Retraction and Correction

At Research Horizon, we recognize and respect the considerable effort authors invest in preparing their manuscripts and the rigorous peer-review process we undertake. However, in exceptional cases, articles may need to be withdrawn, retracted, or corrected for scientific or ethical reasons. These actions are only taken under extraordinary circumstances to preserve the integrity and accuracy of the scientific record and to maintain the reliability of our electronic archives.

Article Withdrawal:
An article may be withdrawn if significant scientific errors are discovered that invalidate its conclusions or if ethical violations, such as plagiarism, falsified data, or improper authorship, are identified. If an author notices an ethical issue with their manuscript, they may request its withdrawal by submitting a formal statement to the editorial board.

Article Retraction:
Retraction is considered when major scientific errors, due to misconduct (e.g., data fabrication) or honest mistakes (e.g., calculation errors), are found that make the findings unreliable. Retraction is also necessary in cases of redundant publication (e.g., articles published without proper cross-referencing or permission) or ethical issues like plagiarism or improper authorship. The retraction process follows these steps:
1. The editor evaluates the potential retraction and reviews the issue according to COPE guidelines.
2. The Ethics Advisory Board ensures the decision aligns with best practices.
3. The retraction decision is communicated to the author and relevant parties, such as the author’s institution.
4. A retraction statement is published online and in the next journal issue.

Article Correction:
For minor errors or misleading data that do not impact the overall validity of the study, the journal may issue a correction. Corrections can be made for:
- Erratum: Publisher corrections due to errors made by the publishing staff.
- Corrigendum: Author corrections for errors made by the authors.
- Addendum: Additional information or updates to clarify or expand the article.

Article Removal:
In rare instances, an article may be removed from the journal platform due to legal concerns, defamation, or health risks. The article’s metadata will remain visible, but the full text will be replaced with a notice explaining its removal.

Article Replacement:
If an article poses significant risks, it may be replaced with a corrected version. The retraction process will be followed, but a link to the revised article, along with a revision history, will be provided.

This policy ensures that Research Horizon maintains the highest standards of academic integrity while upholding transparency and trust in the publication process.