CORRECTION AND RETRACTIONS POLICY

Corrections and Retractions Policy  

 Version of Record (VoR) 

Once an article is published in its final form, it is considered the Version of Record (VoR)—the accurate, complete, and definitive source for citation. For our journal, the VoR refers to either (1) the article published within a volume and issue, or (2) the first published version for journals operating under a continuous publication (open-access) model. The VoR also includes any approved post-publication corrections. Continuous publication journals do not release separate paginated versions. 

 

Post-Publication Corrections 

The journal may issue post-publication notices when changes to the VoR are required, including: 

  • Errors or omissions affecting readability, discoverability, indexing, or policy compliance 
  • Issues raising concerns about the validity, reliability, or overall integrity of the article 

Errors or Omissions Affecting Readability, Indexing, or Policy Compliance 

As articles are citable immediately (including early online publication), later changes may affect readers who accessed earlier versions. Authors review proofs prior to publication to minimize such issues; however, corrections may still be necessary. Decisions regarding corrections are made at the discretion of the journal, and not all requests can be accommodated. 

 

 

Correction Notice 

A correction notice is issued when an error or omission significantly affects reading, comprehension, or interpretation. For substantial factual mistakes or major errors, a corrigendum (author error) or erratum (publisher error) will be published and linked to the article. If updates are made directly within the article, a correction footnote will indicate the changes and link to the relevant notice. 

If multiple major issues raise concerns about reliability, the journal will investigate in consultation with the Editor, following COPE guidelines, and may prepare a corrigendum with the authors. Minor errors may be addressed through footnotes within the article. 

Errors or Concerns Related to Article Validity or Integrity 

Concerns affecting the validity or integrity of an article are investigated in accordance with COPE guidance and the journal’s policies, consistent with the Complaints and Appeals procedure. 

Expression of Concern 

An expression of concern may be issued when: 

  • Serious issues could mislead readers 
  • Credible concerns arise regarding research or publication misconduct 
  • Strong concerns exist but the investigation is inconclusive 
  • An ongoing investigation is expected to take significant time 

Authors will be informed, but their approval is not required. The journal may publish relevant materials (e.g., figures or data) for transparency and may contact institutions or other publishers if necessary. The notice will be linked to the article and may later be replaced by a correction or retraction or remain permanently if no conclusion is reached. 

Retractions 

The journal follows the Core Practices and guidelines of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) retraction guidelines. A retraction alerts readers when an article contains serious errors or breaches of research integrity. Retraction may occur if, after investigation and editorial review, the findings or conclusions are deemed unreliable. 

Retraction may be triggered by (but is not limited to): 

  • Significant errors (intentional or unintentional) 
  • Research or publication misconduct 
  • Compromised peer review 
  • Failure of authors to address serious concerns 
  • Inability to verify authorship, data, images, or supporting evidence 

Authors may also request retraction by contacting the editorial office. Requests are reviewed by the Editor and may be declined if inconsistent with COPE or journal policy, or if an investigation is ongoing. 

Retraction notices clearly state the reasons and remain permanently linked to the original article. Authors are informed and invited to comment, although approval is not required. Retractions are reconsidered only if new evidence becomes available. 

Note: Article Processing Charges (APCs) are not refunded in cases of retraction. 

Removal 

The journal follows guidance from the International Association of Scientific, Technical and Medical Publishers (STM) on preserving the scholarly record. Articles or parts of articles are removed only in exceptional, legally required circumstances, such as: 

  • Breaches of participant privacy 
  • Content that could pose public safety risks 
  • Defamatory statements 

Corrections to Supplemental Material and Research Data 

Supplementary files and research data are part of the permanent record and may be hosted in open-access repositories with DOIs. Significant changes may require a formal notice, while minor, non-substantive updates may involve replacing the file with clear version details noted. 

Name Change Policy 

To support diversity, equity, and inclusion, the journal allows authors to request changes to their name and/or pronouns. Requests may arise due to marriage, divorce, gender affirmation, religious conversion, or other personal reasons. No proof or documentation is required, and no public correction notice will be issued. 

Upon request, the relevant article(s) will be republished online so that updated author details are reflected in indexing services, while the DOI and citation record remain unchanged. All prior citations remain valid. 

Authors may choose whether the journal should notify co-authors of the change. Selecting privacy ensures no communication with co-authors unless requested. 

Typographical errors in author names are handled through standard correction procedures. Changes to affiliations or email addresses unrelated to name changes are not covered under this policy. 

The journal continues to refine this policy in line with best practices, including COPE guidance on inclusive publishing, and reserves the right to review any misuse of this process. 

Requesting a Change 

Authors requesting a name or pronoun update should provide: 

  • Previously published name 
  • Updated name 
  • Pronoun update (if applicable) 
  • Email contact 
  • Relevant article DOIs 
  • Preference for notifying co-authors (Yes / No)