Correction & Retraction

MODERATE: Journal of Religious, Education, and Social takes its responsibility to maintain the integrity of the scholarly record very seriously. Once articles are published, they are considered part of the academic record, and we place great importance on preserving the authority of published content. However, we acknowledge that errors can occur, and when necessary, corrections and retractions are essential to uphold the credibility and reliability of the journal. This policy is guided by best practices in the academic publishing community and follows standards set by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).

The journal follows a clear and transparent process for making corrections or retractions to published articles. These actions are taken only when the integrity of the article is compromised, whether due to error or misconduct. Below are the different scenarios and actions that may be taken:

Erratum (Correction)

An Erratum is issued when a published article contains errors or omissions that need to be corrected. These errors could be minor mistakes in data, calculation, or typographical issues that do not significantly alter the findings or conclusions of the article. The authors will issue a statement, known as an erratum, explaining the corrections made. This notice will:

  • Describe the nature of the correction(s).

  • Indicate whether the correction affects the conclusions of the paper.

  • Be linked directly to the corrected version of the article.

Importantly, the corrected article will remain accessible online. The erratum notice will be freely available to all readers, ensuring transparency and clarity about the changes made. This process helps maintain the accuracy of the article while ensuring the research record remains intact.

Time Frame for Erratum: Errata are typically issued promptly upon the discovery of an error. The corrected article and erratum notice will be linked immediately and made available to all readers.

Retraction

A Retraction is a more serious action, indicating that the article should no longer be considered part of the scientific record. Retractions are issued in the following cases:

  1. Unreliable Findings: If there is clear evidence that the findings in the article are unreliable, which may result from issues such as fraud, misconduct, or errors in data analysis.

  2. Duplicate Publication: If the paper has been previously published elsewhere without proper citation, permission, or justification.

  3. Plagiarism: If the article contains plagiarized content or fails to attribute sources correctly.

  4. Unethical Research: If the research reported in the article is found to be unethical, such as lack of proper consent for human or animal studies, or research that violates ethical standards.

When an article is retracted, the reason for the retraction will be clearly explained. This includes an indication of who is responsible for the decision (whether the authors, editors, or publisher), and if the retraction was not unanimously agreed upon by the authors, that fact will also be noted.

The retracted article will remain in the journal’s archives, but a retraction notice will be published. This notice will be freely available to readers and will be linked to the original retracted article. The retraction notice will clearly state the reason for the retraction, helping to preserve the integrity of the scholarly record.

In cases of legal infringement, the publisher may remove or redact the article entirely, but this is considered only in extreme and rare situations.

Time Frame for Retraction: Retractions are typically issued promptly once the issue is identified, and they are permanently linked to the original retracted article. All retraction notices will be made freely accessible to readers.

Publisher's Note

A Publisher's Note is issued when an article is corrected due to typographical or production errors made by the publisher. These errors might include issues such as:

  • Incorrect metadata (e.g., title, author list, or byline).

  • Formatting issues that may significantly hinder the reader’s ability to understand the article.

In cases where these errors impact the overall quality or understanding of the article but do not involve scientific errors, a Publisher’s Note is issued. This note serves to notify readers that the article has been corrected. The following guidelines apply to Publisher's Notes:

  • The original article is replaced with a corrected version.

  • The corrected version is linked to the Publisher's Note.

  • The date of the correction will be noted on the updated article.

Minor errors that do not affect the scientific content or the reader's understanding of the article will be corrected at the publisher’s discretion and will be documented through a Publisher’s Note.

Time Frame for Publisher's Note: Publisher's Notes can be issued at any time during the life of the article. If corrections are made within one year of the original publication, the article will be replaced with the corrected version. If the corrections are made after one year, only a Publisher’s Note will be issued, documenting the changes made.

Guidelines for Retraction and Correction

MODERATE follows the COPE Guidelines for Retraction to ensure a consistent and transparent approach to corrections and retractions. These guidelines ensure that decisions are made with the highest ethical standards and that the process is handled with care and consideration for all involved parties. Authors, editors, and reviewers must all work together to maintain the credibility of the journal, ensuring that any errors are addressed swiftly and appropriately.

Summary of the Correction and Retraction Process

  1. Erratum: Corrects minor errors that do not affect the conclusions of the paper; a correction notice is linked to the corrected article and made freely available to all readers.

  2. Retraction: Issued when the article is deemed unreliable, plagiarized, or contains significant ethical or scientific issues; a retraction notice is issued and linked to the retracted article.

  3. Publisher’s Note: Issued for minor errors such as typographical or formatting mistakes that do not affect the article’s scientific content; the corrected version replaces the original article.

MODERATE is committed to maintaining the highest standards of academic integrity, and we take the necessary steps to ensure that the scholarly record is accurate, transparent, and trustworthy. Any corrections or retractions will be handled transparently, and relevant notices will be freely accessible to all readers. This ensures that the integrity of the academic publishing process is upheld at all stages.