

• Immediate rejection of the submitted manuscript.
• Formal retraction or expression of concern notice published for accepted or published articles.
• Temporary or permanent ban of the offending author(s) from submitting future manuscripts to ISSR.
• Notification of the misconduct to the author's academic institution, funding body, or relevant professional association.

ISSR ensures strict confidentiality for individuals reporting suspected misconduct (whistleblowers). All allegations are handled fairly, objectively, and without prejudice. Authors wishing to appeal an editorial decision regarding misconduct allegations may submit a formal request with supporting counter-evidence to the editorial office email.