The Retraction Policy of Sciences, Methods and Technologies journal (SciMeTech) outlines the circumstances under which an article may be retracted to maintain the integrity of the academic record. This policy adheres to the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) Retraction Guidelines.

Grounds for Retraction

Articles may be retracted for the following reasons:

• Plagiarism: Significant portions of the article are found to have been copied without proper citation.
• Fabrication or Falsification: Evidence of data fabrication, falsification, or manipulation of research findings.
• Ethical Violations: Non-compliance with ethical standards, such as unauthorized use of data or human/animal research misconduct.
• Duplicate Publication: The article has been published in another journal without proper acknowledgment or permission.
• Major Errors: Errors that invalidate the article’s findings, such as methodological flaws or miscalculations.
• Author Misconduct: Authorship disputes or undisclosed conflicts of interest that compromise the validity of the article.

Retraction Process

Retractions are handled in accordance with COPE guidelines and the following steps:

1. Investigation: The editorial team investigates reported concerns or issues with the article. This may involve discussions with authors, reviewers, and third parties.
2. Notification: If the investigation substantiates the need for retraction, the corresponding author and co-authors are notified, and they are given an opportunity to respond.
3. Decision: The editorial team, in consultation with the publisher and if necessary, external advisors, decides whether to retract the article.
4. Public Retraction Notice: A retraction notice is published online, clearly stating the reason(s) for the retraction. The original article will remain available but marked as retracted.
5. Indexing Updates: The retraction is communicated to indexing services, such as Scopus, to ensure the retracted status is reflected in databases.

Retraction Notice

Retraction notices will:

• Be clearly identified as a retraction.
• Include the title and authors of the original article.
• Specify the reason(s) for retraction, with references to evidence when applicable.
• Be permanently linked to the retracted article.

Retractions are intended to correct the scientific record and alert readers to serious issues. The original article will remain accessible but marked as retracted to ensure transparency.

Expressions of Concern

In cases where concerns arise but further investigation is required, the journal may issue an "Expression of Concern" notice. This temporary measure informs readers of potential issues while investigations are ongoing.

Reporting Misconduct

To report concerns about an article published in SciMeTech, please contact the editorial team at m.eddabbah@scimetech.com. All reports will be treated confidentially and thoroughly investigated.