Correction and Retraction Policy

The Journal of Science Technology and Engineering Research (JOSTER) is committed to upholding the integrity and accuracy of the scholarly record. We follow the best practices and guidelines set forth by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) for issuing corrections, retractions, and expressions of concern when necessary.

1. Corrections (Errata or Corrigenda)

Corrections are issued when minor errors are discovered in a published article that do not affect the overall validity or conclusions of the work. These may include:

Typographical errors
Author name misspellings
Affiliations or contact details
Figure/table labeling issues

Types of Corrections:

Erratum – for errors introduced by the journal or editorial staff.
Corrigendum – for errors introduced by the authors.

Corrections are published in a separate notice linked to the original article and clearly labeled as such.

2. Retractions

Retractions are issued when a published article contains serious flaws that invalidate its findings, such as:

Plagiarism
Fabrication or falsification of data
Ethical breaches (e.g., lack of informed consent or animal welfare approval)
Duplicate publication
Major errors in methodology or data interpretation

Retraction Process:

A retraction may be initiated by authors, editors, or third parties.
A thorough investigation is conducted by the editorial board.
A formal retraction notice is published and linked to the original article.
The original article is watermarked as "Retracted" but remains accessible for the scholarly record.

3. Expressions of Concern

In cases where there is inconclusive evidence of misconduct or the investigation is ongoing, JOSTER may publish an Expression of Concern to alert readers until the issue is resolved.

4. Article Removal

In very rare cases where the content is found to be defamatory, violates privacy, or poses a legal risk, the article may be removed and replaced with a notice stating the reason for removal.

5. Author Notification

Authors are notified and given the opportunity to respond prior to the publication of any correction, retraction, or notice of concern.