Correction and Retraction

1. Policy Statement

The Journal of Computer Science Application and Engineering (JOSAPEN), published by Lentera Ilmu Publisher, is committed to maintaining the accuracy, transparency, reliability, and integrity of the scholarly record. Although manuscripts undergo editorial assessment and peer review before publication, errors or concerns may occasionally be identified after an article has been published.

JOSAPEN takes post-publication concerns seriously and will take appropriate action when published content requires correction, clarification, an expression of concern, or retraction. All cases will be assessed fairly, carefully, and in accordance with the seriousness of the issue, the available evidence, and recognized publication ethics principles, including relevant guidance from the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).

The purpose of this policy is to correct the scholarly record when necessary, protect readers from relying on materially inaccurate information, and ensure that editorial actions are transparent, proportionate, and appropriately documented.

2. Scope

This policy applies to all content published by JOSAPEN, including research articles, review articles, short communications, technical notes, and other scholarly materials.

It covers post-publication issues such as:

Errors in data, calculations, figures, tables, references, or other article content.
Errors that affect the interpretation, validity, or conclusions of a study.
Authorship or affiliation inaccuracies.
Undisclosed conflicts of interest or funding information.
Plagiarism, duplicate publication, or redundant publication.
Fabrication, falsification, or inappropriate manipulation of data or images.
Research ethics violations or concerns about the integrity of the research.
Other circumstances that may compromise the reliability or integrity of the published record.

The appropriate action will depend on the nature, extent, and consequences of the identified problem.

3. Corrections

3.1 Definition

A correction is a formal notice published to address an error or omission in an article that requires amendment but does not justify retraction. Corrections are intended to improve the accuracy and completeness of the published record while preserving the original article when its overall reliability remains intact.

Depending on the circumstances, a correction may be initiated by the authors, the editorial team, the publisher, or another party who provides credible evidence of an error.

3.2 Grounds for Correction

JOSAPEN may publish a correction when an error affects the accuracy, clarity, attribution, or interpretation of an article but does not invalidate its principal findings or conclusions.

Examples include:

Typographical or factual errors that materially affect understanding.
Incorrect values, labels, units, equations, or calculations that can be corrected without invalidating the study.
Errors in figures, tables, captions, or supplementary materials.
Incorrect author names, affiliations, acknowledgments, or funding statements.
Missing or inaccurate references that require correction.
Other omissions or inaccuracies that can be rectified without undermining the overall integrity of the article.

Minor typographical or formatting errors that do not affect meaning may be corrected during routine production or through the journal's normal content-management procedures. A formal correction notice will be considered when transparency or the integrity of the published record requires it.

3.3 Correction Procedure

When a potential error is identified, the editorial office will assess the information provided and may request supporting evidence or clarification from the authors.

The correction process may include the following steps:

Notification: The author, reader, editor, or other concerned party notifies the editorial office of the suspected error.
Preliminary assessment: The editor evaluates the nature, significance, and potential consequences of the error.
Verification: The journal may consult the authors, independent experts, or relevant institutions when necessary.
Decision: The editor determines whether a correction is appropriate and identifies the content requiring amendment.
Publication: If approved, the journal publishes a correction notice explaining the error and the amendment.
Linking and documentation: The correction notice is linked to the original article, and the original article is updated or annotated where technically feasible.

Correction notices should clearly identify the affected article, describe the error, provide the corrected information, and explain whether the correction affects the interpretation or conclusions of the research.

The correction notice should have its own persistent identifier, such as a DOI, where available and appropriate.

4. Retraction

4.1 Definition

Retraction is a formal editorial action intended to alert readers that a published article is unreliable in whole or in substantial part, or that serious ethical or publication-integrity problems undermine its validity or legitimacy.

Retraction does not necessarily imply that every author acted improperly. Responsibility may differ among authors, and an article may require retraction even when the source of the problem is uncertain or not attributable to every author.

The purpose of retraction is to correct the scholarly record and prevent readers from relying on findings or content that should no longer be regarded as reliable.

4.2 Grounds for Retraction

JOSAPEN may consider retracting an article when credible evidence establishes serious concerns, including but not limited to:

Unreliable findings: The data or results are demonstrably unreliable because of major errors, fabrication, falsification, or other serious problems.
Plagiarism: Substantial portions of the article have been copied or improperly appropriated from other sources without appropriate acknowledgment.
Duplicate or redundant publication: The article substantially duplicates previously published work without adequate justification or disclosure, in violation of applicable publication policies.
Data or image manipulation: Figures, images, datasets, or experimental results have been fabricated, falsified, or manipulated in a manner that materially misrepresents the research.
Serious research ethics violations: The research was conducted or reported in violation of applicable ethical requirements, including necessary approval or consent requirements.
Invalid authorship or publication authorization: Serious authorship or authorization problems undermine the legitimacy of the publication.
Compromised peer review: The article was accepted through a demonstrably manipulated or fraudulent peer review process that undermines confidence in the editorial assessment.
Other serious misconduct: Other established circumstances that materially compromise the reliability, originality, legality, or ethical integrity of the article.

Retraction will be considered on the basis of the evidence and the applicable circumstances. The presence of an allegation alone is not sufficient to establish misconduct or automatically justify retraction.

4.3 Retraction Procedure

When a potential retraction issue is identified, JOSAPEN will conduct an appropriate assessment before deciding on the necessary action.

The procedure may include:

Receipt of a concern: The journal receives a report from an author, reader, reviewer, editor, institution, or other relevant party.
Preliminary evaluation: The editor assesses whether the concern is credible, relevant, and sufficiently serious to warrant further investigation.
Request for explanation: The journal may contact the corresponding author and, where appropriate, other co-authors to request clarification, evidence, or a response.
Further investigation: The journal may consult independent experts, the authors' institutions, research-ethics committees, funders, or other relevant bodies when necessary.
Editorial assessment: The editor evaluates the available evidence, responses, and advice to determine whether the article remains reliable.
Decision: The journal determines whether to issue a correction, an expression of concern, a retraction, or another appropriate notice.
Publication of a notice: If retraction is warranted, the journal publishes a formal retraction notice explaining the reason for the action to the extent that the available evidence and applicable legal or confidentiality requirements permit.
Preservation of the record: The original article remains accessible where technically and legally feasible, clearly marked as retracted, rather than silently removed or replaced.

The journal will make reasonable efforts to ensure that the retraction notice is linked to the original article and that the article's status is clearly indicated on the journal website and in relevant metadata systems.

4.4 Retraction Notice

A retraction notice should be clear, factual, and transparent. Where possible, it should include:

The title and authors of the retracted article.
The article's publication details and DOI, where available.
The date of the retraction.
The reason for the retraction.
An explanation of which aspects of the article are affected.
Identification of the party or parties initiating the retraction, where appropriate.
A statement indicating whether the authors agree or disagree with the retraction, where this information is known and appropriate to disclose.

Retraction notices should avoid unnecessarily accusatory language and should distinguish established findings from unresolved allegations. The notice should provide sufficient information for readers to understand why the article has been retracted.

4.5 Retraction Without Author Agreement

A retraction may proceed even if one or more authors disagree with the decision, provided that the editor determines, on the basis of sufficient evidence and appropriate procedures, that retraction is necessary to protect the integrity of the scholarly record.

JOSAPEN will make reasonable efforts to inform the authors of the proposed action and provide an appropriate opportunity to respond. An author's failure to respond, inability to be contacted, or refusal to agree will not automatically prevent the journal from taking necessary action.

5. Expression of Concern

An expression of concern is a formal notice that alerts readers to a potentially significant issue involving a published article when the available evidence is not yet sufficient to support a definitive correction or retraction, or when an investigation is ongoing or delayed.

JOSAPEN may issue an expression of concern when:

Credible evidence raises serious questions about the reliability or integrity of an article.
A relevant investigation is ongoing and cannot be completed promptly.
An institution or other responsible body has not provided sufficient information to resolve a significant concern.
The editor considers that readers should be informed of an unresolved issue while further assessment continues.

An expression of concern is not a final determination of misconduct. It should explain the nature of the concern as clearly as circumstances permit and should be linked to the article in question.

When further evidence becomes available, the journal may update the record by issuing a correction, retracting the article, or withdrawing the expression of concern if the issue has been resolved and no further action is warranted.

6. Removal of Published Content

JOSAPEN considers preservation of the scholarly record a fundamental editorial responsibility. Retraction ordinarily does not mean that an article is completely deleted from the journal website.

In exceptional circumstances, content may need to be removed or access restricted, for example when continued public availability would violate applicable law, create a serious privacy or safety risk, or expose legally protected information. Any removal will be considered carefully and in consultation with the publisher or appropriate advisers where necessary.

Where full removal is necessary, the journal will aim to retain a bibliographic record and, where legally permissible, a notice explaining that the content has been removed and the general reason for the action.

7. Notification and Reporting of Concerns

Authors, readers, reviewers, editors, institutions, and other interested parties may report potential errors or concerns about a published JOSAPEN article through the editorial contact information provided on the journal's official website.

Reports should identify the article and describe the concern clearly. Supporting evidence, references, relevant data, or documentation should be provided where available.

The journal will assess reports in good faith and will not treat an allegation as proven solely because it has been submitted. Anonymous reports may be considered when they contain sufficiently specific and verifiable information.

The journal may request further information before deciding whether an investigation or editorial action is necessary.

8. Fairness, Confidentiality, and Conflicts of Interest

JOSAPEN will handle correction and retraction cases fairly and impartially. Relevant authors will ordinarily be given an opportunity to respond to substantive concerns, subject to the need to act promptly where there is a significant risk to the scholarly record or public interest.

The journal will protect confidential information to the extent appropriate and permitted by applicable law. It will also take reasonable steps to identify and manage conflicts of interest involving editors, reviewers, authors, or other participants in the assessment.

Editorial actions will be based on the evidence, the seriousness of the issue, and the need to maintain the reliability of published research, rather than on personal, institutional, or commercial pressure.

9. Responsibilities of Authors

Authors are responsible for notifying the editorial office promptly if they discover a material error or omission in their published work.

When requesting a correction or retraction, authors should provide a clear explanation of the problem, the affected content, and any proposed amendment or supporting evidence. All co-authors should be informed of the issue and, where practicable, involved in the response.

Authors must cooperate reasonably with editorial inquiries concerning the accuracy, originality, ethics, and reliability of their published work.

Failure to agree among co-authors will not necessarily prevent the journal from correcting the record when the available evidence establishes that action is necessary.

10. Responsibilities of Editors and the Publisher

The editorial team is responsible for assessing reported concerns, determining the appropriate editorial response, and ensuring that decisions are documented and communicated appropriately.

The editor may seek independent expert advice or consult relevant institutions or research-ethics bodies when necessary. The editor must manage conflicts of interest and avoid making decisions based solely on unsupported allegations.

Lentera Ilmu Publisher supports JOSAPEN in maintaining appropriate publication records, issuing correction and retraction notices, updating article metadata where feasible, and preserving links between affected articles and related notices.

11. Appeals and Reconsideration

Authors or other directly affected parties may request reconsideration of a correction or retraction decision by submitting a reasoned appeal with relevant supporting evidence to the editorial office.

An appeal should identify specific factual errors, procedural concerns, or new evidence that could materially affect the decision. Disagreement with the outcome alone does not guarantee reconsideration.

Where practicable, the appeal will be reviewed by an editor or authorized representative who was not directly responsible for the original decision. The journal may seek additional independent advice when appropriate.

The need to preserve the integrity of the scholarly record will remain a primary consideration throughout the appeal process.

12. Transparency and Long-Term Record Integrity

JOSAPEN aims to ensure that corrections, expressions of concern, and retractions are clearly identified, appropriately linked, and discoverable by readers.

Where technically feasible, the journal will update the article landing page, relevant metadata, and indexing records to reflect the article's current status. Retraction notices and correction notices should remain accessible as part of the permanent scholarly record.

The journal will not silently alter a published article in a manner that conceals a material change to its content or status. Any significant post-publication amendment will be documented through an appropriate editorial mechanism.

13. Commitment to Publication Ethics

JOSAPEN is committed to addressing post-publication errors and integrity concerns responsibly and transparently. Decisions concerning corrections, expressions of concern, and retractions will be guided by the evidence, the potential impact on the reliability of the research, and the principles of fairness, accountability, and protection of the scholarly record.

This policy is informed by recognized publication ethics principles, including relevant guidance from the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), and may be updated as editorial standards and scholarly publishing practices evolve.

For questions or reports concerning corrections or retractions, readers may contact the JOSAPEN editorial office through the contact information provided on the journal's official website.