Retraction Policy

Retraction Policy

ZIJEn (Zabags International Journal of Engagement) is committed to maintaining the integrity, transparency, and reliability of the scholarly record. Retractions are issued when published articles contain serious errors or ethical violations that render the findings, conclusions, or data unreliable.

This policy follows the Principles of Transparency and Best Practice in Scholarly Publishing established by COPE, DOAJ, OASPA, and WAME, as well as the COPE Retraction Guidelines.

Grounds for Retraction

An article may be retracted if one or more of the following conditions are identified:

  1. Clear evidence that the findings are unreliable due to:

    • Data fabrication or falsification;

    • Serious methodological errors;

    • Miscalculation or unintentional errors that invalidate the conclusions.

  2. Plagiarism, including substantial unattributed copying of text, figures, tables, or ideas.

  3. Duplicate publication or redundant publication without proper disclosure, permission, or citation.

  4. Unethical research practices, including but not limited to:

    • Lack of required ethical approval;

    • Violation of research ethics involving human participants or animals;

    • Failure to obtain informed consent where required.

  5. Manipulation of the peer-review process.

  6. Undisclosed conflicts of interest that significantly affect the interpretation or evaluation of the work.

  7. Submission of falsified authorship, affiliation, or contributor information.

Investigation Procedure

When concerns regarding a published article are raised, the Editorial Board will:

  1. Conduct a preliminary assessment of the allegation.

  2. Contact the corresponding author and, when appropriate, co-authors for clarification.

  3. Request supporting documentation, original data, or additional evidence.

  4. Consult independent reviewers, editorial board members, or relevant institutions if necessary.

  5. Follow applicable COPE flowcharts and ethical guidelines during the investigation process.

  6. Reach a decision based on the available evidence and the principles of fairness, transparency, and academic integrity.

The journal reserves the right to contact the author's institution, funding agency, or other relevant authorities when serious misconduct is suspected.

Expression of Concern

An Expression of Concern may be issued when:

  • There is inconclusive evidence of research or publication misconduct;

  • An institutional investigation is ongoing;

  • The reliability of the publication is questioned but a final decision cannot yet be reached.

The Expression of Concern will remain associated with the article until the matter is resolved.

Corrections

If a published article contains minor errors that do not invalidate the overall findings or conclusions, the journal may publish:

  • Correction;

  • Corrigendum;

  • Erratum.

Corrections will be linked to the original article and made freely accessible.

Retraction Notice

When a retraction is deemed necessary:

  1. A formal Retraction Notice will be published.

  2. The notice will clearly identify:

    • The title of the retracted article;

    • The author(s);

    • The reason(s) for retraction;

    • The party initiating the retraction (authors, editor, or publisher).

  3. The Retraction Notice will be permanently linked to the original article.

  4. The notice will be freely accessible to all readers.

Preservation of the Scholarly Record

Retracted articles will not be removed from the journal website or archival systems.

Instead:

  • The original article will remain available online.

  • Each page of the article PDF and HTML version will be clearly marked as "RETRACTED".

  • Bibliographic information and DOI will remain active.

  • The Retraction Notice will be linked to the article to ensure transparency and preserve the scholarly record.

Author-Initiated Retraction Requests

Authors may request retraction of their published article by submitting a written explanation to the Editorial Office.

All requests will be evaluated according to this policy and COPE guidelines. Retraction requests will not automatically result in retraction and may be declined if the reasons do not meet accepted scholarly publishing standards.

Appeals

Authors have the right to appeal editorial decisions regarding retraction.

Appeals must:

  • Be submitted in writing;

  • Include supporting evidence;

  • Be filed within 30 days of receiving the editorial decision.

The Editorial Board's final decision after review of the appeal shall be considered binding.

Policy Review

This Retraction Policy may be updated periodically to reflect developments in publication ethics, scholarly communication standards, and COPE recommendations.