Dealing of Misconduct

Retraction Policy

The Editor-in-Chief of Kertas of Materials and Manufacturing Science (KMMS) may consider the retraction of a published article under the following circumstances to maintain the integrity of the scientific record.

Grounds for Retraction

An article may be retracted if:

  • There is clear evidence that the findings are unreliable due to major error (e.g., miscalculation, methodological flaw) or misconduct such as data fabrication, image manipulation, or falsification.

  • The work constitutes plagiarism.

  • The content has been redundantly or duplicatively published elsewhere without appropriate citation, permission, or acknowledgment.

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

  • There are copyright infringements or other legal concerns such as libel, breach of privacy, or defamation.

  • The research violates established ethical standards for the field.

  • The article was published following a compromised or manipulated peer-review process.

  • A significant conflict of interest was not disclosed and, in the Editor’s judgment, may have unduly influenced the review or publication 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  • A retraction notice will be linked to all online versions of the retracted article.

  • The notice will clearly identify the retracted article by title, authorship, and DOI.

  • It will be clearly labeled as a retraction to avoid confusion with other types of editorial notes (e.g., erratum or commentary).

  • Retractions will be issued promptly to prevent further dissemination of potentially misleading information.

  • Retraction notices will be openly accessible without any paywall or access restrictions.

  • The notice will indicate who issued the retraction (e.g., authors, editors, or publisher).

  • The reasons for retraction will be explained in objective and non-inflammatory language.

When Retractions Are Not Appropriate

KMMS generally will not retract an article when:

  • Authorship disputes arise but do not affect the validity of the research.

  • The article contains minor errors that do not alter the conclusions—these may be addressed via a correction.

  • There is inconclusive evidence of misconduct or an institutional investigation is still ongoing.

  • Conflicts of interest were disclosed post-publication but are not deemed to have compromised the scientific integrity or conclusions.