Withdrawal and Retraction Policy

The International Journal of Emerging Research Frontiers (IJERF) is committed to maintaining the integrity, transparency, and reliability of the scholarly record. This Withdrawal and Retraction Policy outlines the circumstances under which manuscripts may be withdrawn before publication or articles may be retracted after publication. The policy is intended to ensure ethical publishing practices and protect the quality of the scientific literature.

Article Withdrawal Policy

Authors may request withdrawal of a manuscript before it has been formally accepted for publication. Withdrawal requests must be submitted in writing by the corresponding author and must include a valid reason for the request.

A manuscript may be withdrawn under the following circumstances:

  • Discovery of significant errors in the submitted work.
  • Accidental duplicate submission to multiple journals.
  • Author disputes regarding authorship or contribution.
  • Ethical concerns identified before publication.
  • Other legitimate reasons approved by the editorial office.

Once a manuscript has entered the peer-review process, withdrawal requests will be evaluated by the editorial team. Authors are expected to cooperate with the journal and provide appropriate justification for withdrawal.

Withdrawal After Acceptance

Requests to withdraw manuscripts after acceptance are strongly discouraged because substantial editorial and reviewer resources have already been invested in the evaluation process. Such requests will be considered only under exceptional circumstances and must receive approval from the Editor-in-Chief.

Article Retraction Policy

A published article may be retracted when there is clear evidence that the findings are unreliable, misleading, or the result of unethical conduct. Retractions are issued to correct the scholarly record and inform readers of significant issues affecting the validity of published research.

Grounds for Retraction

  • Plagiarism or substantial unattributed copying.
  • Data fabrication or falsification.
  • Duplicate publication or redundant publication.
  • Unethical research practices.
  • Major errors that invalidate the research findings.
  • Manipulation of the peer-review process.
  • Undisclosed conflicts of interest that significantly affect the integrity of the work.
  • Violation of copyright or legal requirements.

Retraction Procedure

When concerns regarding a published article are brought to the attention of the journal, the editorial office will conduct an investigation. Authors may be asked to provide explanations, supporting documents, or additional information. The editorial board will review the evidence and determine the appropriate course of action.

If retraction is warranted, a formal retraction notice will be published. The original article will remain accessible as part of the scholarly record but will be clearly marked as retracted to ensure transparency.

Corrections and Errata

Minor errors that do not affect the overall validity or conclusions of an article may be corrected through the publication of an erratum or corrigendum rather than a full retraction. Such corrections will be linked to the original article and made available to readers.

Expression of Concern

In situations where an investigation is ongoing and sufficient evidence for retraction is not yet available, the journal may issue an Expression of Concern to inform readers about potential issues related to a published article.

Author Responsibilities

Authors are expected to promptly notify the journal if they discover significant errors or inaccuracies in their published work. Authors must cooperate fully with any investigation related to their publications.

Editorial Responsibility

The editorial team is responsible for handling withdrawal and retraction cases fairly, transparently, and confidentially. Decisions are made based on the available evidence and in accordance with recognized ethical publishing standards.

Preservation of the Scholarly Record

Retractions, corrections, and related notices are maintained permanently to preserve the integrity of the academic record. The journal believes that transparency in handling publication issues is essential for maintaining trust in scholarly communication.

By submitting manuscripts to IJERF, authors acknowledge and agree to comply with this Withdrawal and Retraction Policy.