Scientific Literature

Correction and Retraction Policies

Scientific Literature policies for corrections, retractions, expressions of concern, updates, and maintaining the integrity of the scholarly record.

SCIENTIFIC LITERATURE

Protecting the Accuracy of the Scholarly Record

Scientific Literature recognizes that the published record may occasionally require correction or, in serious circumstances, retraction. Our approach is intended to preserve transparency, accuracy, and the integrity of scholarly communication.

Principle

Published articles form part of the scholarly record. Changes after publication should therefore be made transparently and only when justified. The appropriate action depends on the nature, significance, and reliability of the information concerned.

Corrections

A correction may be considered when an error affects the accuracy, interpretation, attribution, or completeness of an article but does not invalidate the work as a whole. Examples may include significant factual errors, author or affiliation errors, incorrect figures or tables, production errors, or other material inaccuracies.

Minor typographical or stylistic issues that do not affect meaning may not require a formal correction. Where a formal correction is issued, it should identify the original article and explain the corrected information clearly.

Author-Initiated Corrections

Authors who identify a material error after publication should contact the journal promptly and explain the error, its effect on the article, and the proposed correction. Supporting information may be requested.

Retractions

Retraction may be considered when there is reliable evidence that findings are seriously unreliable, the publication contains substantial plagiarism or other serious ethical problems, the work has been published inappropriately elsewhere, authorship or data integrity has been seriously compromised, or another issue makes continued reliance on the article unsafe or misleading.

A retraction is intended to correct the literature rather than punish authors. When an article is retracted, the record should remain identifiable and be clearly marked so readers understand its status.

Expressions of Concern

An expression of concern may be used when serious questions have been raised but the available information is not yet sufficient to reach a final conclusion, an investigation is incomplete, or reliable evidence cannot yet be obtained. The notice may later be replaced or supplemented by a correction, retraction, or other resolution.

How Concerns Are Assessed

The concern and supporting evidence are reviewed.
Relevant authors and editors may be contacted for clarification.
Where appropriate, institutions, research-integrity offices, or other responsible bodies may be asked to investigate matters within their authority.
The journal considers the available evidence and the effect on the reliability of the published record.
An appropriate notice or action is issued where warranted.

Scientific Literature does not normally alter the scholarly record solely because findings become outdated, subsequent research reaches a different conclusion, or an author later disagrees with the article, unless a substantive error or integrity concern is established.

Authorship and Metadata Changes

Requests to change authorship after publication require careful review and may require agreement from relevant authors and an explanation for the change. Metadata corrections may be made where necessary to ensure accurate indexing and citation information.

Reporting a Concern

Readers, authors, institutions, or other parties who identify a possible problem should provide the article title, journal, DOI or article URL, a precise explanation of the concern, and supporting evidence where available.