Retraction and Correction

Help: Journal of Community Service (HJCS) is committed to maintaining the accuracy, integrity, and reliability of the scholarly record. The journal recognizes that errors may occasionally be identified after publication and that, in certain circumstances, serious concerns may require formal correction, an Expression of Concern, or retraction.

HJCS therefore maintains a transparent Correction and Retraction Policy to ensure that errors, inaccuracies, and serious ethical or research-integrity concerns are addressed appropriately and proportionately.

The policy is informed by internationally recognized publication-ethics principles, including guidance from the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE). COPE recommends that journals maintain clear mechanisms for correcting, revising, or retracting published articles and distinguish between corrections and retractions according to the seriousness of the problem.

1. Purpose of Corrections and Retractions

The primary purpose of a correction or retraction is to protect the integrity of the published scholarly record.

A correction is generally appropriate when an article remains fundamentally reliable but contains an error that needs to be corrected.

A retraction is appropriate when the reliability or integrity of the article is seriously compromised.

Retraction is therefore considered a mechanism for correcting the scholarly literature rather than a form of punishment against authors.

2. Correction Policy

HJCS may publish a Correction Notice when an error is identified in a published article but the error does not invalidate the overall reliability, findings, or conclusions of the article.

Corrections may be considered for issues such as:

  • Minor but significant factual errors;
  • Incorrect author information;
  • Incorrect institutional affiliation;
  • Errors in tables or figures;
  • Typographical or formatting errors that affect interpretation;
  • Incorrect references or citation information;
  • Errors in metadata;
  • Funding information that requires correction;
  • Disclosure or conflict-of-interest information that requires amendment; or
  • Other errors that can be corrected without fundamentally changing the article's scholarly conclusions.

The correction should be sufficiently clear to allow readers to understand what was changed and why.

Where appropriate, the corrected information will be incorporated into the article while maintaining a clear record of the correction.

3. Author-Initiated Corrections

Authors who discover a significant error in their published article should immediately notify the Editorial Office of HJCS.

The request should include:

  1. Article title;
  2. Author names;
  3. DOI;
  4. Description of the error;
  5. Location of the error in the published article;
  6. Corrected information; and
  7. An explanation of whether the error affects the findings or conclusions.

The Editor-in-Chief will evaluate the request and determine whether the matter should be handled through a correction, retraction, or another editorial action.

Authors should not independently alter or replace the published article without editorial authorization.

4. Editorial Corrections

HJCS may also initiate a correction when an error is identified by:

  • Editors;
  • Reviewers;
  • Authors;
  • Readers;
  • Indexing services;
  • The publisher; or
  • Other credible sources.

The journal may contact the authors to verify the correction before publication.

The decision to issue a correction remains an editorial responsibility and is based on the potential effect of the error on the accuracy and integrity of the scholarly record.

5. Retraction Policy

HJCS may retract a published article when there is clear evidence that the article's findings, data, or overall scholarly integrity are sufficiently unreliable to remain part of the trustworthy scholarly record.

A retraction may be considered when:

  • The findings are demonstrably unreliable because of major error;
  • Research data have been fabricated or falsified;
  • Serious plagiarism is established;
  • The article contains substantial duplicate or redundant publication;
  • The research was conducted unethically;
  • There is serious manipulation of data, images, figures, or research materials;
  • The article contains serious authorship or publication misconduct that affects the integrity of the publication;
  • There is evidence of systematic manipulation of the peer-review or publication process;
  • Important ethical approval or participant-consent requirements were not met where such requirements were necessary; or
  • Other circumstances substantially undermine the reliability or integrity of the published work.

These circumstances are consistent with established COPE guidance on when editors should consider retraction.

6. Retraction Due to Honest Error

Retraction does not necessarily imply intentional misconduct.

An article may be retracted when a serious honest error—such as a major calculation error, methodological error, or analytical error—makes the findings or conclusions unreliable.

HJCS recognizes that honest mistakes can occur in research. Where the evidence demonstrates that an article can no longer be relied upon, the scholarly record should be corrected regardless of whether the underlying problem resulted from misconduct or an honest error.

7. Retraction Process

Before retracting an article, HJCS will normally undertake an appropriate editorial assessment.

Depending on the circumstances, the process may include:

  1. Identification of the concern;
  2. Preliminary editorial assessment;
  3. Communication with the corresponding author;
  4. Request for clarification or supporting evidence;
  5. Consultation with reviewers, editorial board members, or independent experts where appropriate;
  6. Consultation with the relevant institution or research-integrity authority when necessary;
  7. Evaluation of all available evidence;
  8. Editorial determination; and
  9. Publication of a correction, Expression of Concern, or retraction notice as appropriate.

The journal may take immediate protective action where necessary to prevent further dissemination of potentially unreliable information.

8. Expression of Concern

HJCS may publish an Expression of Concern when there is a substantial concern about the reliability or integrity of a published article but the available evidence is not yet sufficient to justify retraction.

This may occur when:

  • An investigation into alleged misconduct is ongoing;
  • Evidence is inconclusive;
  • The relevant institution has not completed its investigation;
  • An institutional investigation is delayed;
  • Conflicting evidence prevents an immediate final determination; or
  • The journal believes readers should be alerted while the matter is being investigated.

An Expression of Concern is not itself a finding of misconduct.

Once sufficient evidence becomes available, HJCS may subsequently issue a correction, retraction, or other appropriate editorial notice. COPE guidance specifically distinguishes an Expression of Concern from a retraction and recommends its use when serious concerns exist but evidence remains inconclusive.

9. Retraction Notice

When an article is retracted, HJCS will publish a clearly identified Retraction Notice.

The notice should:

  • Clearly identify the retracted article;
  • Include the article title and author information;
  • Include the article DOI;
  • State that the article has been retracted;
  • Explain the reason for the retraction;
  • Distinguish between misconduct and honest error where possible;
  • Identify who initiated the retraction where appropriate;
  • Be linked directly to the original article;
  • Remain freely accessible; and
  • Preserve the integrity and transparency of the scholarly record.

These practices are consistent with COPE's guidance that retraction notices should be clearly identified, linked to the original article, freely accessible, and explicit about the reason for retraction.

10. Treatment of Retracted Articles

HJCS will not normally remove a retracted article completely from the journal's online archive, because removing the article entirely can undermine the transparency of the scholarly record.

Instead:

  • The article remains accessible where technically and ethically appropriate;
  • A prominent RETRACTED notice is displayed;
  • The article is clearly linked to the retraction notice;
  • The PDF and online version are appropriately marked as retracted;
  • The reason for retraction is stated in the retraction notice; and
  • Relevant metadata may be updated to indicate the retracted status.

This approach preserves the historical publication record while clearly warning readers that the article should no longer be relied upon as part of the valid scholarly literature. COPE guidance emphasizes that retraction notices should be linked to the original publication and clearly distinguish the retracted status.

11. Retraction Does Not Automatically Mean Author Misconduct

A retracted article does not automatically imply that every author engaged in misconduct.

Retraction may result from:

  • Intentional research misconduct;
  • Unintentional but serious errors;
  • Problems affecting data reliability;
  • Ethical violations;
  • Duplicate publication; or
  • Other circumstances that compromise the integrity of the publication.

Where the reason is known, the retraction notice should clearly distinguish misconduct from honest error.

12. Authorship Corrections

Changes to authorship after publication require careful consideration.

HJCS may issue a correction when:

  • A legitimate author was inadvertently omitted;
  • An author's name or affiliation was incorrectly recorded;
  • An author's contribution was incorrectly described; or
  • Another legitimate authorship-related error is identified.

However, a disagreement among authors does not automatically justify a retraction if the reliability of the research findings is not in question.

Where an authorship dispute cannot be resolved editorially, HJCS may refer the matter to the relevant institution or research organization.

13. Post-Publication Errors and Updates

HJCS encourages authors and readers to report substantive errors discovered after publication.

Post-publication concerns may be submitted to the Editorial Office and should provide sufficient information for the editors to assess the issue.

The journal may consider:

Correction → Expression of Concern → Retraction

depending on the nature, seriousness, and evidentiary basis of the concern.

The appropriate editorial action will always depend on the specific circumstances of the case.

14. Appeals Concerning Corrections or Retractions

Authors may communicate with the Editor-in-Chief if they disagree with a proposed correction, Expression of Concern, or retraction.

An appeal should provide:

  • A clear explanation of the objection;
  • Relevant evidence;
  • A response to the concerns raised by the journal; and
  • Any supporting documentation that may assist the editorial assessment.

HJCS will consider appeals fairly and independently. However, the final editorial decision concerning the integrity of the published scholarly record remains the responsibility of the journal.

15. Cooperation with Institutions

Where a matter involves suspected research misconduct that requires formal investigation, HJCS may communicate with the author's affiliated institution, research ethics committee, or relevant research-integrity authority.

The journal may request information about the outcome of an institutional investigation to determine whether a correction, Expression of Concern, or retraction is appropriate.

COPE guidance recognizes the importance of cooperation between journals and research institutions in cases where research-integrity concerns affect the validity of published work.

16. Editorial Independence

All decisions concerning corrections, Expressions of Concern, and retractions are made independently of:

  • Author nationality;
  • Institutional affiliation;
  • Academic position;
  • Political or religious views;
  • Commercial interests;
  • Funding sources; or
  • Potential effects on journal metrics.

The primary consideration is the accuracy, reliability, and integrity of the scholarly record.

17. Commitment to the Scholarly Record

HJCS recognizes that maintaining a trustworthy scholarly record is a continuing responsibility. The journal is therefore committed to correcting significant errors, alerting readers to unresolved concerns, and retracting publications when their reliability can no longer be reasonably supported.

Corrections preserve the accuracy of reliable research. Expressions of Concern alert readers to unresolved serious concerns. Retractions correct the scholarly record when published work can no longer be relied upon.

Through this policy, Help: Journal of Community Service (HJCS) seeks to uphold transparency, accountability, fairness, and research integrity in community-based scholarship.

Our commitment is simple: when the scholarly record needs to be corrected, HJCS will act transparently, fairly, and responsibly to protect the integrity of knowledge and the communities that depend upon it.

Recommended policy reference

HJCS's Retraction and Correction Policy is informed by internationally recognized publication-ethics principles, particularly the guidance of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) concerning corrections, Expressions of Concern, and retractions. COPE also identifies correction and retraction policies as important elements of transparent journal publishing.