Correction and Retraction

Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for Journal Managers and Editorial Teams:

1. Purpose

This mechanism aims to ensure that corrections and retractions of published articles are handled transparently, consistently, and responsibly. It provides clear procedures for informing readers, authors, researchers, and other stakeholders about changes to the scholarly record.

2. Scope

This procedure applies to all articles published on the journal website, including articles published in current and previous issues, when errors, research misconduct, ethical violations, or other concerns require a formal correction or retraction.

3. Types of Publication Updates

3.1. Correction

A correction is issued when an error is identified in a published article that requires amendment but does not invalidate the overall findings or conclusions of the research. Examples include typographical errors, incorrect author affiliations, errors in tables or figures, and other factual inaccuracies.

3.2. Retraction

A retraction is issued when the reliability or integrity of a published article is seriously compromised. Reasons may include fabricated or falsified data, plagiarism, serious methodological errors, ethical violations, or other circumstances that undermine the validity of the publication.

3.3. Expression of Concern

An expression of concern may be published when there are credible concerns about an article, but the investigation has not yet reached a definitive conclusion.

4. Procedures for Adding Correction and Retraction Information

1. Identification of the Issue

The editorial team receives or identifies information regarding a potential error, ethical violation, or other concern related to a published article. The information may come from authors, readers, reviewers, institutions, or other relevant parties.

1. Initial Assessment and Verification

The Editor-in-Chief evaluates the reported issue and reviews relevant evidence. When necessary, the editorial team contacts the authors, their affiliated institutions, or other relevant parties to obtain clarification and supporting documentation.

1. Editorial Decision

Based on the evidence and the results of the assessment, the Editor-in-Chief determines whether a correction, retraction, or expression of concern is appropriate. Decisions must be documented and handled fairly, following the journal's publication ethics policy and applicable guidelines.

1. Preparation of the Notice

The editorial team prepares an official correction or retraction notice containing the article title, authors, original publication details, DOI, reason for the action, and a clear explanation of the changes or concerns. The notice must be factual, transparent, and professionally worded.

1. Publication of the Notice on the Journal Website

The journal manager uploads the notice as a separate publication or editorial notice on the journal website. The notice should be assigned appropriate metadata, a publication date, and a DOI where applicable.

1. Linking the Notice to the Original Article

The correction or retraction notice must be directly linked to the original article. The original article's landing page should clearly display a statement such as “This article has been corrected” or “This article has been retracted,” together with a link to the relevant notice.

1. Updating the Article and Metadata

The editorial team updates the article's website metadata and, where applicable, its PDF, XML, DOI registration metadata, and indexing or publishing platforms. A retracted article should remain accessible for the scholarly record, with a clear retraction watermark or equivalent notice on the article file, rather than being silently removed.

1. Notification and Record Keeping

Where appropriate, the journal informs the authors, publisher, relevant indexing services, and other stakeholders. All supporting evidence, editorial decisions, correspondence, and publication dates are archived for accountability and future reference.

5. Information Required on the Journal Website

Each correction or retraction notice should include the following information:

No.	Required information	Description
1	Article title	Full title of the original article
2	Author(s)	Names of the article's authors
3	Original publication details	Journal name, volume, issue, pages or article number, and publication year
4	DOI	DOI of the original article and, where applicable, the notice
5	Type of notice	Correction, Retraction, or Expression of Concern
6	Reason for the notice	A clear explanation of the correction or retraction
7	Date of publication	Date the notice was published
8	Related links	Links to the original article and associated notice
9	Editorial statement	Confirmation of the journal's action and its implications for the scholarly record

 

 

6. Website Display Requirements

The journal manager should ensure that:

1. Correction and retraction notices are publicly accessible without unnecessary restrictions.
2. Each notice is clearly labeled and distinguishable from ordinary research articles.
3. The notice is linked to the original article, and the original article links back to the notice.
4. Retraction status is prominently displayed on the article's landing page and, where feasible, on its full-text PDF or other downloadable formats.
5. Article metadata and DOI records are updated where applicable.
6. The original publication history is preserved, and changes are not made silently.
7. The website provides a publication ethics policy explaining how corrections and retractions are handled.
8. Responsibilities

Position	Responsibilities
Editor-in-Chief	Evaluates evidence and makes the final editorial decision
Editorial Board	Provides expert advice and supports the assessment process
Journal Manager	Uploads notices, updates article pages, and maintains website records
Publisher or Technical Team	Supports DOI metadata updates, website functionality, and dissemination
Authors	Provide explanations, supporting evidence, and cooperation when requested

 

8. Monitoring and Evaluation

The editorial team periodically reviews correction and retraction records to ensure that notices are complete, accessible, appropriately linked, and consistent with the journal's publication ethics policy. Any identified deficiencies should be addressed promptly.

9. Policy Statement for Publication on the Journal Website

The following statement can be published directly on the journal's website:

Correction and Retraction Policy

The journal is committed to maintaining the accuracy, transparency, and integrity of the scholarly record. When errors or concerns are identified in a published article, the editorial team will assess the available evidence and determine the appropriate action in accordance with the journal's publication ethics policy and recognized publication ethics guidelines.

Corrections will be issued when necessary to amend errors that do not invalidate the overall findings of the research. Retractions will be issued when the reliability or integrity of a published article is seriously compromised. Expressions of concern may be published when significant issues require further investigation.

All correction and retraction notices will be published on the journal website and linked to the original article. Retraction notices will clearly explain the reasons for retraction, and the original article will remain accessible with an appropriate retraction statement, except where legal or other exceptional circumstances require a different approach.

The journal will maintain appropriate publication records and update relevant metadata and publication platforms where applicable. All decisions will be made transparently, fairly, and in accordance with recognized standards of publication ethics.

10. Recommended References

For implementation, the journal should align this mechanism with the following recognized resources:

1. COPE (Committee on Publication Ethics) - Retraction Guidelines and guidance on corrections and expressions of concern.
2. Crossref - Guidance on registering and updating publication metadata and relationships between original articles and correction or retraction notices.
3. DOAJ (Directory of Open Access Journals) - Principles of transparency and best practice in scholarly publishing.

Important note: A correction or retraction should not be issued solely at the request of an author without editorial assessment. Decisions should be based on documented evidence and the applicable publication ethics process. For retractions, the notice should explain the reason clearly and identify who is retracting the article, where this information can appropriately be disclosed.