Correction & Retraction Policy

Correction Policy

1. Purpose of Corrections

AIJSS is committed to preserving the credibility, clarity, and accuracy of published research. Corrections ensure the scientific record remains trustworthy, especially in fields that influence education, policy, and public understanding.

2. Types of Corrections

  • Erratum (Publisher-Initiated)
    Issued when mistakes occur during production (e.g., formatting, figures, metadata) that do not alter the study’s conclusions.

  • Corrigendum (Author-Initiated)
    Issued when authors identify substantive errors post-publication (e.g., data, analysis, or factual misstatements) that impact understanding but do not invalidate the study.

3. Correction Procedure

  • Error Detection
    Errors may be identified by authors, editors, readers, or reviewers.

  • Editorial Review
    The editorial team evaluates the significance of the issue and determines the appropriate correction path.

  • Implementation
    A formal correction notice is issued and linked to the original article. The main text remains unchanged unless critical.

4. Visibility & Indexing

Corrections are:

  • Clearly labeled and linked to the affected article

  • Indexed in scholarly databases for traceability

  • Fully open access and permanently available

❌ Retraction Policy

1. Purpose of Retractions

Retractions are issued to withdraw published articles when their validity is fundamentally compromised. This protects the academic community from relying on incorrect or unethical research.

2. Grounds for Retraction

  • Research Misconduct
    Proven plagiarism, falsification, data manipulation, or unethical authorship practices.

  • Ethical Violations
    Lack of approval for research involving humans or animals, or undisclosed conflicts of interest.

  • Critical Flaws
    Methodological errors or misinterpretation that render the conclusions unreliable.

3. Retraction Process

  • Investigation
    AIJSS initiates an internal review. Authors and, if necessary, institutional representatives may be contacted.

  • Editorial Decision
    Based on COPE guidelines, a retraction is made if misconduct or major errors are confirmed.

  • Retraction Notice
    A public notice is published, stating the reason and responsibility for the retraction. The original article is marked clearly as RETRACTED and remains accessible for academic transparency.

4. Transparency & Indexing

All retracted articles and notices are:

  • Freely available

  • Clearly marked in all formats

  • Indexed in bibliographic and citation databases (e.g., DOAJ, Crossref)

⚖️ Ethical Governance

AIJSS follows the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) guidelines and adheres to academic publishing standards set by the Higher Education Commission (HEC) of Pakistan.

???? Contact for Corrections or Retractions

We encourage readers and authors to promptly report issues that may require a correction or retraction. AIJSS is committed to maintaining a transparent, ethical, and responsible scholarly publishing environment.