Correction, Expression of Concern, and Retraction Policy
JOURNAL POLICY / PUBLICATION INTEGRITY
Correction & Retraction Policy
Transparent editorial responses to errors and reliability concerns in the scholarly record.
APLIKATIF — Journal of Research Trends in Social Sciences and Humanities
OUR COMMITMENT
APLIKATIF: Journal of Research Trends in Social Sciences and Humanities is committed to maintaining an accurate and trustworthy scholarly record. When an error or serious concern becomes known after publication, the journal evaluates its significance and takes proportionate editorial action.
The principal purpose of correcting or retracting a publication is to inform readers and protect the integrity of the literature, not to punish authors. Decisions follow the current guidance of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), including the 2025 COPE Retraction Guidelines.
01 / CORRECTION
Corrections, Errata, and Corrigenda
A Correction is appropriate when an identifiable part of a published article is inaccurate or incomplete, but the main findings and conclusions remain sufficiently reliable. Examples include a reported numerical or labeling error that can be corrected without overturning the central conclusions, or a necessary amendment to the author or conflict-of-interest information.
APLIKATIF uses Erratum for an error introduced by the journal during production and Corrigendum for an error originating with the author(s). Both are published as clearly identified correction notices when the error materially affects the published record.
Minor typographical or formatting adjustments that do not alter meaning may be handled without a formal correction notice. Changes affecting data, analysis, interpretation, authorship, or bibliographic information will be documented transparently.
02 / UNRESOLVED CONCERNS
Expression of Concern
The journal may publish an Expression of Concern when credible, substantial questions remain unresolved about the integrity or reliability of an article, particularly when an investigation is delayed, incomplete, or unable to reach a timely conclusion.
An Expression of Concern is an alert to readers, not a final finding of misconduct. It will identify the article and explain the concern without making unsupported allegations. The editorial team will review the notice as new evidence becomes available and publish an appropriate follow-up, correction, retraction, or statement resolving the concern.
03 / RETRACTION CRITERIA
When Retraction May Be Appropriate
Retraction may be warranted where the editor concludes that a publication cannot be relied upon, including because of major errors, fabricated or falsified data, serious plagiarism, unjustified redundant publication, unethical research, or manipulation of the publication process that undermines confidence in the work.
A retraction may be appropriate whether unreliability results from honest error or misconduct. An authorship disagreement, an undeclared conflict of interest, or a dispute over interpretation does not automatically justify retraction if the reliability of the article has not been materially compromised.
Key distinction
A limited correctable error usually calls for a correction; substantial unresolved uncertainty may call for an Expression of Concern; findings that cannot be relied upon may call for retraction.
04 / DECISION PROCESS
Editorial Assessment and Author Response
Reports may come from authors, readers, institutions, reviewers, or other informed parties. The journal will document the concern, check the available evidence, invite a response from the authors as appropriate, and consult independent experts or research institutions when needed.
The Editor-in-Chief or an independent unconflicted editor makes the final editorial decision on the status of the article. Authors will normally have an opportunity to respond before publication of a correction or retraction notice, but their agreement is not required when the evidence warrants an editorial action. The publisher may support the process without overriding independent editorial judgment.
05 / PUBLIC NOTICE
Publication, Linking, and Metadata
A formal correction, Expression of Concern, or retraction notice will be openly accessible, clearly labeled, dated, and linked to the affected article. The notice will identify the original article (including its title and DOI where available), explain the reason for the action, and identify the responsible editorial authority.
The original article will normally remain accessible for transparency, with a prominent indication of its corrected, questioned, or retracted status. The journal will update the OJS article page and available full-text versions as appropriate and will update DOI or indexing metadata where its systems and registration services support such updates.
The notice will distinguish established evidence from unresolved allegations and avoid defamatory, unnecessary, or private personal information.
06 / FOLLOW-UP
Reconsideration, Updates, and Editorial Records
Authors or other directly affected parties may request reconsideration by presenting clear grounds and relevant new evidence. An unconflicted editor will assess the request. Reconsideration does not automatically suspend a notice that is needed to inform readers of a serious reliability problem.
When an earlier Expression of Concern is resolved, the journal will issue an update explaining the outcome and link the update to earlier notices. Editorial records will document the evidence considered, communication with relevant parties, decision, and publication actions.
Concerns may be reported to jurnalaplikatif@gmail.com with the article title and DOI or URL.
EDITORIAL WORKFLOW
From report to resolution
- Receive and document an error or reliability concern
- Assess the evidence and invite the authors to respond
- Determine whether correction, concern notice, or retraction is justified
- Publish a dated, linked notice and update the article record
- Review later evidence and amend the public record where necessary
EDITORIAL CORRESPONDENCE
Request an article correction or review
Provide the published article title, DOI or URL, details of the suspected error, and supporting evidence. The journal will decide on an appropriate action based on the record.
RELATED GUIDANCE & POLICIES
COPE — Retraction Guidelines (2025) • ICMJE — Misconduct, Expressions of Concern, Retraction • APLIKATIF — Publication Ethics • APLIKATIF — Contact
APLIKATIF | Publisher: Lembaga Riset dan Inovasi Masyarakat Madani
