Withdrawal, Retraction, and Correction Policy

Withdrawal, Retraction, and Correction Policy

Article Withdrawal, Retraction, and Correction Policy

The Journal of Hypermedia & Technology-Enhanced Learning (J-HyTEL) follows COPE Retraction Guidelines to maintain the integrity and completeness of the academic record. Articles must remain accurate, relevant, and unchanged wherever possible, but there may be cases where withdrawal, retraction, or correction is necessary.

Article Withdrawal

Withdrawal applies to articles in press (accepted but not yet published). Articles may be withdrawn if they contain errors or violate ethical standards, such as multiple submissions or plagiarism. A withdrawal notice stating the reason for withdrawal will replace the article’s HTML and PDF versions.

Article Retraction

Retractions are reserved for serious ethical or scientific issues, such as plagiarism, unethical research, or fabricated data. The COPE Retraction Guidelines are followed, and retractions will involve:

  • Publishing a retraction note titled “Retraction: [Article Title]” in a subsequent issue, signed by the authors and/or editor.
  • Retaining the DOI of the original article, with a watermark on the PDF indicating “RETRACTED.”
  • The HTML version of the article will be removed, and a retraction notice will be linked to the original DOI.

The retraction notice will clearly explain the reasons for the retraction and who requested it.

Corrections

Minor corrections, such as typographical errors, will be noted with a transparent correction statement in both the document and the article’s webpage. Significant corrections that impact the understanding of the article but do not compromise its overall integrity will be accompanied by an editorial notice detailing the nature of the changes. All corrections will be documented and reflected in relevant databases, and the authors will be informed of any changes. J-HyTEL does not make silent corrections, ensuring that all updates are visible to the readers.

Corrections and Retractions for Articles in Press

If a significant scientific error or ethical issue is discovered in an article after it has been published under Articles in Press, the following actions may be taken:

  • Substantive Corrections: If the core findings of the article remain valid, a substantive correction will be issued. The corrected version of the article will replace the original in the "Articles in Press" section, accompanied by an editorial notice detailing the changes. Authors will be notified of the correction, and a transparent record will be maintained. The article will remain in "Articles in Press" until formally published in a volume or issue.

  • Retraction for Significant Errors: If the issue compromises the validity of the research, such as plagiarism or data fabrication, the article will be retracted. A retraction notice will be published, and the DOI will remain active. The retraction will follow COPE's guidelines, and relevant indexing services will be notified.

In both cases, the editorial team will work with the authors to ensure that the appropriate corrective action is taken and the journal's integrity is maintained.

Article Removal: Legal Limitations

In rare cases, an article may be removed for legal reasons, such as defamation or public health risks. The metadata (title and author names) will remain, but the content will be replaced by a note explaining the removal for legal reasons.

Article Replacement

If an article poses a health risk, authors may retract the original and replace it with a corrected version. A retraction notice and a link to the corrected article will be posted.

J-HyTEL does not charge fees for corrections or retractions due to ethical concerns such as plagiarism or data fabrication.

Please refer to the COPE Retraction Guidelines at 
https://publicationethics.org/retraction-guidelines