Retraction Policy

The International Journal of Information Technology and Computing (ITX Journal) is committed to maintaining the integrity, accuracy, and reliability of the scholarly record.

The journal follows internationally recognized ethical publishing standards and provides transparent procedures for correcting, retracting, or removing published articles when necessary.

Retractions are implemented to ensure the integrity of scientific literature and to inform readers about publications containing serious errors, ethical violations, or unreliable findings.

The journal follows ethical guidelines established by:

  • Committee on Publication Ethics
  • Elsevier publishing ethics recommendations
  • Springer Nature ethical publishing standards

Purpose of Retraction

The purpose of retraction is to:

  • Correct the scholarly record
  • Maintain research integrity
  • Alert readers to unreliable publications
  • Prevent the dissemination of misleading information
  • Address ethical publishing violations

Retraction is not intended as a punishment mechanism but as a corrective action for the scientific literature.

Grounds for Retraction

An article may be retracted if evidence demonstrates:

Research Misconduct

Including:

  • Data fabrication
  • Data falsification
  • Manipulated results
  • Fraudulent research practices

Plagiarism

Including:

  • Direct plagiarism
  • Self-plagiarism
  • Unauthorized reuse of content
  • Image or figure plagiarism

Duplicate Publication

Submission or publication of substantially similar work in multiple journals or conferences without proper disclosure.

Unethical Research

Including violations related to:

  • Human subjects
  • Animal research
  • Ethical approvals
  • Informed consent requirements

Serious Errors

Major scientific or technical errors that invalidate:

  • Results
  • Conclusions
  • Data interpretation
  • Experimental findings

Fake Authorship or Peer Review Manipulation

Including:

  • False reviewer identities
  • Manipulated peer review
  • Unauthorized authorship claims

Retraction Process

The journal follows a transparent and fair investigation procedure.

Step 1 – Initial Assessment

The editorial office reviews:

  • Complaints
  • Evidence
  • Similarity reports
  • Ethical concerns

The Editor-in-Chief and editorial board evaluate the seriousness of the allegation.

Step 2 – Author Communication

Authors are contacted and requested to:

  • Provide explanations
  • Submit supporting documents
  • Clarify disputed information

Authors are given reasonable opportunity to respond.

Step 3 – Investigation

The editorial board may:

  • Consult reviewers or experts
  • Request institutional clarification
  • Examine research data
  • Evaluate ethical documentation

Investigations are conducted confidentially and professionally.

Step 4 – Editorial Decision

Based on the investigation results, the journal may decide to:

Decision Description
Correction Minor issues requiring clarification
Expression of Concern Temporary warning during investigation
Retraction Formal withdrawal of the article
Removal Rare cases involving legal or ethical risks

Retraction Notice

Retracted articles remain accessible online to preserve the integrity of the scholarly record.

However:

  • The article is clearly marked as “Retracted”
  • A formal retraction notice is published
  • Reasons for retraction are explained transparently
  • DOI links remain active

DOI services are maintained through:

Crossref

Post-Retraction Handling

After retraction:

  • Metadata may be updated
  • Indexing databases may be notified
  • Citation records remain traceable
  • Readers are informed about the retraction status

Author-Initiated Retractions

Authors may request retraction when:

  • Serious errors are discovered
  • Ethical concerns arise
  • Invalid data are identified

The editorial board evaluates such requests independently.

Editorial Rights

The journal reserves the right to retract articles without author consent when serious ethical violations or scientific misconduct are confirmed.

Appeals

Authors may submit appeals regarding retraction decisions by providing:

  • Detailed explanations
  • Supporting evidence
  • Institutional documentation

Appeals are reviewed objectively and independently.

Retraction vs Correction

Action Purpose
Correction Minor errors not affecting conclusions
Retraction Major issues invalidating the publication

Removal of Articles

Complete removal of published content is considered only in exceptional situations involving:

  • Legal violations
  • Court orders
  • Severe privacy breaches
  • Defamation risks
  • Public safety concerns

Ethical Commitment

ITX Journal is committed to preserving the credibility, transparency, and integrity of scientific publishing through fair and responsible handling of corrections, concerns, and retractions.

Commitment to Scholarly Integrity

The journal continuously works to uphold the highest standards of ethical publishing and responsible scholarly communication while protecting the reliability and trustworthiness of the scientific record.