Retraction, Correction, and Withdrawal Policy

Policy Statement

The International Journal of Engineering Concepts and Management is committed to preserving the integrity, accuracy, and reliability of the scholarly record. While every effort is made to ensure that published articles meet the highest standards of scientific quality and ethical publishing, situations may arise where published or submitted manuscripts require correction, withdrawal, or retraction.

The journal follows a transparent and fair process when addressing errors, ethical concerns, or research misconduct. Decisions are made after careful evaluation of the available evidence and, where appropriate, consultation with the authors, reviewers, editorial board members, and relevant institutions.

Corrections

A correction may be issued when an article contains an error that does not invalidate the overall findings or conclusions of the research but may affect its accuracy or clarity.

Corrections may be published in cases involving:

  • Typographical or formatting errors that affect interpretation.
  • Errors in author names, affiliations, or contact information.
  • Incorrect figures, tables, or supplementary material.
  • Minor errors in data presentation or references.
  • Other factual inaccuracies that do not compromise the scientific validity of the article.

Corrections are published promptly and are permanently linked to the original article to ensure transparency and maintain the integrity of the scholarly record.

Retractions

A published article may be retracted when there is clear evidence that the findings are unreliable or when serious violations of publication ethics have occurred. Retraction is intended to correct the scholarly record and inform readers that the published work should no longer be considered part of the reliable scientific literature.

Retraction may be considered in circumstances including, but not limited to:

  • Plagiarism or substantial copyright infringement.
  • Data fabrication or data falsification.
  • Duplicate or redundant publication.
  • Serious methodological or analytical errors that invalidate the findings.
  • Unethical research practices.
  • Manipulation of the peer-review process.
  • Undisclosed conflicts of interest that significantly affect the integrity of the publication.
  • Fraudulent authorship or other serious publication misconduct.

Where appropriate, authors will be given an opportunity to respond before a final decision is made. A retraction notice will clearly state the reason for the retraction and will remain permanently associated with the original article.

Manuscript Withdrawal

Authors may request the withdrawal of a manuscript before it has been formally accepted for publication. Such requests should be submitted in writing by the corresponding author, together with the consent of all co-authors where applicable.

The Editorial Office may also withdraw a manuscript during the editorial or peer-review process if:

  • Significant ethical concerns are identified.
  • Evidence of plagiarism or duplicate submission is discovered.
  • False or misleading information has been provided.
  • The authors fail to respond to editorial communications within a reasonable period.
  • The manuscript is found to be outside the scope or publication standards of the journal.

Once an article has been formally published, it cannot ordinarily be withdrawn. In such cases, any concerns will be addressed through a correction or retraction, as appropriate.

Expressions of Concern

In situations where an investigation is ongoing and conclusive evidence is not yet available, the journal may publish an Expression of Concern to alert readers about potential issues affecting the reliability or integrity of a published article. The notice will remain associated with the article until the investigation has been concluded.

Investigation Process

All allegations relating to published or submitted manuscripts are handled confidentially and impartially. The journal evaluates each case based on the available evidence and may seek clarification from the authors, reviewers, editors, or relevant institutions where necessary.

Throughout the investigation, the journal is committed to ensuring fairness, maintaining confidentiality, and protecting the rights of all parties involved. Appropriate editorial action will be taken once the investigation has been completed.

Author Responsibilities

Authors are expected to notify the Editorial Office promptly if they discover a significant error or inaccuracy in their published work. Authors are expected to cooperate fully with any investigation and provide additional information or supporting documentation when requested.

Editorial Responsibilities

The Editorial Board is responsible for ensuring that all decisions relating to corrections, withdrawals, and retractions are made objectively, transparently, and in accordance with the journal's ethical standards. Editorial actions are undertaken solely to preserve the integrity of the scholarly record and are independent of commercial or personal interests.

Policy Review

The International Journal of Engineering Concepts and Management reserves the right to revise this Retraction, Correction, and Withdrawal Policy to reflect developments in publication ethics, international best practices, and scholarly publishing standards. The most current version published on the journal's website shall apply to all submissions and published articles.