Correction and Retraction

The Bhinneka Tunggal Ika Journal is committed to maintaining the integrity and completeness of the scholarly record. We recognize the responsibility to correct errors and, when necessary, retract published articles in a transparent and timely manner. This policy is aligned with COPE (Committee on Publication Ethics) guidelines.

1. Corrections (Errata)

When a Correction is Issued

A Correction notice (Erratum) is published when:

  • A small portion of an otherwise reliable article proves to be misleading or inaccurate

  • The error affects the article’s metadata (e.g., author name, affiliation, citation)

  • The error does not affect the core conclusions or scientific integrity of the article

  • The error is introduced by the publisher during production

Types of Corrections

  • Minor Correction: Typographical errors, minor formatting issues, or missing non-essential supplementary files.

  • Major Correction: Errors in data, figures, or interpretations that do not invalidate the main conclusions.

Correction Procedure

  1. Errors may be reported by authors, readers, or identified by the editorial team.

  2. The editorial office will investigate and verify the error.

  3. If validated, a Correction notice will be drafted, linked to the original article, and published in the next available issue.

  4. The original article will be updated with a footnote linking to the Correction.

2. Retractions

When a Retraction is Issued

A Retraction notice is published when:

  • There is clear evidence that the findings are unreliable due to misconduct (e.g., data fabrication, image manipulation) or honest error

  • The article constitutes plagiarism or redundant publication

  • The research involves unethical practices or violations of professional ethics

  • It reports infringements of legal, privacy, or security guidelines

  • The findings have previously been published elsewhere without proper attribution or permission

Retraction Procedure

  1. Identification: Concerns may arise from readers, reviewers, editors, or institutional investigations.

  2. Investigation: The editorial board, in consultation with the publisher and relevant institutions, will conduct a thorough investigation.

  3. Decision: Based on the evidence, a decision to retract will be made.

  4. Notification: All authors will be notified and given the opportunity to respond.

  5. Publication of Retraction:

    • A clear Retraction notice will be published, stating the reason and linking to the retracted article.

    • The retracted article will remain accessible online but will be digitally watermarked “RETRACTED” on each page.

    • The retraction notice will be listed in the table of contents and assigned a DOI.

3. Expressions of Concern

When an Expression of Concern is Issued

An Expression of Concern may be published when:

  • There is inconclusive but serious evidence of misconduct or error

  • An institutional investigation is ongoing and may take considerable time

  • The concerns are significant enough to alert readers while awaiting final resolution

Procedure

  • The Expression of Concern will be linked to the article.

  • Once an investigation concludes, it will be replaced by either a Correction or Retraction notice.

4. Removal of Published Content

In extremely rare cases, content may be removed if:

  • It is defamatory, violates personal privacy, or poses a serious legal risk

  • It is subject to a court order

  • It poses an immediate, serious health or safety risk

In such cases, a removal notice will explain the reason, and the article’s metadata (title, authors) will be retained with the reason for removal.

5. Authorship Corrections

Requests for changes in authorship (addition, removal, or rearrangement) after publication must include:

  • A clear reason for the change

  • Written consent from all authors, including those being added or removed

  • Approval from the corresponding author and/or institutional authority

A Correction notice will be published to document the change.

Transparency & Accessibility

  • All Corrections, Retractions, and Expressions of Concern will be:

    • Published as a citable, standalone document with its own DOI.

    • Freely accessible to all readers.

    • Linked bidirectionally to the original article.

    • Included in all indexing and archiving platforms where the journal is included.

  • The journal will notify indexing services (Crossref, DOAJ, Google Scholar, etc.) of any Corrections or Retractions.

How to Report an Error

Readers, authors, or reviewers who identify potential errors in published content should contact the editorial office at:
[[Insert Editorial Email Address]]

Please include:

  1. Article title, authors, DOI, and publication date

  2. Specific location of the error (page, line, figure, table)

  3. A clear description of the issue

  4. Supporting evidence, if applicable

This policy ensures that the Bhinneka Tunggal Ika Journal upholds the highest standards of academic integrity and transparency, preserving trust in the published scholarly record.