Correction and Retraction

Minang Bioscience Journal (MBJ) is committed to maintaining the accuracy, integrity, and reliability of the scholarly record. The journal recognizes that errors may occasionally be identified after publication and provides procedures for issuing corrections and retractions when necessary.

All correction and retraction decisions are handled carefully, transparently, and in accordance with accepted principles of publication ethics.

1. Corrections

A correction may be issued when an error in a published article affects the accuracy, clarity, or completeness of the scholarly record but does not invalidate the overall findings or conclusions of the article.

Corrections may include, but are not limited to:

  • Errors in author names, affiliations, or other bibliographic information;
  • Typographical or formatting errors that affect the meaning of the article;
  • Incorrect data, tables, figures, or references that can be corrected without changing the main conclusions;
  • Errors in methodological or descriptive information; and
  • Other factual errors that require formal correction.

When a correction is necessary, MBJ will publish a correction notice linked to the original article. The original article will normally remain available, with the correction clearly identified to maintain transparency and preserve the publication record.

2. Retractions

A retraction may be issued when a published article contains serious problems that substantially affect the validity, reliability, or integrity of the research.

Reasons for retraction may include:

  • Major errors that invalidate the research findings or conclusions;
  • Fabrication or falsification of data;
  • Significant plagiarism or unauthorized use of other people's work;
  • Duplicate or redundant publication;
  • Serious violations of research or publication ethics;
  • Manipulation of the peer review or publication process;
  • Undisclosed conflicts of interest that substantially affect the validity of the research;
  • Serious authorship or research integrity issues; or
  • Other circumstances that significantly undermine the reliability of the published work.

3. Retraction Procedure

A retraction may be initiated by the Editor, Editorial Team, authors, reviewers, readers, or other concerned parties when credible evidence of serious problems is identified.

Before making a final decision, MBJ may investigate the matter and request explanations or supporting information from the authors and, when appropriate, their affiliated institutions.

The Editor will assess the available evidence and determine whether correction, retraction, or another editorial action is appropriate.

4. Retraction Notice

When an article is retracted, MBJ will publish a clear and accessible Retraction Notice explaining the reason for the retraction. The notice will be linked to the original article and will include sufficient information to identify the affected publication.

The original article will normally remain accessible for the purpose of maintaining the scholarly record, but it will be clearly marked as RETRACTED. The article will not be removed from the journal archive unless removal is required for legal or other exceptional reasons.

5. Author-Initiated Retraction

Authors may request the retraction of their published article when they identify substantial errors, ethical concerns, or other serious problems affecting the reliability of their work.

Such requests must be submitted to the Editor with a clear explanation and supporting information. The final decision regarding retraction rests with the Editor after appropriate assessment.

6. Corrections After Publication

Minor errors that do not affect the scientific meaning of an article may be corrected through an editorial update when appropriate. Significant corrections will be formally documented through a correction notice.

All post-publication changes will be made in a manner that preserves transparency and allows readers to distinguish between the original publication and subsequent corrections.

7. Ethical and Editorial Considerations

MBJ handles corrections and retractions independently of the personal or institutional status of the authors. Decisions are based on the available evidence and the potential impact of the identified issue on the integrity of the scholarly record.

The journal will maintain confidentiality during investigations whenever appropriate while ensuring that final editorial actions are transparent to readers.

8. Preservation of the Scholarly Record

MBJ is committed to preserving the integrity and permanence of its published content. Corrections and retractions will be properly linked to the affected articles and maintained in the journal archive whenever possible.

The purpose of this policy is not to punish authors but to ensure that the academic record remains accurate, transparent, trustworthy, and reliable for researchers, academics, practitioners, and other readers.

9. Editorial Authority

The final decision regarding correction, retraction, or other post-publication action rests with the Editor of Minang Bioscience Journal (MBJ), based on the available evidence, relevant ethical principles, and the journal's editorial policies.