Retraction Policy

At Forefront in Sociology & Political Sciences, we are committed to upholding the highest standards of academic integrity and transparency in our publishing practices. In rare cases, a published article may need to be retracted due to significant issues such as errors, misconduct, or ethical concerns. Our Retraction Policy provides clear guidelines on when and how an article may be retracted, as well as the procedures involved in ensuring a fair and transparent process.

When Will an Article Be Retractioned?

Articles may be retracted for a variety of reasons, including but not limited to:

Serious Errors in the Article:
If a substantial error is identified in the published work that affects the conclusions or findings of the research, and the author(s) are unable to provide a satisfactory correction or clarification.
Plagiarism:
If an article is found to contain plagiarized content, whether from another published source or self-plagiarism, the article may be retracted to maintain the integrity of the journal.
Data Fabrication or Falsification:
If it is discovered that the data reported in the article has been fabricated, falsified, or manipulated in any way, this is grounds for retraction. Research data should be authentic, and any violation of this principle will result in the retraction of the article.
Ethical Violations:
If the article involves unethical research practices, such as failure to obtain informed consent, improper handling of data, or violations of research ethics, the article may be retracted.
Author Conflict:
In cases where it is discovered that an article has been published without proper authorization or has conflicts of interest that were not disclosed during the submission process, a retraction may be issued.
Duplicate Publication:
If an article is found to have been published in multiple journals without prior acknowledgment or proper permission, it may be retracted to avoid duplication of the academic record.
Legal Issues:
In certain cases, legal concerns, such as issues of libel, defamation, or infringement of intellectual property, may require the retraction of an article.
Irreproducibility of Results:
If research results cannot be reproduced due to significant flaws in the research methodology or errors in the analysis that affect the article's conclusions, retraction may be considered.

Retraction Procedure

If an article is found to warrant retraction, the following steps will be followed:

Investigation:
Once a concern about the validity or ethics of a published article is raised, the Editorial Board will conduct a thorough investigation. This may involve communication with the author(s), reviewers, and any other relevant parties. Authors will be asked to provide evidence and clarification regarding the issue in question.
Communication with Authors:
If the article is under investigation for retraction, the corresponding author will be notified and given the opportunity to respond to the allegations or concerns. The author(s) may be asked to provide supporting documentation or to correct the issue within the article.
Decision:
After a comprehensive review, the Editorial Board will decide whether to retract the article. The decision will be based on the severity of the issue, the evidence provided, and the response from the author(s).
Retraction Notice:
If the decision to retract is made, a formal Retraction Notice will be published on the article page, clearly stating the reason(s) for the retraction. This notice will be included in the article's metadata and indexed by relevant databases. The retraction notice will include the following:
- The title of the article.
- The authors' names.
- A statement detailing the reason for retraction (e.g., data fabrication, plagiarism, ethical violations).
- A statement explaining that the article has been retracted and is no longer part of the journal’s record.
Public Announcement:
A brief summary of the retraction will be made available in the journal's editorial updates or news section to ensure transparency to readers and to maintain the academic integrity of the journal. Retraction notices will be sent to relevant databases (e.g., CrossRef, Scopus, Web of Science) to ensure that the article is marked as retracted across platforms.
Availability of the Retraction:
The retracted article will remain accessible on the journal’s website, but it will be clearly marked as retracted. The full text of the article will be available, along with the retraction notice, to maintain transparency and provide context to readers.

Handling Disputes and Appeals

If an author disagrees with the decision to retract their article, they may appeal the decision to the Editorial Board. The appeal process will involve:

Submission of Appeal:
The author(s) should submit a formal appeal letter outlining the reasons for their disagreement with the retraction decision. This letter must include any supporting evidence or clarification of the concerns raised.
Review of Appeal:
The Editorial Board will review the appeal and any new evidence provided. If necessary, external experts may be consulted to assist in the decision-making process.
Final Decision:
The Editorial Board will make the final decision regarding the retraction after considering the appeal. The author(s) will be notified of the outcome, and the final decision will be published on the journal’s website.

Post-Retraction Behavior

After an article has been retracted, the following actions will be taken:

No Further Citation:
The retracted article will no longer be cited in future publications as valid research.
Correction of References:
Citations to the retracted article in future publications must reflect the retraction status and should be clarified as necessary (e.g., "This article was retracted due to [reason]").
Access and Transparency:
The retraction notice and explanation will remain visible on the article’s page to ensure that the journal's records are transparent and accurate. Readers and researchers will be made aware of the retraction so they can make informed decisions when referencing the article.

Prevention of Retraction

To prevent issues that could lead to retraction, Forefront in Sociology & Political Sciences encourages authors to:

Ensure their research is thoroughly reviewed for errors before submission.
Fully disclose any conflicts of interest or potential biases in their work.
Adhere to ethical guidelines regarding authorship, data collection, and publication practices.
Respond promptly to any queries or concerns raised during the peer review or publication process.

Conclusion

Forefront in Sociology & Political Sciences values transparency, academic integrity, and ethical conduct in scholarly publishing. Our Retraction Policy ensures that articles which compromise these principles are appropriately handled to maintain the trust and credibility of our journal. We are committed to a fair and transparent retraction process, allowing all parties to be heard and ensuring that our publication remains a reliable source of scholarly information.

If you have any questions about our Retraction Policy or need further information, please contact the Editorial Office at: Email: prithivraj@scientificforefront.org