Corrections, Expressions of Concern, and Retractions

Corrections, Expressions of Concern, and Retractions

JKKI is committed to maintaining the integrity, transparency, and reliability of the scholarly record. Our policies on corrections, expressions of concern, and retractions are aligned with the guidelines of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), the Public Knowledge Project (PKP), DOAJ Principles of Transparency and Best Practice in Scholarly Publishing, and Scopus Content Selection criteria.

The journal recognizes that preserving trust in academic publishing requires clear, publicly accessible, and consistently implemented procedures for addressing post-publication issues.

General Principles

  • All post-publication concerns are assessed independently, objectively, and without undue influence from authors, sponsors, or affiliated institutions.
  • Investigations follow due process and may involve communication with authors, reviewers, institutions, or relevant authorities when necessary.
  • Editorial decisions are based solely on the validity, integrity, and ethical standing of the published work.
  • All notices (corrections, expressions of concern, or retractions) are permanently linked to the original article and are freely accessible.

Sources of Post-Publication Concerns

Actions may be initiated based on:

  • Errors identified during production or publication
  • Author-initiated requests
  • Reports from readers, reviewers, whistleblowers, or external institutions
  • Editorial discovery of ethical or methodological concerns

Categories of Post-Publication Actions

1. Minor Corrections (Erratum/Correction Notice)

Issued when errors are limited in scope and do not affect the validity of the data, interpretation, or conclusions. Examples include typographical errors, formatting mistakes, or metadata inaccuracies.

2. Substantive Corrections

Applied when significant inaccuracies affect the clarity or interpretation of the work but do not invalidate the main findings. This may include corrected data presentation, revised figures, or clarifications of methods.
Partial retractions are generally avoided; where feasible, substantial issues are addressed through formal correction notices to ensure clarity and transparency.

3. Expression of Concern

An Expression of Concern may be issued when:

  • There is inconclusive evidence of research or publication misconduct.
  • An institutional investigation is ongoing.
  • There are serious but unresolved questions regarding data integrity or ethical compliance.

This measure ensures transparency while due process is maintained.

4. Retractions

Retraction is reserved for cases where the integrity or reliability of the article is fundamentally compromised.

Grounds for Retraction

The Editor-in-Chief will consider retraction when there is clear evidence that:

  • Findings are unreliable due to major methodological error, fabrication, or falsification.
  • Plagiarism or significant unattributed overlap is identified.
  • The work constitutes redundant or duplicate publication without appropriate disclosure or permission.
  • Unauthorized use of data, materials, or copyrighted content has occurred.
  • The research violates established ethical standards (e.g., lack of ethical approval or informed consent where required).
  • The peer-review process was manipulated or compromised.
  • A major undisclosed competing interest significantly affected editorial or peer-review decisions.
  • Serious legal issues arise, including defamation or privacy violations.

Retraction Notice Requirements

In compliance with COPE, DOAJ transparency standards, and Scopus indexing expectations, retraction notices will:

  • Be clearly labeled as “Retraction”
  • Identify the original article (title, authors, DOI, citation details)
  • Be permanently linked to all online versions of the article
  • State who is issuing the retraction
  • Clearly explain the reason(s) for retraction
  • Be objective, factual, and non-inflammatory
  • Remain freely accessible (not behind a paywall)
  • Ensure the original article remains available but clearly watermarked or marked as “Retracted” to preserve the integrity of the scholarly record

When Retraction Is Not Appropriate

Retraction is generally not warranted when:

  • Authorship disputes exist but the findings remain valid.
  • Errors can be adequately addressed through correction.
  • Evidence of misconduct is inconclusive and pending institutional findings.
  • A disclosed post-publication conflict of interest does not materially affect the validity or conclusions of the work.

Commitment to Transparency and Best Practice

JKKI ensures that:

  • Editorial policies on corrections and retractions are publicly available on the journal website.
  • All post-publication notices are indexed, citable, and assigned DOIs when applicable.
  • Decisions are documented and archived within the journal management system (OJS).
  • The journal upholds editorial independence and does not allow commercial interests to influence correction or retraction decisions.

Through these measures, JKKI reinforces its commitment to ethical publishing, accountability, and international standards required by DOAJ and Scopus.