Correction and Retraction Policy
The Journal of Social Commerce is dedicated to maintaining the integrity, accuracy, and scholarly quality of all published records. In accordance with the guidelines provided by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), the journal establishes the following operational framework for handling Corrections, Expressions of Concern, and Retractions after publication.
1. Post-Publication Corrections
The journal recognizes that honest errors may occasionally occur in published articles. Depending on the nature and source of the error, the Journal of Social Commerce will issue one of two types of correction notices, which will be published as a separate citable document and linked back to the original article:
The journal recognizes that honest errors may occasionally occur in published articles. Depending on the nature and source of the error, the Journal of Social Commerce will issue one of two types of correction notices, which will be published as a separate citable document and linked back to the original article:
- Errata: Issued when significant errors are introduced by the journal during the editing, formatting, or production process that affect the metadata or interpretation of the work.
- Corrigenda: Issued when authors discover substantial honest errors in their own published work (such as minor errors in data analysis, missing author affiliations, or mislabeled figures/tables) that do not invalidate the main scientific conclusions.
- Operational Procedure: The original online PDF will remain accessible but will contain a prominent note or link directing readers to the formal Correction notice to ensure full transparency.
2. Retractions
The Journal of Social Commerce will consider retracting a published article under the guidance of the Editor-in-Chief and the Editorial Board if there is clear evidence of scientific misconduct or fatal errors, including:
The Journal of Social Commerce will consider retracting a published article under the guidance of the Editor-in-Chief and the Editorial Board if there is clear evidence of scientific misconduct or fatal errors, including:
- Unreliable findings due to severe honest errors, data fabrication, or falsification.
- Clear plagiarism or redundant (duplicate) publication without proper permission or justification.
- Unethical research practices, unauthorized use of data, or unresolved copyright infringement.
- Operational Procedure: In alignment with digital preservation standards, retracted articles are never physically deleted or removed from the journal website. Instead, a prominent "RETRACTED" watermark will be permanently applied across all pages of the article PDF. A formal Retraction Notice detailing the reasons for the retraction, co-signed by the editors and/or authors, will be published and digitally linked to the paper.
3. Expressions of Concern
In complex cases where an investigation into potential research misconduct is ongoing but inconclusive, or where there is strong suspicion but insufficient evidence of an unethical practice, the Editor-in-Chief may choose to publish an Expression of Concern. This notice serves to alert readers that the article is currently under formal editorial review.
In complex cases where an investigation into potential research misconduct is ongoing but inconclusive, or where there is strong suspicion but insufficient evidence of an unethical practice, the Editor-in-Chief may choose to publish an Expression of Concern. This notice serves to alert readers that the article is currently under formal editorial review.
