CORRECTION AND RETRACTION POLICY
CORRECTION AND RETRACTION POLICY
MIDA is committed to maintaining the accuracy, reliability, and integrity of the scholarly record. When errors or serious concerns are identified in a published article, the journal will assess the available evidence and take appropriate action in accordance with publication-ethics principles.
The journal distinguishes between corrections, retractions, and expressions of concern.
- Corrections
A correction may be issued when an error is identified in a published article and the error can be addressed without undermining the overall validity of the research. Examples may include errors in author information, affiliations, acknowledgments, funding information, or specific parts of the text, tables, or figures that can be corrected without compromising the main findings.
Requests for correction may be submitted by authors, readers, or editors. The editor will assess the nature and significance of the error and determine whether a formal correction notice is necessary. A correction notice should describe the error, provide the corrected information, identify the original article, and be linked to the original article to preserve transparency and traceability.
- Retractions
A retraction may be considered when serious problems undermine the reliability, integrity, or ethical validity of a published article. Grounds may include:
- Fabrication or falsification of research data.
- Plagiarism or substantial unattributed duplication.
- Serious errors that invalidate the main findings or conclusions.
- Unethical research practices or the absence of required ethical approval or informed consent.
- Duplicate publication that violates publication ethics.
- Fraudulent authorship or other serious publication misconduct.
A retraction decision will be based on careful assessment of the available evidence. Where appropriate, the journal may seek explanations from the authors, consult independent experts, or contact relevant institutions.
A retraction notice will explain the reason for retraction as clearly as possible and identify the original article. Where technically and legally possible, the retracted article will remain accessible with a clear retraction notice or watermark indicating its status. This helps preserve the scholarly record and prevents readers from unknowingly relying on unreliable findings.
Retraction does not automatically mean that every author was responsible for the misconduct. Responsibility will be assessed based on the available evidence and circumstances.
- Expressionsof Concern
When credible concerns have been raised but an investigation is incomplete, or the available evidence is insufficient for an immediate correction or retraction decision, the journal may publish an expression of concern. The notice will explain the nature of the concern to the extent possible without compromising a fair investigation. The journal will review the matter when additional evidence becomes available and determine whether further action is required.
- Procedureand Editorial Responsibility
Reports concerning errors or potential misconduct in published articles should be submitted to the editor using the official contact information on the journal website. The editor will:
- Conduct an initial assessment of the concern.
- Request relevant explanations, documents, or supporting evidence where necessary.
- Consult reviewers, independent experts, or relevant institutions when appropriate.
- Give affected authors a reasonable opportunity to respond.
- Make a decision based on the evidence, seriousness of the issue, and applicable publication-ethics principles.
- Publish a correction, retraction, or expression of concern when justified.
The journal will handle each case fairly, confidentially where appropriate, and without undue delay. Editorial decisions will be made independently and will not be influenced by commercial interests, institutional pressure, or personal relationships.
