Corrections & Retractions

Austronesian: Journal of Language Science & Literature are committed to preserving the integrity, accuracy, and transparency of the scholarly record. In exceptional circumstances, corrections, retractions, or editorial notices may be necessary to address errors, ethical concerns, or interpretative deficiencies in published articles. This policy establishes the circumstances and procedures for implementing such measures in accordance with the guidelines of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).


1. Corrections

Corrections are issued when errors in published articles affect the clarity, accuracy, or presentation of the work but do not fundamentally undermine the validity of its principal findings or conclusions. Corrections are classified according to the origin of the error:

  1. Erratum: Issued when an error originates from the publisher, such as typesetting mistakes, formatting errors, or editorial oversights. No correction fee will be charged to authors for publisher-originated errors.
  2. Corrigendum: Issued when an error originates from the authors, such as incorrect author affiliations, factual inaccuracies, or mislabeled tables or figures. Any fee associated with publishing a corrigendum must be clearly stated in the journal's published fee policy before it is applied.

Corrections will be published as formal Correction Notes that explain the error and provide the corrected information. Each notice will be linked to the original article, and the original article will remain publicly accessible. The journal will update the article where appropriate and preserve a transparent record of the correction.

Examples include incorrect author names or affiliations, inaccurate numerical values, mislabeled figures or tables, and typographical errors that affect meaning without invalidating the principal findings.


2. Retractions

Retraction may be considered when the reliability or integrity of a published article is substantially compromised. Grounds may include:

  • Fundamental errors that invalidate the principal findings or conclusions.
  • Plagiarism or substantial unattributed reproduction of another person's work.
  • Data fabrication, falsification, or serious analytical misconduct.
  • Major ethical violations or breaches of publication standards.
  • Other serious circumstances that make retraction necessary to protect the integrity of the scholarly record.

Retractions are corrective measures intended to maintain the reliability of the scholarly literature rather than to serve as punishment.

A formal retraction notice will explain the reasons for retraction and be linked to the original article. The original article will normally remain publicly accessible with a prominent retraction notice or watermark, and its bibliographic information will be preserved. The journal will clearly identify the article as retracted to prevent readers from mistaking it for valid, unretracted research.


3. Editorial Expressions of Concern and Editor's Notes

When credible concerns arise about a published article but an investigation remains ongoing or the available evidence is insufficient for a final decision, the journal may issue an editorial notice.

  • Editor's Note: A notice used to inform readers of a developing issue or ongoing assessment. It may be published temporarily while the editorial team seeks clarification or further evidence.
  • Editorial Expression of Concern: A formal notice issued when serious concerns about an article's integrity or reliability warrant alerting readers while an investigation remains unresolved.

Where appropriate, these notices will identify the article, explain the nature of the concern to the extent possible, and be linked to the original publication. Formal expressions of concern will be assigned a DOI where the journal's publishing infrastructure permits and will be made available for indexing where supported by the relevant metadata and indexing services.

An expression of concern does not constitute a final finding of misconduct. The journal may subsequently publish a correction, update the notice, or retract the article depending on the outcome of the investigation.


4. Removal of Published Content

Removal of published content is an exceptional measure and will be considered only when continued public access presents a compelling legal, ethical, or safety concern. Circumstances may include:

  • Content that violates applicable laws or a valid court order.
  • Serious infringement of intellectual property, privacy, or other protected rights.
  • Content presenting an immediate and substantial risk to health or safety.
  • Other exceptional circumstances in which removal is necessary and proportionate.

Where content must be removed, the journal will preserve the bibliographic metadata wherever legally permissible and publish a removal notice explaining the reason for the action, subject to applicable legal and confidentiality requirements.

Removal will not be used as a substitute for a correction or retraction when a formal notice can adequately address the problem.


5. Transparency and Editorial Procedures

All formal corrections, retractions, expressions of concern, and content-removal notices will be documented and linked to the relevant article wherever technically and legally possible. Notices will explain the nature and reasons for the editorial action, and the journal will maintain the publication history to preserve the integrity of the scholarly record.

The editorial team will assess concerns fairly, seek explanations and supporting evidence when necessary, and consult independent experts or relevant institutions where appropriate. Decisions will follow the journal's publication ethics procedures and applicable COPE guidance.


6. Official Contact for Reporting Concerns

Authors, readers, or institutions who identify errors or ethical concerns in published work are encouraged to contact the Editorial Office at austronesian.jlsl@gmail.com.

[Source: COPE (Retraction guidelines) https://doi.org/10.24318/cope.2019.1.4]