Post-Publication Discussion

FaST - Jurnal Sains dan Teknologi (hereinafter referred to as FaST) is committed to fostering open, constructive, and responsible scholarly communication to safeguard scientific integrity and advance technological progress. Post-publication discussion provides a platform for the academic community to offer responses, scientific critiques, or requests for clarification regarding articles published in FaST.

This policy ensures that all discussions, amendments, and updates to the scholarly record are conducted professionally, ethically, and transparently, adhering to the guidelines of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).

Types of Post-Publication Discussion

1. Letters to the Editor

Readers may submit written comments or responses concerning published articles. Submissions must be directly relevant to the substantive content of the article, supported by adequate scientific rationale or empirical evidence, and written in a respectful, constructive tone. Letters are reviewed by the Editorial Board before a decision is made regarding publication.

2. Author Responses

Authors of the original article are given the opportunity to provide a formal response to published Letters to the Editor or scientific critiques. Author responses are published alongside or linked to the reader's letter to maintain a complete scholarly dialogue.

3. Commentary or Discussion Articles

In cases where deeper scholarly debate or extensive elaboration is warranted, the journal may publish short commentary or discussion articles. These submissions undergo formal peer review, particularly when addressing significant scientific debates or expanding on original methodologies/findings.

 

Correction and Retraction Policy

FaST is dedicated to maintaining the accuracy, reliability, transparency, and integrity of the published scientific record. When errors, ethical issues, or scientific flaws are identified post-publication, the journal takes corrective action—via corrections or retractions—commensurate with the nature and severity of the issue.

  • Corrections: Applied when identified errors do not invalidate the primary findings or main conclusions of the article.
  • Retractions: Applied when major scientific errors, ethical violations, or academic misconduct render the data, findings, or conclusions unreliable.
  • Manuscript Withdrawal: Applies exclusively to manuscripts that are under review or accepted but have not yet been formally published as a Version of Record.

All modifications to the scholarly record strictly adhere to the COPE Retraction Guidelines.

 

Article Corrections

A formal correction (Correction, Erratum, or Corrigendum) is issued when errors are discovered after publication that need fixing but do not invalidate the main findings, reliability, or overall conclusions of the paper.

Corrections may be considered for:

  1. Factual, numerical, tabular, graphical, or textual errors that do not alter the main scientific conclusions.
  2. Errors introduced during copyediting, typesetting, or layout production that impair comprehension.
  3. Errors or missing details regarding author affiliations, funding declarations, author contribution statements, or conflict-of-interest disclosures.
  4. Authorship adjustments that have been formally reviewed and approved in accordance with FaST’s Authorship & Contribution Policy.
  5. Other technical or bibliographic updates necessary for historical precision and traceability.

Note: Minor typographical or formatting errors that do not affect the meaning, interpretation, bibliographic data, or scientific validity of the article do not require a formal Correction Notice.

Correction Notice Requirements

When a formal Correction Notice is published, it must:

  1. Clearly identify and cite the original published article;
  2. Detail the exact section, data, or text being corrected;
  3. Provide a clear, objective explanation for the correction;
  4. State the party initiating or taking responsibility for the correction (e.g., authors or publisher);
  5. Be freely accessible (Open Access) and permanently linked to the original article; and
  6. Be accompanied by updates to the article’s metadata, DOI, and bibliographic records across indexing databases.

Corrections are never made covertly to the published Version of Record. Readers must be able to identify any substantive modifications made post-publication.

 

Article Retractions

An article retraction is executed when compelling evidence shows that the published work suffers from severe scientific flaws, academic misconduct, or ethical violations that render its data, findings, or conclusions untrustworthy. The primary objective of retraction is to correct the scientific record rather than punish the authors.

A retraction will be considered in cases of:

  1. Data fabrication, falsification, image manipulation, or major analytical errors that render findings unreliable;
  2. Substantial plagiarism affecting the integrity of the work;
  3. Unannounced redundant or duplicate publication;
  4. Major violations of human/animal research ethics, lack of informed consent, or breach of subject confidentiality/privacy;
  5. Unauthorized use of data, third-party materials, or copyrighted assets that materially affects the article's validity;
  6. Peer review manipulation or editorial process fraud; or
  7. Any other grave misconduct or fundamental error that cannot be remedied through a simple correction.

Retractions are not issued for routine academic disagreements, minor errors correctable by an erratum, or unsubstantiated author requests.

Retraction Notice Requirements

When an article is retracted, FaST issues a formal Retraction Notice that:

  1. Explicitly identifies and cites the retracted article;
  2. Clearly states that the article has been retracted;
  3. Outlines the objective, factual reasons for the retraction;
  4. Identifies the party initiating the retraction (e.g., Editor-in-Chief, Authors, or Publisher);
  5. Is published as Open Access and bidirectionally linked to the retracted article; and
  6. Updates the metadata, DOI system, and indexing services to accurately reflect the retracted status.

Status of Retracted Articles

Retracted articles are not removed from the FaST website or digital archives. They are preserved to maintain historical transparency but are clearly marked as "RETRACTED" (e.g., a prominent watermark across the full-text PDF and clear notices on the landing page and metadata).

Complete removal of an article from the online platform is reserved for extraordinary legal circumstances, such as court orders, severe privacy breaches, or immediate safety hazards.

 

Manuscript Withdrawal Policy

Manuscript withdrawal applies only to papers that have been submitted to FaST but not yet published as a formal Version of Record. Once an article is published, any modifications or removals are handled strictly through the Correction or Retraction mechanisms.

Withdrawal Request Procedure

  1. Authors may request a withdrawal while their manuscript is in the editorial or peer-review process.
  2. The corresponding author must submit a formal written request to jurnalfast@uph.edu.
  3. The request must include:
    • Full manuscript title;
    • Manuscript reference ID;
    • Corresponding author details;
    • A clear, valid reason for withdrawal; and
    • A written confirmation statement signed by all co-authors agreeing to the withdrawal.
  4. The Editorial Team reviews the request, verifies co-author consent, and checks for potential ethical concerns before approving the withdrawal.
  5. Withdrawal is considered final only after written confirmation is issued by the Editorial Office. Until confirmation is received, the manuscript remains actively under review at FaST and must not be submitted to another journal.

Withdrawal Before vs. After Acceptance

  • Prior to Formal Acceptance: Requests submitted during initial screening or peer review are processed upon verification of author consent and justifications.
  • After Formal Acceptance: Requests made after acceptance (during copyediting, layout, or proofing) require rigorous verification and strong justification. Withdrawing an accepted paper without compelling scientific reasons undermines the effort invested by reviewers and editors, and may result in editorial sanctions (1-year submission ban).

Withdrawal and Integrity Investigations

A withdrawal request does not halt or cancel an investigation if indications of misconduct (e.g., duplicate submission, plagiarism, data fabrication, or peer review manipulation) are detected prior to or during the withdrawal request. The matter will proceed according to FaST's Academic Integrity Protocols, regardless of manuscript status.

 

Decision-Making, Transparency, and Accountability

  1. Fair Review: Decisions regarding corrections, retractions, or post-publication actions are grounded in objective evaluation of facts and evidence. Authors and relevant parties are given a reasonable opportunity to provide clarifications where applicable.
  2. Editor Recusal: Editorial board members or reviewers who have a conflict of interest regarding the article or authors are recused from participating in decisions concerning corrections, retractions, or withdrawals.
  3. Institutional Escalation: Author disagreement does not prevent the journal from taking necessary corrective action if the integrity of the scholarly record requires it. In unresolved disputes, the journal may refer the case to the authors' host institution for investigation.
  4. Documentation: All evidence, correspondence, editorial decisions, and actions are archived to maintain accountability and process traceability.