TEJAS Journal of Technologies and Humanitarian Science

Scope of the Policy

This policy applies to articles and other scholarly content that have been formally published by TJTHS.

A manuscript that has not yet been formally published is handled under the journal's Article Withdrawal Policy.

Reporting a Concern

Authors, readers, reviewers, editors, institutions, or other concerned persons may report a possible error or publication-integrity concern to the Editorial Office.

A report should include, where available:

• Article title
• Author name or names
• DOI or article webpage link
• Volume, issue, and publication year
• Clear description of the error or concern
• Relevant evidence or supporting documentation
• Name and contact information of the person reporting the concern

Anonymous concerns may be considered where sufficient and verifiable information is provided.

The journal will not take editorial action solely on the basis of an unsupported allegation.

Initial Editorial Assessment

The Editorial Office will conduct an initial assessment to determine:

• Whether the concern relates to a published article
• Whether sufficient information has been provided
• Whether the issue concerns a minor error, significant error, ethical concern, or legal matter
• Whether additional evidence or clarification is required
• Whether immediate action is necessary to protect readers or the scholarly record

The journal may contact the authors, reviewers, editors, institutions, rights holders, or other relevant persons where clarification is necessary.

Correction

A correction may be issued when an error affects the accuracy, clarity, attribution, or completeness of a published article but does not invalidate its principal findings or conclusions.

A correction may be appropriate for errors involving:

• Author names
• Author affiliations
• Corresponding-author information
• Acknowledgements
• Funding information
• Conflict-of-interest declarations
• References
• Data presentation
• Tables
• Figures
• Captions
• Units, values, or labels
• Factual statements
• Other information affecting the accuracy or interpretation of the article

A correction will not normally be used to introduce substantial new findings, replace the original study, or alter the article in a manner that changes its fundamental conclusions.

Minor Errors

Minor spelling, punctuation, formatting, or typographical errors that do not affect the meaning, interpretation, citation, attribution, or reliability of an article may not require a formal correction notice.

Where an amendment could affect the interpretation, citation, authorship, ethical disclosure, or reliability of the article, a formal correction notice should be issued.

Correction Procedure

Where a formal correction is approved:

• A separate correction notice will be published
• The notice will be clearly identified as a correction
• The notice will identify the affected article
• The correction will explain what was incorrect and provide the corrected information
• The correction notice will be linked to the original article
• The original article webpage will be linked to the correction notice
• The date of the correction will be displayed
• The article status and relevant metadata will be updated where applicable

The journal will avoid making material changes to a published article without informing readers.

Where an updated article file is provided, the update must be identified clearly and linked to the applicable correction notice.

Retraction

A retraction may be considered when the reliability, validity, originality, legality, or ethical acceptability of a published article has been substantially compromised.

Possible grounds for retraction include:

• Findings that are unreliable because of a major error
• Fabrication or falsification of data
• Manipulation of research materials, images, or results
• Plagiarism
• Substantial unattributed use of another work
• Redundant or duplicate publication without appropriate disclosure
• Unethical research
• Absence of required ethical approval or participant consent
• Serious copyright infringement
• Publication without proper authorization
• Manipulation of the peer-review or editorial process
• Serious undisclosed competing interests that materially affect the reliability or interpretation of the article
• Other evidence showing that the article should not be relied upon as part of the scholarly record

Retraction Assessment

Before deciding whether to retract an article, the journal may:

• Review the reported evidence
• Request an explanation from the authors
• Request original data or supporting documentation
• Seek clarification from reviewers or editors
• Obtain independent academic or technical advice
• Contact an affiliated institution or other relevant authority where necessary
• Consider whether a correction would adequately address the concern
• Assess whether the findings remain reliable

Authors will normally be given an opportunity to respond before a final decision is made.

An author’s disagreement with a retraction does not prevent the journal from retracting an article where the available evidence supports that action.

Retraction Notice

Where an article is retracted, the journal will publish a separate retraction notice.

The notice should:

• Be clearly titled as a retraction
• Identify the retracted article
• Include the article title, authors, publication details, and DOI or webpage link
• Explain the reason for the retraction
• State whether the retraction was initiated by the authors, editor, journal, or another responsible party
• Distinguish between confirmed findings and unresolved allegations
• Avoid defamatory, speculative, or unsupported language
• Display the date of retraction
• Remain freely accessible
• Be linked to the original article

The original article will normally remain accessible as part of the publication record but will be clearly marked as retracted.

The article webpage and PDF should carry a prominent retraction notice or watermark so that readers are not misled about its status.

Relevant article and DOI metadata will be updated where applicable.

Partial Retraction

TJTHS will not use a partial retraction when a correction can clearly and adequately address a limited error.

Where a specific section is seriously unreliable but the remainder of the article remains valid, the journal will determine whether a detailed correction, retraction, or another editorial notice is most appropriate.

The selected action must clearly inform readers which parts of the article can and cannot be relied upon.

Expression of Concern

An Expression of Concern may be published when serious questions have been raised about an article but sufficient evidence is not yet available to support a correction or retraction.

An Expression of Concern may be appropriate when:

• An investigation is incomplete
• Available evidence is inconclusive
• An institutional investigation is pending or delayed
• Authors have not provided requested information
• There is a serious concern about the reliability or ethical status of the article
• Immediate notification is necessary to alert readers

The notice will describe the nature and current status of the concern without presenting an allegation as a confirmed finding.

The Expression of Concern will be linked to the original article and may later be replaced or supplemented by a correction, retraction, clarification, or notice confirming that no further action is required.

Article Removal

Removal of a published article is an exceptional action and is different from retraction.

An article may be removed from public access only where continued availability creates a serious legal, privacy, confidentiality, security, or public-safety concern that cannot be addressed adequately through correction or retraction.

Possible circumstances may include:

• A binding legal requirement
• Serious violation of privacy or confidentiality
• Unlawfully disclosed personal or sensitive information
• Material presenting an immediate and substantial risk of harm
• Copyright content that the journal is legally required to remove

Where an article is removed, the article webpage should normally remain available with a notice explaining that the content has been removed and stating the general reason, unless legal or confidentiality restrictions prevent such disclosure.

Author-Initiated Correction or Retraction

Authors who identify a significant error or ethical concern in their published article must contact the Editorial Office promptly.

The request should include:

• Complete article details
• A clear explanation of the concern
• The proposed correction or requested action
• Relevant supporting evidence
• Confirmation that all authors have been informed, where applicable

An author’s request does not automatically determine the editorial action. The journal will assess whether a correction, retraction, or another notice is appropriate.

Responsibilities of Authors

Authors are expected to:

• Review their published work carefully
• Report significant errors promptly
• Cooperate with editorial assessments
• Provide accurate explanations and supporting documentation
• Supply original data or records where reasonably required
• Inform co-authors of relevant concerns
• Avoid concealing errors or publication-ethics concerns
• Assist the journal in correcting the scholarly record

Failure to cooperate will not prevent the journal from taking action based on the available evidence.

Editorial Responsibility and Independence

Post-publication decisions will be based on the nature of the concern, the available evidence, and the need to preserve an accurate scholarly record.

An editor who has a financial, professional, institutional, academic, or personal conflict of interest relating to the article must not control the assessment or final decision.

Where a conflict exists, the matter should be assigned to another editor who can conduct an independent assessment.

Confidentiality and Fairness

The journal will handle reports and supporting information responsibly during an assessment.

Information may be shared with authors, editors, reviewers, institutions, rights holders, legal advisers, or other relevant persons where necessary to evaluate or resolve the concern.

The journal will seek to avoid premature conclusions and will distinguish clearly between allegations, evidence, and established findings.

Confidentiality cannot be guaranteed where disclosure is required by law or is reasonably necessary to protect the scholarly record.

Corrections to Author Information

Requests to correct an author’s name, affiliation, or contact information will be assessed according to the nature and effect of the requested change.

A correction to an author name or affiliation does not automatically change authorship contribution or author order.

Requests to add, remove, or rearrange authors are governed by the journal’s Authorship Criteria and applicable authorship-change procedures.

Metadata and Linking

Where a formal correction, retraction, or other post-publication notice is issued, the journal should update the relevant article status and metadata where technically applicable.

The journal should ensure that:

• The notice links to the affected article
• The affected article links to the notice
• The status of the article is visible on its webpage
• Updated files are clearly identified
• DOI-related information is updated where applicable
• Readers can determine which version and status of the article are current

Post-Publication Discussion

Reasoned and evidence-based concerns about published work may be submitted to the Editorial Office.

Correspondence must be professional, relevant, and supported by sufficient information. Abusive, threatening, discriminatory, repetitive, or knowingly false communications may not be processed.

The journal may invite authors to respond to a substantive concern where this will assist readers or the editorial assessment.

Appeals

An author may request reconsideration of a correction or retraction decision by submitting a written appeal with relevant supporting evidence.

An appeal should explain:

• The decision being challenged
• The reason the author believes the decision should be reconsidered
• Any relevant factual or procedural error
• Any new evidence not previously available

An appeal does not automatically suspend or reverse an editorial notice.

Where reasonably possible, an appeal should be reviewed by an editor who was not responsible for the original decision.

Relationship with Other Policies

This policy should be read together with the journal’s:

• Article Withdrawal Policy
• Authorship Criteria
• Conflict of Interest Policy
• Copyright and Licensing Policy
• Research Misconduct Policy
• Plagiarism Policy
• Complaints and Appeals Policy
• Publication Ethics Policy

Policy Review

TJTHS may review and revise this policy when changes are required in the journal’s editorial procedures, publication practices, or legal and ethical responsibilities.

Any revised version will be made available through the official journal website.

Editorial Office