Retraction Policy

Civil Engineering Science and Technology (CEST) is committed to maintaining the integrity, reliability, and transparency of the scholarly record. In exceptional circumstances where a published article is found to contain serious errors or evidence of publication misconduct that substantially undermines the validity or trustworthiness of its findings, the journal may retract the article. Retraction is intended to correct the scholarly literature and inform readers that the published work should no longer be regarded as part of the reliable scientific record. Retraction is not intended as a punitive measure against authors but as an essential mechanism for preserving research integrity. CEST follows the recommendations and best practices of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) when considering the retraction of published articles.

Grounds for Retraction

An article may be considered for retraction if one or more of the following circumstances are identified:

  • Evidence of data fabrication or falsification.
  • Plagiarism or substantial unattributed reproduction of published work.
  • Duplicate or redundant publication.
  • Serious methodological or analytical errors that invalidate the study's conclusions.
  • Unethical research practices, including failure to obtain required ethical approval where applicable.
  • Manipulation of figures, images, or research data.
  • Undisclosed conflicts of interest that significantly affect the interpretation of the research.
  • Fraudulent authorship or other serious breaches of publication ethics.
  • Any other form of publication misconduct that materially compromises the integrity of the article.

Retraction Procedure

When a potential reason for retraction is identified, the editorial office will initiate a formal assessment. The process generally includes:

  1. Preliminary evaluation by the editorial team.
  2. Communication with the corresponding author to request clarification or supporting documentation.
  3. Review of the available evidence and, where appropriate, consultation with independent experts.
  4. Consideration of relevant institutional findings or investigations, if available.
  5. Final decision by the Editor-in-Chief.

Throughout the process, authors will be given an opportunity to respond before a final decision is reached.

Retraction Notice

If an article is retracted, CEST will publish a formal Retraction Notice. The notice will:

  • Clearly identify the retracted article.
  • State the reason for retraction.
  • Identify the party initiating the retraction where appropriate.
  • Remain permanently linked to the original article.

Retraction notices are published in the interest of transparency and to maintain the integrity of the scholarly record.

Availability of Retracted Articles

Retracted articles will not be removed from the journal website except where required by legal or regulatory obligations. Instead:

  • The original article will remain accessible as part of the permanent scholarly record.
  • Each page of the article will be clearly marked as "Retracted."
  • Readers will be directed to the associated Retraction Notice explaining the reason for the retraction.

This approach preserves the transparency of the publication history while preventing the continued use of unreliable findings.

Retraction Initiated by Authors

Authors who identify serious errors that invalidate the findings of their published work are encouraged to contact the editorial office promptly. Voluntary reporting of significant errors is regarded as a responsible contribution to maintaining the integrity of scientific communication. The editorial office will evaluate each request in accordance with this policy.

Editorial Independence

Retraction decisions are made independently by the editorial office based on the available evidence, publication ethics, and the integrity of the scholarly record. Neither financial considerations, institutional affiliations, nor external influence shall determine whether an article is retracted.

Relationship to Other Editorial Actions

Not all post-publication concerns require retraction. Depending on the nature and severity of the issue, the journal may instead issue:

  • A Correction (Erratum or Corrigendum);
  • An Expression of Concern; or
  • Another appropriate editorial notice.

The chosen action will be proportionate to the impact of the identified issue on the reliability of the published work.

Policy Compliance

Submission of a manuscript to CEST constitutes acknowledgement that published articles may be subject to correction, editorial notice, or retraction when necessary to preserve the integrity of the scholarly record. Authors are expected to cooperate fully with any post-publication investigation conducted by the journal.