Retraction, Correction, and Withdrawal Policy

Sociability is committed to safeguarding the accuracy and trustworthiness of the scholarly record by adhering to the principles established by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and Elsevier’s Research Integrity and Publishing Ethics policies concerning corrections, retractions, withdrawals, and other editorial measures.

The journal affirms that preserving a dependable academic record is fundamental to scholarly integrity. Accordingly, any corrective or remedial action is carried out transparently and in line with widely recognized international best practices.

1. Corrections

Corrections are published when minor inaccuracies are identified in an article that do not compromise the study’s overall results, interpretation, or conclusions.

  • Corrigendum – issued when the mistake originates from the author(s).

  • Erratum – issued when the error is introduced during the journal’s editorial or production process.

All listed authors must approve the correction before it is released.

Each correction is published as a separate notice, directly linked to the original article, and clearly marked in both the HTML and PDF versions.

2. Editor’s Notes

An Editor’s Note may be released to inform readers of specific matters that do not undermine the validity or integrity of the research. These may include:

  • Disclosure of minor ethical concerns related to the peer review process.

  • Notification that a complaint or concern has been resolved.

  • An ongoing authorship dispute where no evidence of misconduct has been established.

3. Expression of Concern

An Expression of Concern may be issued when significant but unresolved questions arise regarding the reliability or integrity of a published article. This may occur when:

  • Available evidence does not yet justify a retraction, but an investigation is underway.

  • The investigative process is expected to require substantial time.

  • The editor determines that readers should be cautioned about potential issues pending a final determination.

Once the inquiry concludes, the Expression of Concern may be replaced by a Retraction, Correction, or Editor’s Note, as appropriate.

4. Article Withdrawal

Articles that have been accepted and made available online as “Articles in Press,” but not yet formally published in their final version, may be withdrawn under limited conditions, such as:

  • Premature or erroneous publication.

  • Duplication of content already published elsewhere.

In such instances, the article will be replaced with a withdrawal notice explaining the reason for its removal, consistent with Elsevier’s policy on the withdrawal of Articles in Press.

5. Article Retraction

A Retraction is issued when a published work contains substantial errors or ethical breaches that invalidate its findings or violate publication standards. Reasons for retraction may include, but are not limited to:

  • Fabrication or falsification of data, including manipulation of images.

  • Plagiarism or redundant publication.

  • Unauthorized publication or infringement of copyright.

  • Unethical research involving human or animal subjects.

  • Manipulation of the peer review process or improper authorship practices.

  • Failure to disclose conflicts of interest that compromise the integrity of the work.

Retraction Procedure:

  • A notice titled “Retraction: [Article Title]” will be issued and signed by the Editor (and the authors, when applicable).

  • The original article will remain accessible to preserve the academic record but will be clearly marked as “Retracted” on every page.

  • The HTML version will be removed and replaced with a link directing readers to the Retraction Notice.

6. Article Removal (Legal Grounds)

In exceptional circumstances, an article may be completely removed from the online archive if:

  • It contains defamatory content or violates legal rights.

  • It is subject to a court order.

  • It presents a serious public health risk if acted upon.

In such cases, only the article’s metadata (including title and author information) will remain online, accompanied by a statement explaining that the content has been removed for legal reasons.

7. Article Replacement

In rare situations where an article poses potential health or safety concerns but can be corrected, the authors may retract the original version and publish a revised and corrected article.

A retraction notice will link to the updated version and document the publication history for transparency.

8. Reporting Errors

Authors who identify a significant mistake in their published work are required to promptly inform the journal editor. The editor will evaluate the matter and determine whether a Correction, Expression of Concern, or Retraction is warranted.

9. Commitment to Publication Integrity

All decisions regarding corrections, withdrawals, or retractions are made in consultation with the Editor-in-Chief, members of the Editorial Board, and, when necessary, the Sociability Research Center Ethics Committee.

These procedures strictly comply with the COPE Retraction Guidelines (2019) and Elsevier’s Research Integrity and Publishing Ethics policies to ensure transparency, fairness, and accountability throughout the editorial process.