Retraction & Correction Policy

Global Interdisciplinary Research and Publishing Collective (GIRPC) Journal

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Effective Date

The Global Interdisciplinary Research and Publishing Collective (GIRPC) Journal is committed to preserving the integrity, accuracy, reliability, and permanence of the scholarly record.

The Journal recognizes that, despite rigorous editorial assessment and peer review, circumstances may arise after publication requiring correction, clarification, or withdrawal of published material. Such actions are undertaken solely to maintain the integrity of the scholarly literature and to ensure that readers have access to accurate and trustworthy research.

This policy establishes the principles and procedures governing post-publication corrections, expressions of concern, and article retractions.

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Purpose

The purpose of this policy is to:

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• preserve the integrity of the scholarly record;

• ensure transparency in post-publication editorial actions;

• correct significant errors affecting the reliability of published work;

• provide a fair process for addressing allegations of publication misconduct; and

• maintain confidence in the Journal's editorial and publication practices.

 

Post-publication editorial actions are intended to correct the scholarly record and shall not be regarded as punitive measures.

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Scope

This policy applies to all content published by the Journal, including but not limited to:

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• Original Research Articles

• Review Articles

• Case Studies

• Short Communications

• Editorials

• Commentaries

• Letters

• Conference Proceedings

• Supplementary Materials

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Guiding Principles

All post-publication decisions shall be guided by the principles of:

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• Academic Integrity

• Transparency

• Fairness

• Objectivity

• Procedural Fairness

• Accountability

• Editorial Independence

• Preservation of the Scholarly Record

• Respect for Authors' Rights

• Protection of Readers

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Editorial action shall always be proportionate to the nature and seriousness of the issue identified.

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Types of Post-Publication Editorial Action

Where appropriate, the Journal may issue one or more of the following:

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Correction

A correction may be published where an article contains errors that do not invalidate the overall findings or conclusions of the work.

Examples may include:

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• typographical errors;

• author affiliation errors;

• funding information;

• reference inaccuracies;

• figure or table labeling errors;

• minor factual inaccuracies; or

• other errors that do not materially affect the interpretation of the research.

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Corrections shall remain permanently linked to the original article.

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Expression of Concern

An Expression of Concern may be published where serious questions arise regarding the integrity or reliability of a publication, but sufficient evidence is not yet available to determine whether correction or retraction is appropriate.

Such notices may remain in place until the matter has been resolved.

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Retraction

Retraction is reserved for circumstances where a published article is demonstrated to be fundamentally unreliable or where publication misconduct has significantly compromised the integrity of the work. Retraction serves to correct the scholarly record rather than to punish authors. Retracted articles shall remain part of the published record unless legal considerations require otherwise.

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Grounds for Retraction

The Journal may consider retraction where, following appropriate editorial assessment, it is determined that:

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• research findings are unreliable due to major error;

• data have been fabricated or falsified;

• plagiarism has occurred;

• duplicate publication has occurred;

• copyright has been seriously infringed;

• ethical approval requirements have not been satisfied where required;

• serious authorship misconduct has occurred;

• peer review has been compromised;

• publication resulted from fraudulent or deceptive practices; or

• other significant breaches of publication ethics have materially affected the reliability of the published work.

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Retraction shall not ordinarily be issued solely because authors or readers disagree with the interpretation of research findings.

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Initiation of an Investigation

Concerns regarding published work may be raised by:

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• authors;

• readers;

• reviewers;

• editors;

• Editorial Board members;

• academic institutions;

• research organizations;

• funding agencies; or

• other credible sources.

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All concerns shall be assessed objectively and confidentially.

 

Editorial Investigation

Where concerns are received, the Editorial Office may:

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• request clarification from the authors;

• examine supporting documentation;

• consult independent experts;

• communicate with relevant institutions where appropriate;

• obtain additional editorial advice; and

• temporarily suspend editorial consideration of related submissions where necessary.

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All parties shall be provided with a reasonable opportunity to respond before editorial decisions are reached.

Investigations shall be conducted fairly, impartially, and confidentially.

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Editorial Decision

Following completion of an investigation, the Editor-in-Chief, in consultation with the Editorial Board where appropriate, shall determine whether:

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• no editorial action is required;

• a correction should be published;

• an Expression of Concern should be issued;

• the article should be retracted; or

• another editorial measure is appropriate.

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Editorial decisions shall be based upon the available evidence and the Journal's ethical and editorial policies.

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Retraction Notice

Where an article is retracted, the Journal shall publish a formal Retraction Notice.

The notice shall:

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• clearly identify the affected article;

• state the reason for retraction;

• distinguish between misconduct and honest error where appropriate;

• remain permanently linked to the original publication; and

• preserve the transparency of the scholarly record.

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The original article shall ordinarily remain accessible but shall be clearly identified as retracted.

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Corrections

Corrections shall:

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• identify the original publication;

• describe the nature of the correction;

• indicate the date of publication;

• remain permanently linked to the original article; and

• become part of the permanent scholarly record.

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Corrections shall be made transparently and shall not obscure the publication history of the article.

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Author Cooperation

Authors are expected to cooperate fully with editorial investigations and to provide requested information within a reasonable timeframe. Failure to cooperate may itself be considered during editorial assessment.

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Appeals

Authors may appeal post-publication editorial decisions by submitting a written explanation supported by relevant evidence. Appeals shall be reviewed independently by the Editor-in-Chief or another designated senior editor not directly involved in the original decision, where practicable.

The Journal's decision following appeal shall be final.

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Preservation of the Scholarly Record

The Journal is committed to maintaining a transparent and permanent scholarly record.

Accordingly:

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• corrections shall remain permanently linked to the original publication;

• retraction notices shall remain permanently accessible;

• publication history shall not be concealed; and

• editorial amendments shall be documented in a transparent manner.

 

Except where legal obligations require otherwise, published articles shall not ordinarily be removed from the Journal's archive.

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Policy Review

This policy shall be reviewed periodically to ensure continued alignment with evolving standards of scholarly publishing, research integrity, and editorial best practice. The Journal reserves the right to amend this policy where necessary to strengthen the integrity and transparency of its publication practices.

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Retraction & Correction Policy Statement

The Global Interdisciplinary Research and Publishing Collective (GIRPC) Journal is committed to safeguarding the integrity of the scholarly record through fair, transparent, and evidence-based post-publication editorial practices. The Journal recognizes that maintaining confidence in scholarly communication requires not only rigorous peer review before publication but also responsible oversight after publication. Through timely corrections, transparent retractions, and impartial investigations, the Journal seeks to ensure that the published literature remains accurate, trustworthy, and of enduring value to the global academic community.