Kerala History and Studies Journal seeks to maintain the integrity of its published record. Where credible evidence indicates that a published article contains serious problems that affect its reliability or ethical standing, the journal may consider appropriate post-publication action, including retraction where necessary.
1. Purpose of Retraction
Retraction is a post-publication measure used when a published article is found to contain serious problems that cannot be adequately addressed through a normal correction.
The purpose of retraction is to protect the integrity of the scholarly record and to ensure that readers are not misled by unreliable or seriously compromised research.
2. Reasons for Retraction
An article may be considered for retraction where there is credible evidence of serious research or publication misconduct, substantial plagiarism, fabricated or falsified material, duplicate publication or another issue that materially affects the reliability of the published work.
3. Plagiarism
Substantial plagiarism identified after publication may provide grounds for retraction.
The journal will consider the nature and extent of the unattributed material and its effect on the integrity of the published article before determining appropriate action.
Further information is provided in the journal's Plagiarism Policy .
4. Fabrication and Falsification
An article may be considered for retraction if evidence indicates that research evidence, sources, data, quotations, references or other material was fabricated or deliberately falsified in a way that materially affects the article.
5. Duplicate Publication
Retraction may be considered where an article has been published elsewhere in substantially the same form without appropriate disclosure and the duplicate publication materially affects the integrity of the publication record.
6. Unreliable Findings
An article may be considered for retraction where credible evidence shows that its principal findings are unreliable because of serious errors, manipulation, fabricated evidence or other circumstances affecting the research.
7. Unethical Research
Retraction may be considered where serious ethical concerns relating to the conduct of research are established and materially affect the validity or publication of the article.
This may include research conducted without required permission, serious breaches of applicable ethical requirements or improper use of confidential research material.
8. Authorship Concerns
Serious authorship concerns may require editorial investigation. Not every authorship dispute requires retraction, and the appropriate action will depend on the circumstances and the effect of the issue on the published record.
9. Copyright and Legal Concerns
Serious copyright or legal concerns affecting the continued publication of an article may require editorial review and, where appropriate, post-publication action.
10. Identification of Concerns
Concerns about a published article may be brought to the attention of the editorial office by authors, readers, reviewers, researchers, institutions or other relevant parties.
Concerns should, where possible, be supported by specific evidence that allows the matter to be examined.
11. Editorial Assessment
When a credible concern is received, the editorial office may examine the published article, supporting sources and available evidence.
The journal may contact the authors or other relevant parties for clarification or supporting documentation.
12. Institutional Information
Where appropriate, the journal may seek information from the author's institution or another relevant organisation concerning the circumstances surrounding the research or publication.
13. Author Response
Authors may be given an opportunity to respond to substantive concerns raised about their published work.
An author's response will be considered together with the available evidence when determining appropriate editorial action.
14. Retraction Decision
A decision to retract an article will be based on the available evidence and the seriousness of the concern.
Retraction will be considered where correction or another post-publication measure would not adequately address the problem.
15. Retraction Notice
Where an article is retracted, the journal may publish a retraction notice explaining the reason for the action.
The notice should identify the retracted article clearly so that readers can distinguish the retraction notice from the original publication.
16. Retraction and the Published Record
A retracted article should remain identifiable as part of the journal's publication record where technically and legally appropriate, rather than being presented as an ordinary unaffected publication.
The retraction status should be made clear to readers accessing the affected article.
17. Retraction Does Not Erase the Record
Retraction is intended to correct the scholarly record rather than conceal the existence of a previously published article.
Bibliographic information relating to the article may therefore remain available with an appropriate indication of its retracted status.
18. Corrections Instead of Retraction
Not every error requires retraction.
Where an identified problem does not invalidate the principal findings or otherwise compromise the reliability of the article, the journal may consider a correction or other suitable post-publication notice instead.
19. Retraction and Author Agreement
A retraction decision does not necessarily require agreement from all authors where the available evidence indicates that post-publication action is necessary to protect the integrity of the scholarly record.
Authors will, where appropriate, be informed of the concerns and the proposed or completed editorial action.
20. Retraction for Legal or Ethical Reasons
An article may require removal from normal publication access or another form of restriction where legal obligations or serious ethical considerations make continued public availability inappropriate.
Any such action will be considered according to the circumstances of the case.
21. Post-Retraction Citations
Researchers who cite a retracted article should clearly indicate its retracted status so that readers are not misled about the reliability of the publication.
22. Appeals and Queries
Authors who have questions about a retraction decision may contact the editorial office and provide relevant information or evidence for consideration.
The journal may review additional information where it is relevant to the matter and has not previously been considered.
23. Post-Publication Review
Publication does not prevent the journal from considering credible concerns that arise after an article has entered the published record.
The journal may take appropriate action when new evidence materially affects the reliability or ethical standing of a published article.
24. Retraction and Research Integrity
Retraction forms part of the journal's broader commitment to research integrity, accurate scholarship and responsible maintenance of the published record.