Dealing of Misconduct

Retraction Policy

The Editor-in-Chief of Kertas of Engineering and Applied Science (KEAS) may consider the retraction of a published article under circumstances where the integrity, reliability, or ethical standing of the work is called into question.

Grounds for Retraction

An article may be retracted if:

  • There is clear evidence that the findings are unreliable due to major errors (such as miscalculation or flawed methodology) or as a result of research misconduct, including data fabrication or image manipulation.

  • The work is found to be plagiarized.

  • The findings have been published elsewhere without proper citation, acknowledgment, or permission (i.e., duplicate or redundant publication).

  • The article contains unauthorized use of data, materials, or third-party content.

  • Legal issues arise, such as copyright infringement, libel, breach of privacy, or defamation.

  • The research violates established ethical standards.

  • The peer-review process was compromised or manipulated.

  • A significant conflict of interest was not disclosed, and in the Editor’s judgment, may have unduly influenced the editorial or peer-review process.

Retraction Notice Guidelines

When a retraction is issued:

  • A retraction notice will be linked to all online versions of the retracted article.

  • The notice will clearly identify the article by title, authors, and DOI.

  • The notice will be clearly labeled as a retraction and will not be confused with other updates such as corrections or comments.

  • Retractions will be published as promptly as possible to minimize the dissemination of inaccurate or misleading information.

  • Retraction notices will remain freely accessible to the public.

  • The notice will state who is issuing the retraction (e.g., author, editor, or publisher).

  • The reason(s) for retraction will be presented clearly and objectively, using non-inflammatory language.

When Retractions Are Not Appropriate

KEAS will generally not retract an article in the following situations:

  • Authorship disputes that do not affect the reliability of the content.

  • Minor errors that do not compromise the overall findings or conclusions, which may be corrected through an erratum.

  • Unverified allegations of misconduct or ongoing institutional investigations without conclusive findings.

  • Disclosure of conflicts of interest after publication that are not judged to have influenced the validity or interpretation of the work.