Post-Publication Correction and Retraction Policy

The Journal of Contemporary Social Issues (JCSI) is committed to maintaining the integrity, accuracy, and transparency of the scholarly record. This Post-Publication Correction and Retraction Policy outlines the procedures for handling errors, ethical concerns, and other issues identified after an article has been published. The policy aligns with international standards, including COPE guidelines, to ensure that corrections and retractions are managed responsibly and transparently.

Purpose

The purpose of this policy is to correct the academic record when errors, inaccuracies, or ethical breaches are discovered post-publication. It ensures that readers are informed of significant changes while preserving the integrity and traceability of the original work.

Post-Publication Corrections

Minor errors that do not affect the overall conclusions of a study—such as typographical mistakes, incorrect author affiliations, figure labeling errors, or formatting issues—will be addressed via a corrigendum or erratum. Corrections are issued promptly once the editorial team verifies the error and are clearly linked to the original article. The corrected version remains permanently accessible alongside the original publication, with a transparent description of the changes made.

Retractions

Articles may be retracted when there are serious issues that compromise the reliability, validity, or ethical foundation of the research. Typical grounds for retraction include, but are not limited to:

  • Plagiarism or duplicate publication

  • Fabrication or falsification of data

  • Undisclosed conflicts of interest that affect the study

  • Serious methodological or ethical errors that invalidate the results

Retraction notices are clearly published, explaining the reasons for retraction, and are permanently linked to the original article. The original article remains online, marked as retracted, to maintain the scholarly record and ensure transparency.

Expressions of Concern

In cases where there is uncertainty regarding the integrity of a published article, and an investigation is ongoing, the journal may issue an expression of concern. This notice alerts readers to potential issues while investigations are conducted. Once the investigation is complete, the article may be corrected, retracted, or the concern may be removed based on the findings.

Author and Institution Responsibilities

Authors are expected to cooperate fully with the editorial office during any post-publication inquiry. This includes providing additional data, clarifications, or documentation as requested. In cases of misconduct, the journal may contact the authors’ affiliated institutions to assist with the investigation. Authors are expected to take responsibility for errors and work with the journal to correct the record appropriately.

Transparency and Record Keeping

All corrections, retractions, and expressions of concern are documented permanently and remain publicly accessible. Notices clearly indicate the nature of the correction or retraction, the date issued, and the responsible parties. The original publication is maintained online with appropriate labeling to preserve the scholarly record while informing readers of the issue.

Ethical Compliance

JCSI follows COPE guidelines for all post-publication corrections, retractions, and ethical investigations. The journal ensures that decisions are fair, consistent, and well-documented, balancing the need to maintain accurate scientific records with fairness to authors and readers.