Policy on Retraction

The Dyke 

The Dyke is committed to preserving the integrity of the scholarly record. Retractions are issued when published content is found to be seriously flawed or ethically compromised, and where corrections are insufficient to resolve the issues. This policy outlines when and how retractions are handled in accordance with the standards of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).

Grounds for Retraction

A retraction may be issued when:

• There is clear evidence of misconduct, such as:
• Plagiarism
• Data fabrication or falsification
• Undisclosed conflicts of interest
• The article contains major errors (e.g. flawed methodology, misinterpretation of data) that invalidate the findings
• The research was conducted or published unethically, e.g. without appropriate ethical approval
• The article constitutes duplicate publication
• Authors request a retraction due to the discovery of serious errors in their own work
• Legal issues, such as libel, copyright infringement, or defamation, are identified

Retraction Process

• Investigation

• Concerns may be raised by editors, reviewers, readers, or authors.
• The editorial board will assess the validity of the complaint and may consult reviewers, institutional bodies, or ethics committees.

• Author Notification

• The corresponding author will be contacted and given an opportunity to respond to the concerns before a decision is finalised.

• Editorial Decision

• Retraction decisions are made by the Editor-in-Chief in consultation with the editorial board and, where appropriate, external advisors.

• Retraction Notice

• A formal retraction notice will be published, clearly stating the reasons for retraction and who is initiating it (editor, author, or institution).
• The retracted article will remain accessible online, marked clearly as retracted, to maintain transparency of the scholarly record.

Retraction Notice Content

The retraction notice will:

• Be clearly linked to the retracted article (including title and DOI)
• State the reason(s) for retraction
• Identify whether the issue was due to honest error or misconduct
• Indicate who is retracting the article (author(s), editor, or publisher)
• Be freely accessible to all readers

Related Actions

In addition to a retraction, the journal may:

• Issue a correction (for minor errors)
• Publish an expression of concern (if the outcome of an investigation is pending but serious concerns exist)
• Notify relevant institutions or funding bodies if research misconduct is confirmed

Retraction at Author's Request

Authors may request retraction if they discover fundamental errors in their work post-publication. Such requests will be reviewed with the same level of scrutiny to ensure validity and transparency.The Dyke is committed to upholding ethical publishing standards and protecting the integrity of the academic record. Retractions are treated with seriousness, fairness, and transparency