Corrections Policy

Corrections, Errata, Corrigenda, and Amendments Policy

The Iraqi Journal for Applied Science (IJAS) is committed to preserving the accuracy, integrity, transparency, and reliability of the scholarly record. When errors or concerns are identified in published articles, the journal takes appropriate corrective action in accordance with internationally recognized publication ethics and best practices.

Post-publication amendments are intended to ensure that readers have access to accurate and reliable scientific information while preserving the integrity of the published Version of Record.

This policy follows the recommendations of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and internationally recognized standards for scholarly publishing.

1. Principles

The journal is committed to:

Maintaining an accurate scholarly record.
Correcting errors promptly and transparently.
Preserving the published Version of Record.
Ensuring that all post-publication changes remain permanently linked to the original article.
Applying editorial decisions consistently and fairly.

Corrections are issued to improve the accuracy of the scientific literature and are not intended to penalize authors.

2. Minor Corrections

Minor errors that do not affect the scientific validity, interpretation, results, conclusions, or overall reliability of the article may be corrected without issuing a formal correction notice.

Examples include:

Typographical errors.
Formatting inconsistencies.
Minor grammatical corrections.
Metadata corrections.
Updates to author affiliations.
Minor reference corrections.

Such changes may be incorporated directly into the online article where appropriate.

When necessary, an editorial note indicating that the article has been updated may be added.

3. Corrigendum (Author Correction)

A Corrigendum is issued when authors identify significant errors in their published work that require correction but do not invalidate the overall findings of the study.

Examples include:

Errors in figures or tables.
Incorrect numerical values.
Inaccurate methodological descriptions.
Missing acknowledgments.
Author name or affiliation corrections.
Incorrect funding information.

Corrigenda are published separately, assigned their own publication record where applicable, and permanently linked to the original article.

4. Erratum (Publisher Correction)

An Erratum is issued when an error originates from the editorial or production process.

Examples include:

Production errors.
Typesetting mistakes.
Layout problems.
Publisher-introduced metadata errors.
Incorrect page numbering.
DOI assignment errors.
Publishing workflow mistakes.

Errata remain permanently linked to the original publication.

5. Expressions of Concern

An Expression of Concern may be published when substantial concerns exist regarding the integrity or reliability of a published article but the available evidence is insufficient to justify an immediate correction or retraction.

Such notices remain associated with the article until the investigation has been completed and a final editorial decision has been reached.

6. Retractions

A Retraction may be issued when published findings are determined to be unreliable due to:

Plagiarism.
Duplicate publication.
Data fabrication.
Data falsification.
Image manipulation.
Serious methodological errors.
Ethical violations.
Authorship misconduct.
Peer-review manipulation.
Other serious breaches of publication ethics.

Retractions are handled in accordance with the journal's Retraction Policy and COPE recommendations.

The original article remains accessible but is clearly marked "Retracted."

7. Article Removal

Complete removal of published content is considered only in exceptional circumstances, such as:

Legal requirements.
Court orders.
Defamation.
Serious breaches of privacy.
Risks to public safety.

Whenever possible, bibliographic information and an explanatory notice will remain publicly available.

8. Requests for Corrections

Requests for post-publication corrections may be submitted by:

Authors.
Readers.
Reviewers.
Editors.
Academic institutions.
Funding organizations.

Correction requests should include:

Article title.
DOI.
Description of the issue.
Supporting documentation where available.
Proposed correction.

The Editorial Office will acknowledge receipt of the request and begin an editorial assessment.

9. Editorial Assessment

Following receipt of a correction request, the journal may:

Conduct an initial editorial review.
Request clarification from the authors.
Consult reviewers or subject experts.
Request supporting documentation.
Evaluate the scientific impact of the reported issue.

Based on the available evidence, the Editor-in-Chief and Editorial Board will determine the most appropriate editorial action.

10. Transparency and Version of Record

IJAS is committed to preserving the published Version of Record.

Whenever possible:

Published articles are not replaced.
Corrections remain permanently linked to the original article.
Publication history remains transparent.
Correction notices clearly describe the nature of the amendment.
Cross-references between the article and the correction are maintained.

This approach ensures transparency while preserving the integrity of the scholarly record.

11. DOI and Metadata Updates

Where applicable:

Correction notices receive their own publication record.
Metadata associated with the original article are updated.
DOI links continue to resolve correctly.
Cross-references between the original article and correction notices are maintained.

These measures support accurate indexing and long-term discoverability.