Correction and Retraction

The *Journal of Instructional Mathematics* is committed to maintaining the accuracy and integrity of the scholarly record. This policy governs the handling of published articles that contain errors or instances of misconduct, and it adheres to the COPE Retraction Guidelines.

This policy governs corrections, expressions of concern, and retractions of published articles, following COPE guidance. The purpose of a retraction is to correct the literature and maintain its integrity, not to punish authors.

A. Types of Actions

  1. Correction (Erratum/Corrigendum): For errors that do not alter the main conclusions such as misspellings of names or affiliations, incorrect tables or figures, erroneous references, or data issues that do not affect the core findings.
  2. Expression of Concern: Issued when there are serious allegations regarding an article, but the evidence is insufficient, an investigation is ongoing, or necessary information cannot yet be obtained.
  3. Retraction: Implemented when the editors no longer have confidence in the article’s results and conclusions.
  4. Removal: Applied only in very limited cases for instance, if the content is unlawful, defamatory, violates privacy, or poses a risk of harm. A notification of the removal will still be published.

B. Reasons for Retraction
An article may be considered for retraction if:

  1. There is clear evidence of major errors, irregularities in data or figures, or fabrication and falsification that render the findings unreliable.
  2. There is plagiarism, or the use of ideas, text, or data without proper attribution or authorization.
  3. The article constitutes a redundant or duplicate publication without justification or disclosure.
  4. There are issues regarding authorship, such as the inclusion of fictitious authors.
  5. The research was conducted unethically for example, without obtaining necessary participant consent or required permits.
  6. The peer-review process has been manipulated, or there are undisclosed conflicts of interest that could influence the interpretation of findings or recommendations.
  7. There is citation manipulation, or the use of artificial intelligence (AI) that is not disclosed and significantly shapes the content.

A retraction is not appropriate when the available information is insufficient; in such cases, the journal may instead issue an Expression of Concern.

C. Who Decides (Decision-Making Authority)
The final decision to retract or withdraw an article rests with the Editor-in-Chief, with input from the editorial board. The publisher and journal management may assist in the inquiry process. If the Editor-in-Chief has a conflict of interest, the decision shall be made by another editor or an independent party.

D. Procedures

  1. A report is received from a reader, author, peer reviewer, or other party (see the procedure for alleged misconduct), or is discovered by the editor(s) themselves.
  2. The editor(s) assess the report and notify the corresponding author, requesting a response within a reasonable timeframe.
  3. If necessary, the editor(s) may seek the opinion of independent experts or the author’s affiliated institution.
  4. The editor(s) reach a decision: no action, a correction, an expression of concern, or a retraction.
  5. The decision is communicated to the author(s) and the person(s) who submitted the report, and a notification is subsequently published.

A retraction notice is published as soon as the editor(s) are satisfied that the article meets the criteria for retraction. If the determination process takes time, the journal may first publish an Expression of Concern.

E. Content of Notices
Every notice of correction, expression of concern, or retraction:

  1. Must be linked to the relevant article and vice versa and remain freely accessible to all readers.
  2. Must include the title, author names, DOI, and journal identity.
  3. Must clearly explain the reason for the notice and identify the party initiating the action (editor, author, or publisher).
  4. Must be objective, factual, and non-accusatory in tone.

F. Handling Retracted Articles

Retracted articles remain available on the journal’s website, clearly marked as "RETRACTED" on every page of the PDF and the article webpage, to prevent them from being cited without awareness of their status. The article’s metadata is updated, and the journal notifies indexing services and the DOI provider (Crossref), where applicable.

G. Author-requested Retraction

Authors who discover a serious error in their article must promptly notify the editor via jurnal.dirasah@ibi.ac.id. The journal will evaluate the request and issue a correction or retraction, depending on the severity of the error. A voluntary retraction due to an unintentional error is considered a responsible action.

H. Batch Retractions

In cases where there is evidence of systematic manipulation of the publication process (e.g., the use of mass manuscript-writing services or "paper mills"), the journal may retract multiple articles simultaneously following a thorough investigation.

I. References