Retraction-Guidelines

At Global Journals®, we are committed to maintaining the accuracy, integrity, and trustworthiness of the scholarly record. Occasionally, it may become necessary to retract or correct published content to safeguard ethical publishing standards and ensure readers rely on valid, verified research.

Purpose of Retraction

01

Retractions are a corrective tool to alert readers about untrustworthy or flawed content caused by misconduct or honest error.

02

They help prevent duplicate publication, plagiarism, or undisclosed competing interests that may mislead readers.

03

The primary motive is to rectify the scientific record and strengthen reliability, not to punish authors.

Articles may be retracted for reasons including (but not limited to)

01

Evidence of plagiarism or copyright infringement.

02

Data fabrication, falsification, or image manipulation.

03

Duplicate or redundant publication.

04

Undisclosed conflicts of interest that undermine credibility.

05

Major errors in methods or results that invalidate conclusions.

06

Unethical research practices, including failure to secure ethical approval for human/animal studies.

Journal editors are expected to retract or reject an article when the following abnormalities are found

  • If it is proved that the research contains vague, erroneous, manipulated, or misrepresented data.
  • If the research is already published (fully or partly) without written consent for republishing or cross-referencing from the original author.
  • If plagiarism is detected at any stage.
  • If the research is found to be immoral or unethical.

Editors may seek further clarification or issue an Expression of Concern if

  • There is no concrete proof of misconduct but reasonable suspicion exists.
  • Editors have evidence of unreliability but lack faith that authors will resolve the issue.
  • There is doubt about the reliability of an inquiry authority or its incomplete outcome.
  • An investigation is likely to face inordinate delay.

Correction vs Retraction

Editors should consider issuing a corrigendum (correction) instead of a retraction when

  • The publication is reliable overall but contains minor unintentional mistakes that may cause confusion.
  • The author list is incorrect, either including unqualified individuals or excluding genuine contributors.

Withdrawals or disclaimers are discouraged if

  • The only reason is adding or deleting authors without a genuine justification.

MAJOR CAUSES LEADING TO RETRACTION

Erratum

Issued when minor errors are introduced by the journal during editing or production.

Corrigendum

Issued when authors correct unintentional mistakes.

Plagiarism

Even partial plagiarism requires justification, either correction with proper attribution or rejection.

Retraction Responsibility

Global Journals® adheres to the principles of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), ensuring

01

Final responsibility lies with the editor, even if other editors disagree.

02

Retractions must be issued promptly once concrete proof of plagiarism or falsified data is available, delays harm research integrity.

03

If legal proceedings are pending, editors may issue an Expression of Concern until a verdict is reached.

04

Retractions must be linked to the original publication (online and print), and updated after investigation outcomes.

Retraction Format

01

A retraction notice must contain the exact reason for retraction, specifying whether due to misconduct or honest error.

02

The retractor’s name should appear in the retraction heading.

03

The notice must be reflected in all versions of the journal (online and print).

04

Retracted articles should remain permanently available but clearly marked as “Retracted” across all platforms.

Intimation of Retraction

A retraction notice should

  • Be clearly visible in the article title alongside the author name.
  • Be displayed prominently to prevent adverse effects on readers.
  • Be freely accessible to all readers.
  • Mention the name of the person or body retracting the paper.
  • Describe the exact cause of retraction.
  • Avoid offensive or defamatory language.

01

Controversial Authorship

  • Retraction is not justified if authorship disputes arise without proof of misconduct.
  • Editors may publish a corrigendum if authentic proof of author contribution changes is provided.

02

Detachment from Retracted Article

  • All listed authors share joint responsibility; even non-guilty authors should remain linked for record integrity.

03

Legal Complications

  • Authors may challenge retractions or refusals. Editors should ensure authors are aware of procedures in advance.
  • Clear contracts and adherence to OARS/COPE guidelines protect journals legally.
  • Retraction notices must be transparent, factual, and free from offensive tone.

Retractions are a safeguard for readers, researchers, and the academic community. At Global Journals®, they are used not as punishment but as a tool for preserving the accuracy, trust, and reliability of the scholarly record.