Retractions

POACE Journal, Universitas Muhammadiyah Metro, is committed to maintaining the integrity, reliability, and transparency of the scholarly record. The journal may retract published articles when substantial errors, serious ethical violations, or publication integrity concerns render their findings unreliable or compromise the validity of the publication process.

The primary purpose of retraction is to protect the scholarly record and inform readers, rather than to punish authors.

1. Grounds for Retraction

Retraction may be considered under the following circumstances:

• Clear evidence of unreliable research findings resulting from major errors, data fabrication, falsification, or inappropriate data analysis.

• Substantial plagiarism, duplicate publication, or undisclosed redundant publication.

• Unauthorized use of copyrighted materials or serious violations of intellectual property rights.

• Significant violations of research ethics, including unethical treatment of research participants or improper research practices.

• Manipulation or serious irregularities in the peer-review or editorial evaluation process.

• Undisclosed conflicts of interest that substantially compromise the reliability or integrity of the published work.

• Other serious publication integrity concerns that cannot be adequately resolved through corrections.

Retractions may result from honest research errors or deliberate misconduct. A determination of intentional wrongdoing is not always necessary when sufficient evidence establishes that published findings are unreliable.

2. Editorial Assessment and Decision

The Editor-in-Chief or an authorized editor without a conflict of interest evaluates potential retractions based on available evidence and applicable publication ethics standards.

The editorial assessment may involve:

• Reviewing the published article, research data, and supporting documentation.

• Requesting explanations or responses from the authors.

• Consulting independent academic experts or research ethics committees.

• Coordinating with the authors' institutions or relevant authorities when necessary.

Authors are normally informed of the concerns and given a reasonable opportunity to respond before a final decision is made.

However, author agreement is not required when sufficient evidence justifies retraction.

Disagreements over scientific interpretations, unsupported allegations, or minor errors that can be adequately addressed through corrections do not normally constitute grounds for retraction.

3. Publication of Retraction Notices

When an article is retracted, POACE Journal publishes a formal retraction notice that:

• Clearly identifies the retracted article, including its title and DOI.

• Explains the reasons for retraction based on verified evidence.

• Identifies the party responsible for issuing the retraction.

• Indicates whether the authors agree or disagree with the decision, where relevant.

• States the date of retraction.

• Provides a permanent link between the retraction notice and the original article.

Retraction notices must be objective, transparent, and proportionate to the established findings.

The journal avoids unsupported accusations and does not automatically attribute responsibility to all authors when individual involvement has not been established.

4. Handling of Retracted Articles

Retracted articles normally remain accessible in the journal's online archive to preserve the transparency and continuity of the scholarly record.

The original article will be clearly identified as "Retracted", and its publication metadata will be updated where technically feasible.

The retraction notice will remain publicly accessible and permanently linked to the affected article.

Complete removal of published content is considered only in exceptional circumstances, such as legal requirements, serious privacy violations, or significant risks to individuals.

Retraction does not automatically revoke previously granted rights under the applicable publication license.

5. Commitment to Research and Publication Integrity

POACE Journal applies fair, evidence-based, and transparent procedures when addressing retractions.

The journal follows internationally recognized publication ethics principles, including relevant guidance from the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), while respecting applicable Indonesian regulations and institutional policies.

Through responsible retraction practices, POACE Journal seeks to maintain public confidence in scholarly communication and ensure the reliability of its published academic literature.

Contact: Editorial Office of POACE Journal, Universitas Muhammadiyah Metro, through the journal's official communication channels.

Related Policies: Publication Ethics, Allegations of Misconduct, Corrections, Authorship and Contributorship, Peer Review Policy, Conflict of Interest, and Post-publication Discussion.

Reference: Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) [email protected]