Retraction and Correction policies

IJTACI is committed to maintaining the integrity, transparency, and reliability of the scholarly record. The journal follows internationally recognized publishing ethics principles and takes appropriate action when errors, ethical concerns, or research misconduct are identified in published articles. The following guideline may also be helpful: COPE Guidelines for Retracting Articles.

This policy applies to corrections, retractions, expressions of concern, and article withdrawals.

Corrections

Minor Corrections

Minor errors that do not affect the scientific integrity, validity, interpretation, or conclusions of an article may be corrected without issuing a formal correction notice. Examples include:

  • Typographical errors
  • Formatting issues
  • Author affiliation updates
  • Minor metadata errors

The corrected version may replace the previous version while maintaining a record of changes.

Major Corrections (Corrigendum or Erratum)

A formal correction notice will be published when significant errors are identified that affect part of the article but do not invalidate the overall findings.

Examples include:

  • Errors in figures or tables
  • Incorrect data presentation
  • Omission of important information
  • Errors in author names or affiliations
  • Errors in references affecting interpretation

The correction notice will:

  • Be linked to the original article.
  • Clearly identify the corrected content.
  • State the reason for the correction.
  • Remain permanently accessible.

Retractions

A published article may be retracted when there is clear evidence that its findings are unreliable due to error or misconduct.

Retractions may be initiated by:

  • Authors
  • Editors
  • Reviewers
  • Institutions
  • Readers
  • Research integrity bodies

Retraction may occur for reasons including but not limited to:

Research Misconduct

  • Data fabrication
  • Data falsification
  • Image manipulation
  • Plagiarism
  • Duplicate publication
  • Redundant publication
  • Citation manipulation

Ethical Violations

  • Lack of required ethical approval
  • Lack of informed consent where applicable
  • Violation of research ethics standards
  • Undisclosed conflicts of interest affecting the integrity of the work

Serious Errors

  • Major methodological flaws
  • Serious computational errors
  • Incorrect conclusions resulting from invalid data

Retraction Procedure

The journal will conduct an objective and fair investigation before making a retraction decision.

The process may include:

  1. Receiving and documenting concerns.
  2. Contacting the corresponding author.
  3. Requesting explanations and supporting evidence.
  4. Consulting editors, reviewers, or external experts.
  5. Contacting the authors’ institution when necessary.
  6. Making a final editorial decision.

Authors will be given an opportunity to respond before a final decision is made.

Retraction Notice

When an article is retracted:

  • The original article will remain online to preserve the scholarly record.
  • The article will be clearly marked as "Retracted."
  • A retraction notice will be published and linked to the article.
  • The notice will explain the reasons for retraction.
  • The notice will identify who requested the retraction whenever appropriate.

The journal will not remove retracted articles except in exceptional legal circumstances.

Expression of Concern

The journal may publish an Expression of Concern when:

  • An investigation is ongoing.
  • Evidence of misconduct is inconclusive.
  • Serious concerns exist but a final decision cannot yet be reached.

The Expression of Concern will remain linked to the article until the matter is resolved.

Article Withdrawal

Withdrawal applies only to articles that have been accepted or published online ahead of issue assignment but have not yet become part of the final published record.

An article may be withdrawn in cases of:

  • Accidental duplicate submission
  • Publisher error
  • Serious ethical concerns identified before final publication
  • Legal issues

A withdrawal notice will be posted in place of the withdrawn article.

Removal of Articles

The journal will preserve the scholarly record and will not normally remove published content.

Article removal may occur only in exceptional circumstances, including:

  • Court orders
  • Defamation
  • Copyright infringement
  • Legal restrictions
  • Significant risks to public safety

In such cases, bibliographic information will remain available whenever possible.

Responsibility of Authors

Authors are expected to:

  • Report errors discovered after publication.
  • Cooperate fully in investigations.
  • Provide requested data and documentation.
  • Maintain accurate research records.

Failure to cooperate may result in editorial action.