Retraction – Withdrawal – Correction (R–W–C) Policy — Journal of Social and Humanities (JSH)

JSH upholds the integrity, transparency, and permanence of the scholarly record. Corrections, clarifications, retractions, withdrawals, and notices are applied with care and only when warranted to maintain trust in our archive and in the wider literature.

1) Policy Statement

While manuscripts are carefully prepared by authors and rigorously reviewed, situations may arise that require post-publication changes or, rarely, removal. JSH follows sector best practices and the COPE Core Practices, with procedures guided by the COPE Flowcharts.

2) Definitions

• Correction (Erratum/Corrigendum): Rectifies significant errors that do not invalidate the main findings (publisher error = Erratum; author error = Corrigendum).
• Addendum: Adds essential context or updates without changing core conclusions.
• Expression of Concern (EoC): Temporary notice while serious concerns are investigated.
• Retraction: Designates the article as unreliable (honest error or misconduct, plagiarism, redundant publication, ethics/legal reasons).
• Removal (exceptional): Taken down only for legal reasons (privacy, defamation, court order); a public removal notice remains.
• Withdrawal (pre-publication): Author’s request to stop processing before publication under conditions set in §7.

3) When We Use Each Action (At-a-Glance)

4) Procedures & Timelines

• Initiation: Concerns may be raised by authors, readers, reviewers, editors, or institutions via the Contact page.
• Assessment (7–14 days): The Editor evaluates evidence; may consult reviewers/independent experts and, where appropriate, post an interim Expression of Concern.
• Author Response (7–14 days): Authors provide data/analyses and documentation (e.g., ethics approvals) addressing the points raised.
• Outcome (typically 2–6 weeks): Decision to correct, retract, remove, or take no action, guided by COPE.

5) Content of Notices

• Corrections/Addenda: Cite the original article; specify what changed and where; date-stamp the notice.
• Expressions of Concern: State the nature of the concern and that an investigation is ongoing.
• Retractions: Link to the original article; provide clear reasons (honest error, fabrication/falsification, plagiarism, redundant publication); state whether authors agree. PDF/HTML are watermarked “Retracted”.
• Removals: The page remains with a reasoned removal statement; metadata are retained.

6) Indexing, Metadata, and DOIs

• All notices receive their own DOI and are permanently linked to the affected article.
• Crossref metadata are updated so indexes and libraries display the current status (Corrected, Retracted, etc.).
• Except for legal removals, the version of record remains accessible for transparency.

7) Withdrawal (Pre-Publication)

• Eligibility: Requests must be made before publication with a signed letter from the corresponding author confirming all co-authors’ consent and a brief rationale.
• No preprints: JSH does not accept manuscripts that have been publicly disseminated prior to submission (see Open Access / Policies).
• Administrative fee: For post-acceptance withdrawal or failure to complete publication steps after invoicing, an administrative penalty of USD 50 applies (see Business Model / Fees).
• No fast-track: JSH does not offer paid expedited review; all manuscripts follow the same workflow.

8) Roles & Responsibilities

• Editors: Lead assessments, ensure fairness, and implement appropriate remedies in line with COPE.
• Authors: Cooperate fully, provide data/approvals, and propose/approve accurate corrections where applicable.
• Journal Office: Maintain the public record, post notices, update metadata/DOIs, and notify indexers.
• Institutions/Funders: Where research-integrity issues are alleged, JSH may request institutional review and share relevant information as needed.

9) Licensing & Accessibility

JSH publishes under CC BY-SA 4.0 unless otherwise stated. Corrections, Expressions of Concern, and Retraction notices are open access; retracted articles remain available with clear status indicators and watermarks.

10) References & Useful Links

• COPE Core Practices
• COPE Ethical Flowcharts
• COPE Retraction Guidelines
• JSH Peer Review Process
• Business Model / Fees
• Author Guidelines

Note: This page draws on sector norms and structures seen in reputable journals; we particularly appreciated the clarity of the MESI R–W–C policy and adapted the organization to fit JSH’s scope and policies.