Retraction Policy

A published article may be retracted if it is determined that:
• The data or findings are significantly unreliable due to errors, miscalculations, or experimental flaws.
• Ethical violations have occurred, such as data fabrication, falsification, or plagiarism.
• There is evidence of undeclared conflicts of interest or unauthorized use of copyrighted material.
• The research breaches ethical standards involving human or animal subjects.

Retractions are issued to alert readers to major issues while preserving the integrity of the scientific record. Retraction notices will clearly state:
• The title and authors of the retracted article.
• The reason(s) for the retraction, including any supporting evidence.
• A statement clarifying whether the error was unintentional or due to misconduct.

Retraction notices will remain permanently linked to the original article's DOI and will be freely accessible to readers. The original article will not be removed but will be clearly marked as retracted.

Correction Policy

In cases where the article’s findings remain reliable, but minor errors or inaccuracies are identified, a correction will be issued instead of a retraction. Examples include:
• Typographical errors or formatting mistakes that do not affect the interpretation of data.
• Errors in author affiliations or funding acknowledgments.
• Inaccuracies in references or minor methodological descriptions.

Corrections will follow a thorough review by the editorial team to ensure they address the issue without compromising the article's validity. A correction notice will include:
• A clear description of the error.
• The corrected content.
• A reference to the original article’s DOI.

Procedure for Retraction or Correction

An article may need to be retracted if it is deemed unreliable due to a significant error, such as a calculation mistake or an experimental flaw, or if unethical practices are identified, including the fabrication of data or intentional misrepresentation. Retraction may also be warranted in cases of plagiarism, unresolved conflicts of interest, failure to provide proper citations for previously published findings, or copyright infringements involving any content or data.

When retraction becomes necessary, specific measures are taken to minimize potential harm while upholding principles of transparency and impartiality. A detailed retraction notice will be issued, clearly stating the title of the article, the names of the authors, and the reasons for the retraction. This notice will remain openly accessible to ensure all readers are informed.

In instances where the core findings of a study remain valid and the interpretation or conclusions are unaffected, retraction may not be appropriate. Instead, a correction may suffice. Any request for corrections should be promptly directed to the publisher or editorial office upon identifying an issue. Such requests undergo careful review by the editor or editorial board to ensure that the integrity of the primary findings is maintained. The correction will include a link to the original Digital Object Identifier (DOI) for reference.

The retraction or correction process may be initiated by authors, readers, or the editorial team. Requests must be submitted to the editorial office with supporting evidence of the issue. Each case will be carefully reviewed by the editor-in-chief and, where necessary, external experts to ensure an impartial decision.

COPE Council. COPE Guidelines: Retraction Guidelines. November 2019.
https://doi.org/10.24318/cope.2019.1.4