Correction and Retraction

1. General Policy

Abdimas Unwahas is committed to maintaining the accuracy, reliability, and integrity of the scholarly record of community service publications. Corrections, retractions, and other post-publication issues are handled in accordance with the principles and guidelines of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE). All editorial actions are conducted transparently, fairly, and objectively.

2. Correction Policy

Corrections may be issued when errors are identified that do not substantially affect the validity of the program outcomes or conclusions. Such errors may include inaccuracies in:

  • author names and affiliations;
  • data presentation, figures, or tables;
  • partner names, locations, or program dates;
  • funding information;
  • other publication details.

Corrections are clearly labeled, publicly accessible, and linked to the original article.

3. Retraction Policy

Articles may be retracted when substantial evidence shows that their findings are unreliable due to:

  • data fabrication, including reporting community service activities that never took place;
  • data falsification, including manipulating participant numbers, evaluation scores, or technology performance results;
  • plagiarism;
  • duplicate publication;
  • serious methodological errors;
  • unethical community service practices, including violations of the rights and privacy of partners or participants;
  • manipulation of the publication process.

Retraction decisions are made by the editorial team in accordance with COPE guidelines to preserve the integrity of the scholarly record.

4. Retraction Procedures

Before issuing a retraction, the editorial team evaluates the available evidence and gives the authors an opportunity to respond. When necessary, the journal may consult independent experts. It may also contact the authors’ institutions, the LPPM, or program partners to verify that the activities took place. The Editor in Chief makes the final decision based on the investigation findings. Where the Editor-in-Chief has a conflict of interest, an independent editor makes the decision.

5. Expression of Concern

An Expression of Concern may be issued when credible concerns arise about the integrity or reliability of a published article, but the available evidence is not yet sufficient to justify a correction or retraction. The notice is linked to the original article. Once the investigation concludes, it may be updated or replaced by a correction or retraction notice.

6. Publication of Correction and Retraction Notices

All correction and retraction notices are published promptly, clearly labeled, and freely accessible. Retraction notices state the reasons for retraction and identify the affected article, without disclosing the identities of partners or participants who need protection. Retracted articles generally remain accessible, marked “Retracted” and linked to the retraction notice, to preserve the transparency of the scholarly record.

7. Author Responsibilities

Authors must promptly inform the editorial office of any significant errors or ethical concerns identified after publication. They must cooperate with editorial investigations and provide relevant documentation when requested. Such documentation may include attendance lists, activity records, assignment letters, final program reports, or raw evaluation data. Authors must support appropriate corrective actions to maintain the reliability of their published work.

8. Editorial Independence and Transparency

Decisions regarding corrections, retractions, and Expressions of Concern are based on documented evidence, publication ethics, and the reliability of the scholarly record. The journal ensures that these decisions remain free from financial, institutional (including affiliation with Universitas Wahid Hasyim), personal, or other inappropriate influences.