Retraction Policy

Purpose

Verdant Legacy Publications is committed to maintaining the accuracy, integrity, and reliability of the scholarly record. Retraction is a mechanism for correcting the literature and informing readers when a published article contains seriously flawed or unreliable content. Retractions are undertaken to preserve research integrity and ensure that readers can distinguish reliable scholarly work from publications affected by significant errors, misconduct, or ethical concerns.

Scope

This policy applies to all journals published by Verdant Legacy Publications and governs the correction of the scholarly record through retractions, partial retractions, and related editorial actions.

Principles

Retractions are intended to:

• Correct the scholarly record.
• Protect the integrity of published research.
• Alert readers to unreliable findings.
• Promote transparency and accountability.
• Ensure compliance with recognized publication ethics standards.

Retractions are not intended to punish authors but to maintain confidence in scholarly communication.

Grounds for Retraction

A published article may be retracted when there is evidence of:

Research Misconduct

Including but not limited to:

• Data fabrication.
• Data falsification.
• Plagiarism.
• Manipulation of research findings.
• Image manipulation that affects scientific conclusions.

Significant Errors

Major errors that invalidate the main findings, interpretations, or conclusions of the work.

Duplicate Publication

Publication of substantially similar content in another journal without appropriate disclosure, citation, or permission.

Authorship and Disclosure Violations

• Unauthorized authorship changes.
• Ghost authorship.
• Gift authorship.
• Undisclosed conflicts of interest that materially affect the integrity of the work.

Ethical Violations

Including:

• Lack of ethical approval.
• Absence of informed consent where required.
• Improper treatment of human participants or animals.
• Violation of research ethics requirements.

Expression of Concern

Where substantial concerns exist regarding a published article but an investigation remains ongoing or inconclusive, the journal may issue an Expression of Concern.

An Expression of Concern serves to alert readers while allowing appropriate investigation to proceed. The notice will remain linked to the article until a final editorial decision is reached.

Retraction Procedure

Retractions may be initiated by:

• Authors.
• Editors.
• Reviewers.
• Readers.
• Research institutions.
• Funding agencies.

Upon receiving a concern, the editorial office will:

1. Conduct a preliminary assessment.
2. Gather relevant evidence and documentation.
3. Contact the authors for clarification.
4. Consult editorial board members where appropriate.
5. Follow recognized ethical guidelines during the investigation.

Investigations will be conducted fairly, confidentially, and impartially.

Author Response

Authors will normally be given an opportunity to respond to concerns before a final decision is made.

Failure to respond within a reasonable timeframe may not prevent the journal from proceeding with editorial action where evidence supports retraction.

Retraction Notice

When a retraction is warranted, the journal will publish a formal Retraction Notice.

The notice will include:

• Article title.
• Author names.
• Publication details.
• Reason(s) for retraction.
• Date of retraction.
• Identity of the party requesting or approving the retraction where appropriate.

Retraction notices will be freely accessible and permanently linked to the original article.

Retained Access to Retracted Articles

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

The original article will:

• Be clearly marked as “Retracted”.
• Include a visible watermark on each page where feasible.
• Be electronically linked to the Retraction Notice.

The article will not be removed except in exceptional legal circumstances.

Partial Retraction

In cases where only part of a publication is affected, the journal may issue:

• Partial Retraction.
• Correction.
• Corrigendum.
• Addendum.

The chosen action will depend upon the severity and scope of the issue identified.

Replacement of Retracted Articles

Where authors subsequently conduct valid research addressing the identified issues, a corrected manuscript may be submitted as a new submission.

Such manuscripts will:

• Undergo full peer review.
• Be evaluated independently.
• Include appropriate reference to the previously retracted article.

Acceptance is not guaranteed and will depend on the outcome of peer review.

Editorial Responsibility

Editors are responsible for ensuring that:

• Retraction decisions are evidence-based.
• Investigations are conducted fairly.
• Ethical standards are maintained.
• Readers are informed transparently.

Editorial actions will be guided by established ethical principles and publication standards.

Compliance with International Standards

This policy is aligned with recommendations and best practices established by:

• Committee on Publication Ethics
• Directory of Open Access Journals
• International Committee of Medical Journal Editors

Related Policies

This policy should be read in conjunction with:

• Publication Ethics and Research Integrity Policy
• Correction Policy
• Peer Review Policy
• Conflict of Interest Policy
• Authorship Policy
• Human and Animal Research Ethics Policy

Policy Review

This policy may be reviewed and updated periodically to ensure alignment with evolving ethical standards and international best practices.

Contact Information

Verdant Legacy Publications

Email: editorial@verdantlegacy.com

Website: https://verdantlegacy.com