Retraction and Correction
1. Retraction
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Purpose of Retraction: Retraction is carried out to correct the scientific literature and ensure accuracy, not to punish authors. It is done when there is evidence that findings are unreliable, usually due to honest errors (e.g., calculation or experimental errors) or dishonest errors (e.g., data fabrication), plagiarism, or undisclosed duplicate publication.
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Retraction Procedure:
- Retraction can be initiated by authors, editors, or readers who provide sufficient information.
- Editors will conduct an investigation, and retraction will only be made after confirmation of a violation.
- A retraction notice will be published in the journal, stating that the article has been retracted and providing the reasons for the retraction.
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Impact of Retraction:
- Retracted articles remain in the journal archive but are marked as retracted to ensure transparency and prevent readers from relying on the article.
- Future references to the retracted article in the literature should note its retracted status.
2. Correction
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Purpose of Correction: Correction is made to address errors affecting the interpretation or credibility of the article but not invalidating the main findings. Corrections can also be made for minor errors such as spelling mistakes, typographical errors, or adding information that does not affect the research results.
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Correction Procedure:
- Correction requests can be submitted by authors, editors, or readers.
- Editors will assess the significance of the correction and determine whether it needs to be published.
- If approved, the correction will be published in the next issue of the journal and linked to the original article.
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Types of Corrections:
- Errata: Corrections of errors made by the publisher or journal, such as printing errors.
- Corrigenda: Corrections of errors made by the authors, such as data or analysis errors.
3. Transparency and Communication
- Public Notification: Retractions and corrections will be openly announced on the journal's website, with a complete explanation of the reasons and context behind the decision.
- Communication with Authors: Authors will be informed and, if possible, involved in the retraction or correction process to ensure mutual understanding and agreement.
4. Compliance with Publication Ethics
- Maintenance of Scientific Integrity: This policy aims to uphold integrity and transparency in the scientific literature and ensure that all published information is accurate and reliable.