Post-Publication Discussion, Correction and Retraction Policy

1. General Provisions

Indonesian Journal of Limnology is committed to maintaining the accuracy, transparency, and integrity of published scientific work. The publication process does not terminate the scientific responsibility of authors or journal administrators. Published articles remain subject to academic discussion, clarification, review, and corrective action if relevant new information or evidence is discovered. This policy covers post-publication discussions, article corrections, issuing expressions of concern, article retractions, and maintaining publication record maintenance mechanisms.

2. Post-Publication Discussion

Indonesian Journal of Limnology provides an opportunity for researchers, academics, readers, and the scientific community to submit scientific comments, methodological critiques, responses, or questions regarding published articles. Post-publication discussions aim to strengthen scientific openness, support critical evaluation of research findings, and help identify potential errors that may have been missed during the peer review process. Scientific discussions must be conducted professionally, evidence-based, and respect the ethics of academic communication.

3. Handling Scientific Discussions

Relevant comments may be forwarded to the author for a response or clarification. If the issue relates to the interpretation of theory, methods, or research results without indicating material error, the editor may facilitate correspondence or other appropriate forms of scientific discussion. If any indication of error is found that impacts the reliability of the article, the editor may initiate a review based on the article correction and retraction policy. The journal is not obligated to publish every comment received. Comments that are irrelevant, offensive to the author, contain confidential information, or lack sufficient academic justification may be rejected.

4. Correction

Corrections are issued when errors are discovered in a published article, but these errors do not invalidate the overall scientific conclusions. Errors that may require correction include:

• Mistakes in the identity or affiliation of authors.
• Errors in tables, figures, or supporting information.
• Errors in calculations or data presentation that do not invalidate the main conclusions.
• Errors in methodological information that need to be explained to readers.
• Bibliographical errors or other important information.

Corrections are issued through a notice explaining the corrected section and the reasons for the correction. If the main article is updated, the changes must be transparently marked so that readers are aware of the revisions after publication.

5. Expression of Concern

Jurnal dapat menerbitkan expression of concern apabila terdapat dugaan serius mengenai keandalan atau integritas artikel, tetapi pemeriksaan belum menghasilkan kesimpulan yang memadai.

Pernyataan tersebut dimaksudkan untuk memberikan informasi kepada pembaca bahwa terdapat persoalan yang sedang ditelaah.

Expression of concern bukan merupakan keputusan akhir mengenai ada atau tidaknya pelanggaran. Pemberitahuan dapat diperbarui setelah proses pemeriksaan selesai.

6. Retraction

An article is retracted when there is sufficient evidence that the findings are unreliable or the publication contains serious issues that affect the integrity of the scientific record. Reasons for retraction may include:

1. Fabrication or falsification of data that renders the findings unreliable.
2. Serious plagiarism or multiple publications.
3. Methodological or analytical errors that substantially invalidate the research conclusions.
4. Serious violations of research ethics.
5. Violations of publication rights or permissions that materially impact the results.
6. Manipulation of the review process that undermines the validity of the publication decision.

Retractions are based on an assessment of the case and available evidence, not as an automatic penalty against the author.

7. Article Retraction Procedure

The article retraction process is carried out through the following steps:

1. Receipt of reports or identification of issues by the journal management.
2. Initial assessment of the evidence and the severity of the issue.
3. Request for clarification from the author(s) and other relevant parties.
4. Further investigation, including consultation with institutions or independent experts, if necessary.
5. Determination of an editorial decision.
6. Issuance of a retraction notice that is accessible to the public.
7. Updating of metadata and article status information, in accordance with the capabilities of the system and the requirements of indexing services and DOI registration agencies.

8. Publication of a Retraction Notice

Retraction notices must be publicly accessible and clearly and factually state the reasons for the retraction. Such notices shall include the article’s identity, title, author(s), publication source, and its relationship to the original article. In principle, retracted articles remain in the scholarly archive, marked with a clear indication of their status. Complete removal of content is considered only under exceptional circumstances, such as in the event of a legal order, a serious breach of privacy, or safety risks.

9. DOI and the Scholarly Record

Articles that undergo correction or retraction remain linked to the original publication record. Updates to an article’s status, metadata, and the relationship between the original article and the correction or retraction notice are carried out in accordance with the procedures established by the journal’s system and the relevant DOI registration agency. The history of a correction or retraction must not be concealed in an attempt to erase the record of scholarly changes.

10. Responsibilities of Authors and Journal Management

Authors are obligated to promptly notify the editor if they become aware of a material error in a published article. Journal management is responsible for assessing reports objectively, providing an opportunity for clarification, documenting the findings of the investigation, and taking proportionate action. Every decision is aimed at protecting the integrity of the scholarly literature, as well as the interests of readers and the academic community. Indonesian Journal of Limnology is committed to maintaining an accurate, transparent, and accountable scholarly record.