Research and the Role of the Research Ethics Commission

Plagiarism has become a recurring ethical violation in academic research, damaging the credibility of scientific endeavors and the integrity of intellectual property. The Research Ethics Commission, as an independent institution, is expected to mitigate such violations through ethical clearance and supervision. This study aims to examine the role and challenges of the Research Ethics Commission in preventing plagiarism and ensuring ethical research practices. Using a qualitative approach with a case study method, the research analyzes secondary data from documented plagiarism cases in Indonesia between 2000-2023. The findings reveal that weak enforcement of ethical standards, lack of understanding of research ethics among academics, and procedural gaps in ethical clearance contribute to the prevalence of plagiarism. Moreover, the study emphasizes that ethical norms, rooted in rationality, objectivity, and justice, must be upheld consistently by researchers and research institutions. The conclusion underscores the urgency of strengthening the function and authority of the Research Ethics Commission, ensuring transparency and fairness in ethical assessments to protect the dignity of research subjects and uphold scientific integrity.