Retraction Policy
SEARCH: Science Education Research Journal is committed to maintaining the accuracy, integrity, reliability, and transparency of the scholarly record. The journal recognizes that the credibility of scientific communication depends on the publication of research that meets appropriate standards of methodological rigor, research ethics, originality, and responsible reporting. This Retraction Policy establishes the principles and procedures for correcting or retracting published articles when credible evidence raises substantial concerns about their reliability, originality, ethical compliance, or publication integrity.
This policy is informed by internationally recognized publication ethics principles, including the guidance of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE). Retraction is primarily intended to correct the scholarly record and alert readers when a published article contains serious problems that undermine confidence in its findings or conclusions. It is not intended solely as a punitive measure against authors. The journal will consider each case individually and determine the most appropriate action in proportion to the available evidence and the seriousness of the concern.
SEARCH: Science Education Research Journal may consider retracting a published article when a formal assessment establishes sufficient grounds to conclude that the article is seriously unreliable, misleading, or affected by a substantial breach of research or publication ethics. Grounds for retraction may include, but are not limited to, the following circumstances:
1.1. Unreliable Research Findings. Credible evidence that the principal findings or conclusions are unreliable because of major errors, data fabrication, data falsification, inappropriate image manipulation, serious analytical flaws, or other substantial methodological problems that compromise the validity or interpretation of the research.
1.2. Plagiarism and Unauthorized Use of Material. Substantial plagiarism, unattributed appropriation of ideas or research outputs, unauthorized use of protected materials, or significant overlap with previously published work that violates accepted scholarly publishing standards and materially compromises the originality or integrity of the article.
1.3. Duplicate or Redundant Publication. Evidence that substantially the same work has been published elsewhere without appropriate disclosure, justification, or permission, where the duplication materially misrepresents the originality of the publication or compromises the scholarly record.
1.4. Research Ethics Violations. Substantiated evidence that the research was conducted or reported in violation of applicable ethical requirements, including the absence of required ethical approval, informed consent, permissions, or appropriate safeguards for human participants or other protected research subjects, where the violation materially affects the acceptability or integrity of the published work.
1.5. Compromised Peer Review. Evidence of fraudulent, manipulated, or otherwise seriously compromised peer review that materially undermines confidence in the editorial assessment and publication decision.
1.6. Undisclosed Conflicts of Interest. Substantiated evidence of undisclosed conflicts of interest, serious legal or ethical concerns, or other relevant circumstances that materially affect the credibility, interpretation, or reliability of the published article.
1.7. Other Serious Misconduct. Other substantiated forms of research or publication misconduct that cause the Editor-in-Chief to conclude that the article's reliability, integrity, or compliance with fundamental publication ethics standards can no longer be reasonably maintained.
Retraction will not be based solely on an allegation, an author's disagreement with a reviewer, a change in scholarly interpretation, or an unverified automated detection result. The journal will assess the strength and relevance of the available evidence before deciding whether retraction or another editorial action is warranted.
A retraction investigation may be initiated following concerns raised by authors, readers, reviewers, editors, research institutions, funders, publishers, or other credible sources. Concerns should, where possible, identify the article in question, describe the suspected problem, and provide supporting information. The journal will assess the concern objectively, considering the credibility of the evidence, the potential impact on the published findings, and the seriousness of the alleged violation.
The Editor-in-Chief or a designated editor may request an explanation from the authors, supporting data, research records, ethical approval documentation, permissions, or other relevant materials. Where necessary and appropriate, the journal may consult independent experts or contact the authors' affiliated institutions, research ethics committees, funders, or other relevant bodies to obtain additional information. Any external consultation will be conducted with due regard for confidentiality, fairness, and the limits of the journal's investigative authority.
Authors will ordinarily be given a reasonable opportunity to respond to the concerns and provide relevant evidence before a final decision is made. However, where an immediate public notice is necessary to protect readers or the integrity of the scholarly record, the journal may take appropriate interim action while further investigation continues. A lack of response from an author will not automatically establish misconduct, but the journal may proceed on the basis of the available evidence.
The final decision will be made by the Editor-in-Chief or an appropriately authorized editor, based on the evidence, the reliability of the published work, and applicable publication ethics principles. Editors who have a personal, professional, financial, or other relevant conflict of interest must not participate in the investigation or decision. Where necessary, responsibility for handling the case will be transferred to an independent editor.
The journal will seek to handle investigations fairly, confidentially, and without unnecessary delay. Confidentiality will be maintained to the extent appropriate, while recognizing that consultation with institutions or relevant parties may be necessary to establish the facts and protect the scholarly record.
When retraction is justified, SEARCH: Science Education Research Journal will publish a formal retraction notice as promptly as reasonably possible after the decision has been made. The notice will be freely accessible, clearly identified, and linked to the original article. Its purpose is to explain the reason for the retraction and alert readers to the status of the publication without making unsupported or unnecessarily accusatory statements.
As appropriate, the retraction notice will:
3.1. Clear Identification. Use the term “Retraction” prominently in the notice title and make the notice distinguishable from ordinary corrections, editorial announcements, or other publication updates.
3.2. Article Identification. Identify the retracted article by its title, author names, journal publication details, publication date, and DOI or other persistent identifier where available.
3.3. Explanation of Reasons. State the principal reasons for retraction in a clear, factual, and proportionate manner. Where established, the notice should distinguish between an honest error, unreliable findings, and research or publication misconduct, without making claims that exceed the evidence.
3.4. Responsibility for Retraction. Identify the party issuing the retraction, such as the journal, the authors, or both, as appropriate to the circumstances and the evidence available.
3.5. Linking and Discoverability. Provide a direct link to the original article and ensure that the notice is accessible to readers. Where technically feasible, the journal will update the article's metadata and notify relevant indexing, abstracting, or repository services of the retraction.
A retraction notice should remain part of the permanent scholarly record. The journal will not remove or conceal the notice merely because the authors disagree with the decision, provided that the retraction has been issued in accordance with the journal's procedures.
To preserve transparency, traceability, and the integrity of the scholarly record, a retracted article will generally remain available in the journal's online archive rather than being silently removed. Its retracted status will be clearly indicated on the article landing page and, where technically feasible, on the full-text HTML and PDF versions. A visible retraction statement or watermark may be applied to the article files, and the formal retraction notice will be linked to the original publication.
The journal will take reasonable steps to update the relevant publication metadata and inform indexing, abstracting, and repository services when appropriate. If removal or restriction of an article is required by law, a court order, a serious privacy or safety concern, or another exceptional circumstance, the journal will consider the appropriate action while preserving a public record of the editorial action to the extent legally permissible.
Retraction does not necessarily mean that every statement in an article is incorrect. Rather, it indicates that a serious problem has been identified that warrants a formal warning to readers and correction of the scholarly record. Readers should consult the retraction notice to understand the specific reasons and implications.
Not every error or concern requires retraction. When a problem is limited in scope and does not undermine the overall reliability of the article, the journal may publish a correction, corrigendum, or other appropriate editorial notice. The type of action will depend on the nature and seriousness of the problem, its effect on the published findings, and whether the article can remain reliable after correction.
5.1. Correction. A correction may be appropriate for an identified error that can be rectified without invalidating the main findings or conclusions. The correction notice will describe the error and the changes made to the publication. Corrections must be linked to the original article and made sufficiently visible to readers.
5.2. Expression of Concern. If substantial concerns arise but the available evidence remains inconclusive, or an investigation is ongoing and cannot be completed promptly, the journal may publish an Expression of Concern. The notice will inform readers of the nature of the concern without presenting unresolved allegations as established facts. The journal may update or replace the notice when further evidence becomes available.
The journal may subsequently publish a correction, issue a retraction, withdraw the Expression of Concern, or take another appropriate action depending on the outcome of the investigation. The objective is to ensure that the editorial response is proportionate to the evidence and that readers receive accurate information about the status of the article.
Authors are expected to cooperate in good faith with investigations concerning their published work, provide relevant information when reasonably requested, and promptly notify the journal if they identify substantial errors that may affect the reliability of their findings or conclusions. Authors should provide accurate explanations, supporting documentation, and any relevant corrections to the record. Their cooperation will be considered as part of the investigation but will not replace an independent assessment of the evidence.
Authors will ordinarily have an opportunity to respond to the concerns and to the evidence considered by the journal. Responses will be assessed fairly and documented as appropriate. The journal will distinguish substantiated findings from unresolved allegations and will not treat an allegation alone as proof of misconduct.
An author's disagreement with a retraction decision, or refusal to consent to retraction, does not automatically prevent the journal from proceeding when the evidence supports that action. The journal's decision will be based on the reliability of the article and applicable publication ethics principles rather than solely on whether the authors agree with the proposed action. Any author response relevant to the scholarly record may be considered for appropriate documentation or publication, subject to editorial review.
Decisions concerning corrections, Expressions of Concern, and retractions will be based on the available evidence, the reliability of the research, and recognized publication ethics principles. Such decisions must not be improperly influenced by commercial interests, institutional pressure, personal relationships, author reputation, funding sources, or the potential impact on the journal's reputation. Editors must disclose and manage relevant conflicts of interest and ensure that cases are handled independently and fairly.
SEARCH: Science Education Research Journal aims to handle post-publication concerns consistently, proportionately, and transparently. The journal will maintain appropriate records of editorial decisions and notices and may revise its procedures when necessary to remain aligned with recognized publication ethics guidance and developments in scholarly publishing.
This policy is informed by the publication ethics guidance of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), particularly its Retraction Guidelines. SEARCH: Science Education Research Journal will consider relevant COPE recommendations when assessing suspected publication misconduct and determining appropriate post-publication action. This policy should be read alongside the journal's other publication ethics, correction, plagiarism, and editorial policies.
Questions, concerns, or requests for clarification regarding this policy may be directed to the editorial team of SEARCH: Science Education Research Journal through the journal's official website: https://e-jurnal.iainsorong.ac.id/index.php/jaser/index.
