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.

Processing changes to the scholarly record

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.

Documenting correction decisions

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.

Publishing and tracking notices

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.

Correcting research results and institutional policy evidence

Corrections are assessed by whether an error changes interpretation of a teaching intervention, psychometric instrument, institutional comparison or higher education policy result. When central findings are unreliable, the issue must not be presented as a minor typesetting error; an evidence-based integrity decision and linked retraction notice may be warranted.

Notices preserve the original DOI and dates, trace links between the version of record and the correction, and distinguish author errors from production errors. External metadata services should be notified where technically supported, without claiming Crossmark has been enabled unless this is confirmed.

Distinguishing editorial notices

A correction addresses a bounded error where the main findings remain reliable. An expression of concern alerts readers to serious unresolved questions without presuming wrongdoing. Retraction is considered when findings or conclusions can no longer be relied upon, substantial redundant publication is established or another documented reason undermines the record. The action is determined by evidence, not the standing of the authors or their institutions.

Public notices, links and the right to respond

The notice explains the correction or basis for retraction, identifies the affected article and maintains links between the records. Authors are invited to respond when appropriate and practicable; disagreement does not prevent correction of the scholarly record. Retracted files and metadata remain accessible with an unmistakable notice unless exceptional legal or safety restrictions require a documented departure.