CORRECTION AND RETRACTION POLICY

Correction and Retraction Policy

1. Purpose and Scope

The journal is committed to maintaining the accuracy and integrity of published articles. Errors or integrity concerns are addressed proportionately through corrections, expressions of concern, or retractions.

Action may be required because of unintentional errors or ethical misconduct. Retraction does not, in itself, establish intent or wrongdoing on the part of all authors.

2. Correction

A correction is issued when an error requires notification to readers but the principal results and conclusions of the article remain reliable.

Examples include localized errors in data, tables, figures, author identification, or funding and conflict-of-interest information. Authorship changes must comply with the journal's Authorship Policy.

The correction notice explains the erroneous content, the correction, and its effect on the interpretation of the article. Differences of scientific opinion or advances in knowledge after publication do not automatically constitute grounds for a correction.

3. Expression of Concern

The editor may issue an expression of concern when readers need to be informed of a serious issue but the available evidence or assessment findings are insufficient to determine the final action.

The notice explains the reasons for concern without attributing unproven wrongdoing. Once the assessment is complete, the journal publishes an update on the findings and any subsequent action.

4. Retraction

Retraction is considered when sufficient evidence establishes:

  • Unreliable results or conclusions arising from major errors, fabrication, or falsification.
  • Substantial plagiarism or unjustifiable duplicate publication.
  • Research or activities that seriously breach ethical requirements.
  • Unauthorized use of material that creates serious issues for the publication.
  • Manipulation of the peer review process or a major undisclosed conflict of interest that materially compromises the integrity of the article.

For community service articles, these grounds also include fabrication of activity implementation, evaluation results, or evidence of achievements.

A dispute over author order alone does not automatically justify retraction when the integrity and reliability of the work are not in question. Each case is assessed on the basis of the evidence and the relevant policies.

5. Reporting and Assessment

Authors, readers, reviewers, or other parties may report concerns through the official contact channels provided on the journal's Contact page. Reports must include the article title or DOI, the disputed content, an explanation, and supporting evidence.

The editor assesses the report and requests a response from the authors. Where necessary, the editor consults independent experts or requests an institutional investigation. Conflicts of interest in handling the case must be avoided.

Authors are given an opportunity to respond. However, editorial decisions supported by sufficient evidence need not depend on the agreement of all authors. The assessment follows the journal's Policy on Handling Allegations of Research and Publication Misconduct.

6. Notices and Version Management

Post-publication notices must:

  • Carry a clear title and identify the type of action taken.
  • Identify the article, including its title, authors, and DOI, where available.
  • Provide a factual explanation of the reasons, the extent of the changes, and the party issuing the notice.
  • Be freely available and linked bidirectionally to the relevant article.

Substantive changes are not made without disclosure. Corrected versions include the date and a description of the changes; previous versions are retained in the archive. Retracted articles are clearly labeled on the article page and in full-text files, including PDFs.

Journal management updates the metadata and communicates the changes to the relevant DOI and indexing services, as supported by the available facilities.

7. Content Removal and Submission Withdrawal

Retraction generally preserves the article in the archive with clear labeling. Removal of the full text is considered only in exceptional circumstances, such as legal obligations, serious privacy violations, or safety risks. Metadata and a notice explaining the reasons are retained wherever possible.

Withdrawal of an unpublished manuscript is distinct from retraction of a published article. Requests to withdraw a submission must be submitted to the editor with the reasons and the authors' agreement.

8. Appeals and Effective Date

Authors may appeal by providing new evidence or an explanation of procedural errors. The review is conducted by a party without a conflict of interest and, wherever possible, someone other than the original decision-maker.

This policy takes effect on the date announced by the journal and is reviewed periodically.