Correction and Retraction

POST-PUBLICATION

Correction and Retraction

Formal post-publication correction, concern, retraction, and exceptional removal
Corrections preserve reliable articles; retractions warn readers when an article is no longer reliable. Neither process should obscure the history of the scholarly record.

Principle

The journal preserves the scholarly record while correcting material errors transparently. Post-publication action is determined by the effect of the problem on the reliability, interpretation, ethics, attribution, or legality of the article. Authors, editors, the Publisher, institutions, or readers may initiate a concern; final publication action is authorized by the Editor-in-Chief and/or Publisher according to the nature of the case.

Types of action

Correction / Erratum / Corrigendum
Used when an error or omission is material enough to correct but does not invalidate the article's main findings or conclusions. A linked, dated notice explains what changed.
Expression of Concern
Used when there are substantial unresolved concerns and an investigation will take time, evidence is inconclusive, or a responsible institution is not responding. It is temporary and should be reviewed when new evidence becomes available.
Retraction
Used when findings are unreliable because of serious error or misconduct, substantial plagiarism/redundant publication, unethical research, compromised peer review, fabricated/falsified evidence, or another defect that makes the article unreliable.
Removal / Redaction
Reserved for exceptional legal, privacy, security, or serious-harm circumstances where continued display of specific content is unlawful or creates unacceptable risk. Bibliographic information should be retained where legally possible.

Procedure

  1. Receive and document the concern and preserve relevant records.
  2. Conduct an initial evidence assessment and conflict-of-interest check.
  3. Seek clarification from authors and, when appropriate, reviewers, institutions, funders, ethics committees, or subject experts.
  4. Determine whether the issue is an honest error, disputed interpretation, or potential misconduct and whether institutional investigation is required.
  5. Authorize the appropriate notice through the Editor-in-Chief and, where legally or administratively required, the Publisher.
  6. Publish the notice openly, identify the affected article, state the type of action and reason, identify who made the decision, and link the notice bidirectionally with the article.
  7. Update DOI and journal metadata where relevant and notify indexing/archiving services when necessary.
Retractions are not deletions
A retracted article must not be silently removed from the journal or archive. The article remains accessible but is clearly marked as RETRACTED on the article page, full text, and metadata. The retraction notice remains freely accessible and explains the reason and decision authority.

Version control

The journal should not silently replace the published version of record. When a corrected full text is issued, the correction notice, date, and version relationship must be visible. Minor typographical changes that do not affect meaning may be handled as controlled production corrections according to journal procedure, but material changes require a public notice.

Governance basis: Permendiktisaintek No. 9 of 2026; Directorate General of Science and Technology Decision No. 374/DST/D.D1/HM.01.01/2026; COPE Core Practices; and the Principles of Transparency and Best Practice in Scholarly Publishing (Version 5, 2026).