Protect the scholarly record
The reliability and transparency of published scholarship take priority over individual, institutional, commercial, or reputational convenience.
Research Integrity
Protecting the Reliability of the Scholarly Record
A connected approach to evidence, fair process, editorial responsibility, and transparent correction across the publication lifecycle.
Treata ScholarsResearch Integrity
Our Approach
Integrity is a responsibility across the publication lifecycle
Treata Scholars treats research-integrity concerns as matters requiring evidence, proportionate assessment, fair process, and appropriate protection of the scholarly record. Screening tools may identify signals, but signals are not findings.
Assess evidence proportionately
Concerns should be evaluated in context. Similarity scores, automated flags, image signals, or unusual patterns do not by themselves establish misconduct.
Use fair process
Relevant parties should have an appropriate opportunity to respond, while confidentiality is maintained as far as the process reasonably permits.
Correct transparently
When the scholarly record requires correction, clarification, expression of concern, or retraction, the action should be visible and appropriately linked to the affected work.
Integrity Areas
Connected policies, not isolated rules
Potential concerns often involve more than one policy area. Treata’s framework connects the relevant standards so that cases can be assessed consistently.
Research Misconduct
Fabrication, falsification, serious departures from responsible research practice, and related concerns.
TS-RM-001 → Plagiarism & Text RecyclingUnattributed use, inappropriate recycling, redundant publication, and contextual assessment of textual overlap.
TS-PL-001 → Image IntegrityImage processing, source files, inappropriate manipulation, generated content, and evidentiary assessment.
TS-IMG-001 → Authorship ConcernsAuthorship eligibility, contributorship, changes in authorship, ghost authorship, and inappropriate attribution.
TS-AU-001 → Peer Review IntegrityConfidentiality, conflicts, reviewer identity, manipulation, coercive citation, and misuse of review material.
TS-PR-001 → Data IntegrityAvailability statements, access limitations, reliability, underlying evidence, code, and reproducibility.
TS-DATA-001 →When Concerns Arise
From concern to proportionate action
A concern may arise before publication, during peer review, or after publication. The appropriate response depends on the nature of the concern, the available evidence, the reliability of the work, and whether another body—such as a research institution—has a distinct investigative responsibility.
Treata’s role as publisher is centered on editorial assessment and stewardship of the scholarly record. A publisher may need to act on the record even when an institutional process is separate or still ongoing.
1
Receive & documentRecord the concern and identify the material at issue.
2
Initial assessmentDetermine relevance, urgency, evidence needs, and applicable policies.
3
Seek informationRequest proportionate clarification or supporting material where appropriate.
4
Editorial actionDecide what action is needed for the manuscript or scholarly record.
Post-Publication Record
Published scholarship may need visible amendment
Corrections, retractions, and expressions of concern serve different purposes. The appropriate mechanism depends on the reliability of the work, the nature of the problem, and the information available.