Corrections and Retractions

Integrity and transparent updating of the published record

This policy applies to author or production errors, authorship changes, incorrect metadata, reliability concerns, and misconduct. It protects the version of record through transparent, permanent, dated, linked notices without silent replacement.

The editor determines the action with technical or ethics advice where needed. Authors cooperate, but disagreement does not prevent correction of an inaccurate record. Institutions may provide investigation outcomes.

Scholarly record

The published version forms part of the scholarly record and will not be silently replaced. Every material change will be identified, dated, linked, and explained.

Corrections

A correction is published when an error does not invalidate the main findings but affects accuracy, authorship, metadata, or interpretation. Minor typographical changes that do not alter meaning may be fixed during production.

Expression of concern

An expression of concern may be issued while a serious investigation into reliability or conduct remains incomplete.

Retraction

Retraction applies when findings are unreliable because of major error or misconduct, substantial redundant publication, serious plagiarism, unethical research, or manipulation of the process. The article remains accessible, clearly marked, and linked to the retraction notice under COPE guidance.

Request and assessment

Authors, readers, reviewers, or institutions may report errors through the editorial channel. A request should identify the article, describe the concern, and provide evidence. The editor assesses whether it affects presentation, interpretation, validity, or ethics and consults authors, reviewers, or institutions when needed.

People concerned have an opportunity to respond, but disagreement among authors does not prevent action needed to protect the record. The journal distinguishes honest error from misconduct; both may require correction although editorial consequences differ.

Types of notice

An author or publisher correction states exactly what changed and whether conclusions remain valid. Retraction and republication may be considered when errors are extensive but a fully corrected and reassessed version exists. Full-text removal is reserved for exceptional circumstances such as a legal order, severe privacy risk, or defamatory content, while a landing page explains the removal.

Notices have a DOI or persistent identification, cite the article, identify the issuer, state the reason objectively, and link in both directions. Article PDF and HTML are marked without concealing the original content unless exceptional removal is required.

Notification and metadata

After a notice is published, metadata are updated and the change is communicated to Crossref and relevant services where integration permits. The original publication date remains, and the notice date is recorded. Earlier citations and metrics are not erased, but article status must be visible.

Corrections identified during production are resolved before publication. Once the version of record is published, no silent change is made, even at an author’s request. The editorial history is retained for audit.

Implementation procedure

  • Log the request or allegation and acknowledge receipt.
  • Assess scope, evidence, effect on findings, and urgency.
  • Request responses and documents from authors and, where appropriate, institutions.
  • Select correction, retraction and republication, expression of concern, retraction, or exceptional removal.
  • Draft a notice identifying the article, reason, responsible party, and effect on conclusions.
  • Link notice and article in both directions and update PDF, HTML, DOI, and metadata.
  • Communicate the change to external services where integration permits.

Evidence of compliance

  • A file containing the request, assessment, responses, and decision.
  • A dated notice with a persistent identifier.
  • A clearly marked article and updated metadata.
  • Records of notifications to Crossref, indexes, or repositories.

Traceability of post-publication notices

Every correction, retraction, or expression of concern shall have its own dated notice, a proportionate explanation, and reciprocal links to the affected article. The version of record shall remain identifiable, deposited metadata shall be updated, and relevant services informed where technically feasible; validity concerns shall be investigated without silently removing evidence.

Policy monitoring and review

The journal periodically checks the visibility and resolution of all notices. Retraction does not remove the article except for legal risk, serious privacy concerns, or harmful content; the marked text remains to preserve scholarly history.