Correction and Retraction

POST-PUBLICATION INTEGRITY

Correction and Retraction Policy

Transparent post-publication action to protect the accuracy, reliability, and traceability of the scholarly record.

Editorial principle
Published scholarly records should not be silently rewritten or removed to conceal a substantive error. When a material problem is identified, FUADUNA uses a visible and proportionate notice that preserves the publication history whenever legally and ethically possible.

1. Scope

This policy applies to articles and other scholarly content published by FUADUNA. Concerns may be raised by authors, readers, reviewers, editors, institutions, publishers, or other stakeholders. Editorial action is determined by the seriousness of the issue, the reliability of the published work, the available evidence, and whether the problem can be corrected without misleading readers.

2. Types of Post-Publication Action

Editorial action When it may be appropriate
Minor amendment A non-substantive typographical or formatting correction that does not alter meaning, attribution, data, interpretation, or conclusions. It must not be used to conceal a material change.
Correction / Erratum / Corrigendum A public correction for an identifiable error, omission, metadata problem, disclosure issue, or reporting problem when the article remains substantially reliable.
Expression of Concern A temporary public notice when credible and serious concerns exist but the evidence is incomplete, an investigation is ongoing, or a reliable conclusion cannot yet be reached.
Retraction Used when the findings or publication process are seriously compromised and the article should no longer be relied upon.
Removal Exceptional action reserved for compelling legal, privacy, safety, or similar reasons. A bibliographic notice should remain whenever lawful and practicable.

3. Grounds for Retraction

Retraction may be considered when there is sufficiently supported evidence of one or more serious problems, including:

  • unreliable findings resulting from major error, fabrication, falsification, or inappropriate manipulation;
  • substantial plagiarism or unauthorized use of data or material;
  • redundant or duplicate publication without adequate disclosure or justification;
  • serious ethical violations affecting participants, privacy, consent, permissions, or research conduct;
  • compromised or manipulated peer review, fictitious identities, paper-mill activity, or other interference with editorial integrity;
  • a material undisclosed competing interest that substantially affects interpretation or evaluation;
  • serious legal or copyright problems that make continued reliance on the publication inappropriate.

4. Editorial Procedure

  1. The concern is logged and assessed by the Editor-in-Chief or an independent handling editor when a conflict exists.
  2. The authors are normally invited to respond and provide relevant data, documentation, permissions, or clarification.
  3. The journal may seek independent expert advice or contact institutions, funders, other journals, or publishers when specialized investigation is necessary.
  4. The editor determines a proportionate outcome: no action, clarification, correction, expression of concern, retraction, or exceptional removal.
  5. The decision and supporting rationale are documented in the editorial record and communicated to relevant parties as appropriate.

5. Formal Notices

A correction, expression of concern, or retraction notice should be clearly titled, dated, freely accessible, and linked to the affected article wherever technically possible. The notice should identify the article, explain the reason and effect of the action, state who is issuing the notice, and distinguish established facts from unresolved concerns. Where technically supported, the journal may register a separate DOI or update DOI metadata to preserve machine-readable relationships between the article and the notice.

6. Preservation of the Record

Retracted articles are normally retained with a prominent retraction label and links to the retraction notice. The journal will not alter historical submission, acceptance, or publication dates to make a substantive amendment appear invisible. Removal of full text is exceptional; where removal is necessary, bibliographic information and an explanatory notice should remain accessible whenever legally possible.

7. Reporting a Concern and Appeals

Concerns should be submitted through the official FUADUNA Contact page and should identify the article, DOI or URL, describe the issue, and provide verifiable evidence where possible. Authors or other affected parties may request reconsideration by providing a reasoned explanation and new or relevant evidence. An appeal does not automatically suspend a necessary correction or retraction when the integrity of the scholarly record requires timely action.

Related FUADUNA policies: Publication Ethics  |  Plagiarism Policy  |  Article Withdrawal Policy