Retraction, Correction, and Withdrawal

Journal of Engineering Environtmental Energy and Science (JOE3S) is committed to maintaining the accuracy, integrity, and reliability of the scholarly record. The journal follows the ethical principles and best practices recommended by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) in handling corrections, retractions, withdrawals, and other editorial actions.

All editorial actions will be conducted transparently, fairly, and consistently to protect the integrity of scientific publications.

Correction

Corrections are issued when errors are identified in a published article that require amendment but do not invalidate the overall findings, interpretation, or conclusions of the research.

Corrections may take the following forms:

  • Corrigendum: Issued when an error originates from the author(s).

  • Erratum: Issued when an error is introduced by the journal or publisher during the editorial or production process.

The decision to publish a correction is made by the Editor-in-Chief or an authorized editor after reviewing the nature and significance of the error.

All corrections must be approved by the relevant authors, where appropriate.

Correction notices will be published separately, linked to the original article, and clearly identified on the journal website. The original article will remain accessible with an appropriate link to the correction notice.

Editor's Note

An Editor's Note may be published when the editorial team needs to inform readers about a concern or clarification relating to a published article that does not necessarily invalidate the research findings.

Examples include:

  • Clarification of concerns regarding the editorial or peer-review process.

  • Notification of a resolved complaint or ethical concern.

  • Clarification of an authorship matter.

  • Other editorial issues requiring transparent communication with readers.

Expression of Concern

An Expression of Concern may be published when serious questions arise regarding the reliability, integrity, or ethical compliance of a published article, but the available evidence is insufficient to justify an immediate correction or retraction.

This may occur when:

  • An investigation into suspected research misconduct is ongoing.

  • The investigation is expected to take considerable time.

  • The available evidence raises substantial concerns that readers should be informed about while the investigation is being conducted.

Following the completion of the investigation, the Editor-in-Chief will determine whether the Expression of Concern should be followed by a correction, retraction, Editor's Note, or no further action.

Article Withdrawal

Article withdrawal applies primarily to manuscripts that have been accepted and published online as Articles in Press but have not yet been formally published in a final issue.

Withdrawal may be considered under exceptional circumstances, including:

  • The article was published prematurely or in error.

  • The article substantially duplicates another publication.

  • Serious ethical or legal concerns require withdrawal before final publication.

The decision to withdraw an article will be made by the Editor-in-Chief after an appropriate assessment.

A withdrawal notice will be published explaining the reason for the withdrawal. The journal will preserve an appropriate publication record and maintain transparency regarding the editorial action.

Article Retraction

A retraction may be issued when a published article is found to contain serious errors or ethical violations that undermine the reliability, validity, or integrity of the research.

Grounds for retraction may include, but are not limited to:

  • Evidence of data fabrication, falsification, or inappropriate image manipulation.

  • Plagiarism or substantial redundant publication.

  • Serious methodological or analytical errors that invalidate the findings.

  • Unethical research practices or violations of applicable research ethics requirements.

  • Manipulation of the peer-review process.

  • Serious authorship misconduct.

  • Undisclosed competing interests that materially compromise the integrity of the work.

  • Copyright infringement or other serious publication ethics violations.

Retraction Procedure

When retraction is considered necessary, JOE3S will:

  1. Assess the available evidence and provide the author(s) with an opportunity to respond, where appropriate.

  2. Consult independent experts, institutional representatives, or relevant authorities when necessary.

  3. Publish a clearly identifiable retraction notice titled "Retraction: [Article Title]" explaining the reasons for the retraction.

  4. Link the retraction notice to the original article.

  5. Preserve the original article as part of the scholarly record, with a prominent "Retracted" watermark or notice on the article and PDF, where technically applicable.

A retracted article will remain identifiable in the journal archive to preserve the integrity and transparency of the scholarly record.

Article Replacement

In exceptional cases, an article containing information that poses a serious health, environmental, or safety risk may be eligible for replacement with a corrected version, provided that replacement is appropriate under publication ethics guidance.

The original article's publication history will be preserved through an appropriate retraction notice or editorial notice linked to the corrected version.

Notification of Errors

Authors who discover significant errors in their published work must notify the Editor-in-Chief or editorial team of JOE3S as soon as possible.

Readers and other concerned parties may also report suspected errors, research misconduct, or publication ethics violations.

All reports will be assessed fairly and confidentially, and the editorial team will determine the appropriate action based on the available evidence.

Editorial Responsibility

All decisions concerning corrections, withdrawals, and retractions are the responsibility of the Editor-in-Chief or an authorized editor, in consultation with the Editorial Board and relevant experts when necessary.

JOE3S is committed to applying the principles of fairness, transparency, accountability, and proportionality in all editorial actions, following applicable COPE guidance.