Retraction and Withdrawal Policy

BIM PANGURIPAN: Journal on Society, Civilization, and Human Empowerment uses corrections, expressions of concern, withdrawals, and retractions to maintain the integrity of the scholarly record.

1. General Principle

The primary purpose of a retraction is to correct the scholarly record and alert readers when published content is sufficiently unreliable or seriously compromised. Retraction is not intended primarily as a punishment for authors.

2. Retraction

The journal may consider retracting an article when there is clear evidence that the publication contains serious problems that affect its reliability or integrity.

Possible grounds include:

  • Fabrication of data or community activities;

  • Falsification of data, images, or program outcomes;

  • Serious plagiarism;

  • Redundant or duplicate publication;

  • Unauthorized use of data or materials;

  • Serious copyright or legal violations;

  • Unethical involvement of community participants;

  • Major undisclosed conflicts of interest that materially affect the publication;

  • Manipulation or compromise of the peer-review process;

  • Other circumstances that substantially undermine the reliability of the publication.

These grounds are consistent with established COPE retraction guidance.

3. Correction Instead of Retraction

A correction may be more appropriate when the main findings and conclusions remain reliable but a limited portion of the article contains an error.

Examples include:

  • Typographical or factual errors;

  • Incorrect author information;

  • Limited data errors;

  • Incorrect labels in tables or figures;

  • Minor omissions;

  • Other errors that can be transparently corrected without invalidating the article.

COPE guidance recommends correction where a limited error can adequately address the concern while the publication remains reliable.

4. Expression of Concern

If there is a credible concern about the reliability or integrity of an article but the available evidence is inconclusive, the journal may publish an Expression of Concern while further information is obtained.

This may be appropriate when an institutional investigation is pending or when reliable evidence cannot yet be established.

5. Article Withdrawal Before Publication

An accepted manuscript may be withdrawn before formal publication when necessary, for example because of:

  • Serious ethical concerns;

  • Major undisclosed conflict of interest;

  • Duplicate submission;

  • Serious plagiarism;

  • Legal or copyright concerns;

  • Author request supported by legitimate reasons;

  • Technical or editorial circumstances that prevent responsible publication.

Withdrawal after acceptance does not automatically imply misconduct.

6. Author-Initiated Withdrawal

Authors who request withdrawal should provide a written explanation.

Once an article has been formally published and entered into the scholarly record, authors generally may not simply remove it without an appropriate editorial process.

7. Retraction Procedure

Before issuing a retraction, the journal may:

  1. Assess the evidence;

  2. Contact the corresponding author;

  3. Request explanations or supporting documentation;

  4. Consult reviewers, editors, or subject experts when appropriate;

  5. Contact relevant institutions when necessary;

  6. Determine whether correction, expression of concern, or retraction is appropriate.

The journal may proceed with editorial action when sufficient evidence exists, even if an institutional investigation has not yet reached a conclusion.

8. Retraction Notice

A retraction notice should:

  • Clearly identify the retracted article;

  • Be linked to the original article;

  • Clearly state that the article has been retracted;

  • Explain the reason for retraction;

  • Identify who initiated the retraction;

  • Remain freely accessible;

  • Use factual and objective language.

These elements reflect COPE recommendations for transparent retraction notices.

9. Preservation of the Scholarly Record

Retracted articles will normally remain part of the journal's archival record, with a prominent retraction notice and clear indication of their retracted status.

The purpose is to maintain transparency and prevent readers from confusing a retracted publication with a valid publication.

10. Community-Related Retractions

For community-service articles, retraction may be considered when serious problems involve:

  • Fabricated community participation;

  • Fabricated beneficiaries;

  • Invented program activities;

  • Falsified impact measurements;

  • Misrepresented community outcomes;

  • Unauthorized publication of sensitive community information;

  • Serious ethical violations involving participants.

11. Authorship Disputes

An authorship dispute alone does not normally justify retraction when the reliability of the published work is not in question. Appropriate correction of the author or contributor information may instead be considered when sufficient evidence supports the change.

12. Appeals

Authors may submit an appeal against an editorial decision by providing a reasoned explanation and relevant evidence.

The editor may review the decision or seek additional independent advice where appropriate.