R-W-C-R-R Policy

R-W-C-R-R Policy (Retraction, Withdrawal, Correction, Removal, Replacement)
We understand that authors work carefully to prepare their manuscripts and that our team conducts rigorous peer-review processes. However, articles may occasionally need to be corrected, clarified, retracted, or even removed for scientific and ethical reasons. These actions are never taken lightly and only occur under extraordinary circumstances. To maintain the integrity of our electronic archives and ensure public trust, updates will be handled with strict standards. WRA is committed to preserving the completeness of scientific records for researchers and librarians.
 
1. Article Retraction
WRA is committed to maintaining the integrity of the scholarly record. Therefore, it is occasionally necessary to retract an article. Articles may be retracted if:
  • Clear evidence shows the findings are unreliable, either due to misconduct (e.g., data fabrication) or honest errors (e.g., miscalculations).
  • The findings have been published elsewhere without proper cross-referencing, permission, or justification (redundant publication).
  • The manuscript involves serious ethical violations, such as plagiarism or inappropriate authorship.
To ensure retractions follow best practices and the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) guidelines, WRA adopts the following process:
  • The article requiring potential retraction is brought to the attention of the Journal Editor.
  • The Editor follows the step-by-step COPE flowcharts, including evaluating responses from the author(s).
  • Before final action is taken, the Editor's findings are sent to the WRA Editor in Chief.
  • The final decision is communicated to the authors and, if necessary, their affiliated institution.
  • The retraction statement is posted online and published in the next available issue of WRA.
Note: Even if authors retain copyright, the integrity of the scientific record remains paramount, and COPE's Retraction Guidelines still apply.
 
2. Article Withdrawal
Authors are strongly requested not to withdraw papers currently being processed at WRA. Article withdrawal wastes valuable resources, as editors and reviewers invest a great deal of time evaluating submissions. Before submitting through our OJS, authors must approve the submission checklist.
  • During Review: If authors request a withdrawal while the manuscript is still under peer review, they will be suspended from submitting to WRA for one year from the withdrawal date.
  • After Acceptance: If a manuscript is withdrawn after being accepted for publication, the authors will be suspended from submitting to WRA for two years from the withdrawal date.
  • Failure to Revise: If authors fail to submit revised manuscripts after receiving a "minor or major revision" decision and provide no confirmation over an extended period, the editor may treat the case as an unapproved withdrawal after acceptance and apply the respective penalty.
3. Article Correction
WRA will consider issuing a correction if:
  • A small part of an otherwise reliable publication reports flawed data or proves to be misleading due to an honest error.
  • The author or contributor list is incorrect (e.g., a deserving author was omitted or an unqualified individual was included).
Corrections to peer-reviewed content fall into three categories:
  • Publisher Correction (Erratum): Notifies readers of an important production or publishing error made by journal staff that impacts the paper's integrity or the authors' reputations.
  • Author Correction (Corrigendum): Notifies readers of an important error made by the authors that negatively impacts the scientific integrity of the article.
  • Addendum: An addition by the authors to explain inconsistencies, expand upon the existing work, or update information within the main text.
The decision to issue a correction is made by the WRA Editors, occasionally with advice from reviewers or Editorial Board members. Handling Editors will contact the authors for clarification, but the final decision rests with the editors.
 
4. Article Removal
In extremely limited cases, it may be necessary to remove a published article from our online platform. This will only occur if an article is clearly defamatory, infringes upon legal rights, is the subject of a court order, or poses serious health and safety risks. In such circumstances, the article's metadata (title and author information) will be retained, but the main text will be replaced with a notice indicating removal for legal reasons.
 
5. Article Replacement
If an article poses a serious risk if acted upon, authors may wish to retract the flawed original and replace it with a corrected version. In these instances, standard retraction procedures will be followed, but the retraction notice will feature a direct link to the newly re-published, corrected article along with its document history.