Corrections, Retractions, and Expressions of Concern

IJERD shall issue timely corrections, retractions, or expressions of concern related to published content.  The Editorial Board shall investigate and adjudicate all such matters including conducting internal analyses and in responding to author requests for guidance related to these matters. IJERD follows COPE guidance in handling publication errors and misconduct.

Editorial Board Decisions related to corrections, retractions, or expressions of concern shall be final and without the possibility of appeal.

Purpose

This policy aims to maintain the integrity, accuracy, and trustworthiness of the scholarly record published in IJERD. It outlines the procedures for correcting errors, retracting articles, and issuing expressions of concern when necessary.

Corrections

  • When Issued: Corrections are issued when small but significant errors that do not invalidate the overall findings are identified post-publication. Examples include errors in data presentation, author lists, affiliations, or minor factual inaccuracies.
  • Types of Corrections:
    • Publisher Correction (Erratum): Issued for errors made during production or publishing that affect the scientific integrity or author/journal reputation.
    • Author Correction (Corrigendum): Issued for errors made by authors that impact publication integrity or reputation.
    • Addendum: Published to provide additional information or clarification to enhance the understanding of the article.
  • Process: Editors evaluate reports of errors and decide on issuing corrections with consultation from authors and reviewers if necessary. Corrections are linked bidirectionally with the original article for transparency.

Retractions

  • When Issued: Retractions occur under extraordinary circumstances when findings are unreliable or invalidated due to serious errors, scientific misconduct (fabrication, falsification, plagiarism), ethical violations, redundant publication, authorship disputes, or legal issues.
  • Procedure:
    • Concerns are brought to the Editor’s attention.
    • An investigation is conducted according to COPE guidelines, including author response and advice from an Ethics Advisory Board.
    • Final decisions are communicated to authors and where applicable, their institutions.
    • Retraction statements are published linking to the original article, which is marked with a watermark as “Retracted” but remains readable to preserve the publication record.
  • Retractions uphold the integrity of the scientific record while ensuring transparency about the reasons.

Expressions of Concern

  • When Issued: Expressions of concern are issued when there are unresolved significant concerns about the integrity of a publication pending investigation.
  • Purpose: To alert readers to potential issues while investigations are ongoing, maintaining transparency without prematurely retracting or correcting articles.
  • These notices are linked directly to the concerned article.

General Principles

  • Transparency: All corrections, retractions, and expressions of concern are clearly labeled, publicly available, and linked with the original publication.
  • Confidentiality: Investigations are handled confidentially, respecting all parties’ rights.
  • Ethical Standards: IJERD follows COPE’s best practices and guidelines to guide ethical decision-making in post-publication issues.
  • Responsibility: The Editor-in-Chief is responsible for overseeing the implementation of this policy, with support from the Editorial Board and Ethics Advisory Board.
  • Communication: Authors, reviewers, and institutions are kept informed throughout the correction or retraction process.