Retraction Policy
Retraction Policy
When a published paper is found to be unreliable, it is retracted — not removed. The article stays online, permanently marked, so every citation ever made to it still resolves and every reader sees why it was withdrawn.
Last reviewed August 2026 · Applies to all submissions to JMVRA (ISSN 2984-8911)
A retraction is a formal statement that a published paper should no longer be relied upon. It is the strongest post-publication action a journal can take and is reserved for findings that undermine the work as a whole. Where only part of a paper is affected, a correction is issued instead; where an allegation is credible but unproven, an Expression of Concern is published while it is investigated.
Grounds for Retraction
- Unreliable findings — from honest error or from fabrication, falsification or manipulation of data or images.
- Plagiarism — substantial appropriation of another’s work, established under the Plagiarism Policy.
- Redundant publication — the same work has already been published elsewhere without disclosure and cross-reference.
- Unethical research — work conducted without required ethical approval or informed consent. See the Human & Animal Ethics Policy.
- Compromised peer review — the review process was manipulated, for example through fabricated reviewer identities.
- Copyright infringement or other serious legal issue.
- Undisclosed conflict of interest significant enough that a reader would have judged the work differently had they known.
- Authorship misconduct — the named authors are not those who did the work.
The Retraction Process
What the Retraction Notice Contains
Full Identification
The title, all authors, and the DOI of the retracted article, so the notice is unambiguous.
Who Requested It
Whether the retraction came from the authors, the editors, the institution or the publisher.
The Reason
A clear statement of what was wrong, distinguishing honest error from misconduct — the distinction matters to the authors’ reputation and is stated explicitly.
The Date
When the retraction took effect, so readers can tell what was known when.
How the Article Is Marked
| Where | What Changes |
|---|---|
| “RETRACTED” watermark on every page. The original text is left intact and readable. | |
| Article page | A prominent banner above the abstract, linking to the retraction notice. |
| Title | Prefixed “RETRACTED:” in listings, search results and the issue table of contents. |
| DOI & metadata | Crossref record updated so indexing services and reference managers show the retraction automatically. |
| Certificates | Certificates of Publication for a retracted paper are withdrawn and no longer downloadable. |
Fairness
- Authors are always heard first. No paper is retracted without the authors being shown the evidence and given a genuine opportunity to reply.
- Honest error is stated as such. Self-reported errors are retracted without any suggestion of misconduct, and that is written into the notice. Researchers who correct their own record should not be penalised for it.
- Disagreement is recorded. If some authors dispute the retraction, the notice says so and names who dissents.
- Decisions can be appealed under the Complaints & Appeals Policy.
- Publication charges are not refunded where retraction follows misconduct. Where the journal was at fault, they are.
Where the Retraction Policy Applies
The stages of a paper’s journey this policy governs are highlighted.
Applies at: After
Retraction Policy in Brief
A paper is retracted when its findings are shown to be unreliable — through serious error, misconduct, plagiarism or duplicate publication. Retraction follows COPE guidance and is a public correction of the record, not a punishment.
Retracted papers are never deleted. The article stays online, clearly marked, with a retraction notice explaining why, so every existing citation still resolves and every reader sees the outcome.
