Post-Publication Correction and Retraction Policy
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Post-Publication Correction and Retraction Policy
Agricultural Science Horizons (ASH), published by the Gondars Institute of Research and Skill Development (GIRSD), is committed to preserving the accuracy, reliability, transparency, and permanence of the scholarly record. The journal recognizes that scientific knowledge continuously evolves and that, in some circumstances, published articles may require updates, corrections, expressions of concern, or retractions after publication.
This policy follows internationally recognized best practices and ethical recommendations established by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), the Principles of Transparency and Best Practice in Scholarly Publishing, and quality standards commonly expected by Scopus, DOAJ, and Web of Science indexed journals.
1. Purpose and Scope
The purpose of this policy is to establish transparent procedures for managing post-publication issues that may affect the accuracy, interpretation, integrity, or reliability of published content.
This policy applies to all articles, editorials, reviews, short communications, data papers, perspectives, supplementary materials, and other scholarly content published in Agricultural Science Horizons.
2. Principles Governing Post-Publication Changes
The journal prioritizes the preservation of the scholarly record and does not remove published content except under exceptional legal circumstances. Any post-publication action shall be conducted transparently, proportionately, and in a manner that maintains the traceability of the publication history.
All amendments shall be permanently linked to the original article and assigned their own publication date whenever applicable.
3. Article Corrections
Corrections may be issued when errors are identified that do not invalidate the overall findings, interpretations, or conclusions of the published work.
Examples may include typographical errors affecting interpretation, author affiliation inaccuracies, funding statement revisions, missing acknowledgements, incorrect figure labels, metadata errors, citation inaccuracies, or minor data presentation mistakes.
Correction requests may be initiated by authors, readers, reviewers, editors, or institutions. All requests shall undergo editorial evaluation before approval.
Once approved, a formal correction notice will be published and electronically linked to the original article.
4. Addenda and Post-Publication Updates
In certain circumstances, authors may need to provide additional information that improves the interpretation or reproducibility of a published study without altering its original conclusions.
Such updates may include newly available datasets, supplementary methodological details, clarifications regarding experimental procedures, or additional disclosures that enhance transparency.
All approved updates shall be clearly identified and permanently associated with the original publication.
5. Expression of Concern
An Expression of Concern may be published when substantial questions arise regarding a publication, but sufficient evidence is not yet available to reach a final decision.
This action may be necessary when institutional investigations are ongoing, conflicting evidence exists, authors fail to provide requested information within a reasonable timeframe, or external investigations remain unresolved.
An Expression of Concern is a temporary notice intended to alert readers while investigations are completed.
6. Retraction Policy
A retraction may be issued when published findings become unreliable due to major errors, ethical violations, compromised data integrity, unauthorized publication practices, legal concerns, or other circumstances that substantially undermine confidence in the work.
Retractions may be initiated by authors, editors, institutions, funding bodies, or other authorized entities following appropriate evaluation.
The journal shall conduct a fair and evidence-based assessment before reaching a final decision.
Authors will be informed and provided an opportunity to respond before a retraction notice is issued unless legal obligations prevent such communication.
7. Preparation of Retraction Notices
Retraction notices shall be freely accessible, transparent, and clearly distinguishable from the original article.
Retraction notices will identify the affected article, explain the reason for the retraction, indicate who initiated the action, and specify the date of publication of the notice.
The language used in retraction notices shall remain factual, objective, and non-defamatory.
8. Preservation of the Scholarly Record
Retracted articles shall not ordinarily be removed from the journal website because preserving the historical scholarly record is essential for research transparency.
The original article shall remain accessible but will be prominently marked as retracted across all available formats and metadata records.
The journal will update indexing information and metadata where technically feasible.
9. Requests for Removal in Exceptional Circumstances
Complete removal of published content will occur only under exceptional circumstances, including legally binding court orders, proven violations of privacy rights, substantial legal risks, or content that may pose serious threats to public safety.
When removal is necessary, the journal shall preserve bibliographic information and publish an explanatory notice whenever legally permissible.
10. Editorial Decision-Making Process
All post-publication decisions shall be based on documented evidence, editorial independence, and procedural fairness.
The Editor-in-Chief, editorial office, publisher, and independent experts may participate in evaluations when necessary. External institutions may also be consulted for complex cases.
Editorial decisions shall not be influenced by commercial, political, institutional, or personal interests.
11. Metadata, Indexing, and Cross-Platform Updates
Following any approved post-publication amendment, the journal will update article metadata and notify relevant indexing, archiving, and abstracting services whenever possible.
The journal will work to ensure that readers accessing the article through external platforms receive accurate information regarding its current publication status.
12. Policy Review and Continuous Improvement
Agricultural Science Horizons regularly reviews its post-publication procedures to align with evolving international publishing standards and ethical best practices.
GIRSD remains committed to maintaining a trustworthy, transparent, and accountable scholarly publishing environment that protects the integrity of the scientific record for researchers worldwide.
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