Retraction, Correction, and Expression of Concern Policy

The International Journal of Fundamental Research and Development is committed to maintaining the accuracy and integrity of the scholarly record. When errors, ethical concerns, or other issues affecting a published article come to light, the journal will take appropriate action in accordance with the guidance of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).

Corrections

A correction will be issued when a published article contains an error that affects the interpretation or accuracy of the work but does not invalidate the overall findings. Corrections may address mistakes in data, figures, authorship details, or other factual information. The corrected version will be clearly linked to the original article, and a notice explaining the nature of the correction will be published.

Expressions of Concern

An expression of concern may be issued when serious questions arise about the integrity or reliability of a published article, but a full investigation has not yet been completed or conclusive evidence is not yet available. The expression of concern will remain linked to the article until the matter is resolved through further investigation, correction, or retraction.

Retractions

A retraction will be issued when a published article is found to contain serious flaws that invalidate its findings or conclusions. This may result from data fabrication or falsification, plagiarism, unethical research practices, major errors in analysis, or other forms of misconduct. A retraction notice will clearly state the reasons for the retraction and will remain permanently linked to the original article. The article itself will be marked as retracted but will not be removed from the journal’s archive.

Process

Concerns about a published article may be raised by authors, readers, reviewers, or other parties. The editorial team will examine the issue carefully and, where necessary, seek advice from the authors, institutions, or external experts. Authors will be given an opportunity to respond before a final decision is made. All decisions regarding corrections, expressions of concern, or retractions are made by the Editor-in-Chief in the interest of protecting the integrity of the scholarly record.

Transparency

Notices of correction, expression of concern, or retraction will be freely accessible and clearly linked to the original article. The journal does not remove published content from its website or archives except in rare cases involving legal requirements or serious privacy concerns.

The International Journal of Fundamental Research and Development prioritises the accuracy and reliability of the research it publishes and will act promptly and transparently whenever the integrity of a published article is in question.