Errata, Corrections, and Retractions
Errata, Corrections, and Retractions
Overview
The Review of Economics, Accounting, Business, and Management Studies (REABMS) is committed to preserving the accuracy, reliability, transparency, and integrity of the scholarly record. Despite rigorous editorial evaluation and independent peer review, errors or concerns regarding published articles may occasionally arise after publication. When such situations occur, the journal follows established procedures to correct the literature in a timely, transparent, and proportionate manner.
REABMS addresses post-publication issues through the publication of Errata, Corrections, Expressions of Concern, Retractions, or Article Removals, depending on the nature and severity of the issue. Editorial actions are undertaken fairly, consistently, and in accordance with internationally recognized standards of publication ethics while ensuring that the scholarly record remains transparent and trustworthy.
Principles Governing Post-Publication Corrections
Post-publication actions are guided by the following principles:
- Preserving the integrity of the scholarly record
- Correcting errors promptly and transparently
- Distinguishing honest errors from research misconduct
- Providing readers with accurate and reliable information
- Ensuring that editorial actions are proportionate to the seriousness of the issue
- Maintaining transparency regarding editorial decisions
Whenever possible, the published scholarly record will be corrected rather than removed.
Errata
An Erratum is issued when an error introduced during the editorial, production, or publishing process affects the accuracy or presentation of a published article but does not alter the validity, reliability, or conclusions of the research.
Examples include:
Typographical errors Formatting mistakes Incorrect affiliations Figure/table placement Production citation errors Pagination/layout errors
When an erratum is issued:
- The article will be corrected where appropriate
- A separate Erratum Notice will describe the error and correction
- The notice will be permanently linked to the original article
- The original article will indicate an erratum has been published
- Where applicable, it receives its own publication details and DOI
Author Corrections
A Correction (Corrigendum) is published when an error originating from the author(s) requires amendment but does not invalidate the overall findings, analyses, interpretations, or conclusions of the study.
Examples include:
Minor data inaccuracies Name/affiliation errors Incorrect citations Methodology clarification Minor omissions Supplementary material errors
When a correction is issued:
- The article will be updated where appropriate
- A separate Correction Notice will describe the amendments
- The notice will remain permanently linked to the original publication
- The article will clearly indicate a correction has been issued
- Where applicable, the correction notice will receive its own DOI
Expressions of Concern
An Expression of Concern may be issued when substantial questions arise regarding the integrity or reliability of a published article, but available evidence is insufficient to determine whether correction or retraction is warranted.
Situations include:
- Ongoing institutional investigations
- Allegations of research misconduct awaiting resolution
- Concerns regarding data integrity or authorship
- Undisclosed conflicts of interest / possible ethical violations
- Questions regarding the reliability of reported findings
The notice will: explain the concerns, remain associated during the investigation, and be updated/replaced by a correction, retraction, or removal when appropriate. It does not imply misconduct, but notes ongoing investigation.
Article Removal
Article removal is an exceptional measure reserved for circumstances where retraction alone cannot adequately address significant legal, ethical, or public safety concerns. Removal may occur when publication:
- Violates applicable law or a court order
- Contains defamatory or unlawful material
- Presents a serious risk to public safety
- Discloses confidential information in violation of obligations
- Breaches participant privacy that cannot be adequately protected through correction
When removed: Bibliographic info remains publicly available where permissible. The full text is replaced with a removal notice explaining the reason while complying with legal obligations.
Retractions
A Retraction is issued when a published article is determined to be fundamentally unreliable or when serious breaches of publication ethics have occurred. Retraction is intended to correct the scholarly record rather than punish authors.
Circumstances for Retraction
Fabrication/falsification of data Major methodological errors Plagiarism Duplicate/redundant publication Fraudulent authorship Peer review manipulation Undisclosed conflicts of interest Serious ethical violations Deliberate misrepresentation
Retraction Procedure
Before issuing a retraction, the Editorial Office will conduct an objective investigation, request an explanation from the corresponding author, consider available evidence, and consult co-authors, independent experts, or affiliated institutions when necessary.
Where possible, authors will be given an opportunity to respond before a final editorial decision is made.
The Retraction Notice
- The article remains part of the scholarly record where feasible
- Clearly identified as Retracted (notices/watermarking)
- Title may be prefixed with "Retracted Article:"
- A separate Retraction Notice (factual and free from defamatory language) is published, explaining the reasons and identifying the initiator (authors, editors, publisher, jointly)
- Permanently linked to the original article and receives its own DOI where applicable
Reporting Concerns
Authors, readers, reviewers, editors, and institutions are encouraged to report suspected errors or ethics concerns to the Editorial Office. Reports should include:
- Article title and Author(s)
- Description of the concern
- Supporting evidence
All concerns will be handled confidentially, impartially, and in accordance with procedures.
Editorial Responsibility
The Editor-in-Chief and Editorial Board evaluate all post-publication concerns case-by-case based upon:
- Available evidence and seriousness
- Potential impact on the scholarly record
- Ethical considerations
- Recommendations from experts/institutions
Actions are taken independently without undue influence from sponsors or third parties.
Transparency
REABMS is committed to maintaining transparency throughout the correction process:
- Correction notices remain permanently linked
- Editorial actions are clearly identified
- Readers are informed of substantive changes
- Previous versions are preserved where appropriate
This ensures readers can distinguish between corrected research and research whose reliability has been compromised.
Commitment to the Scholarly Record
The Review of Economics, Accounting, Business, and Management Studies (REABMS) is dedicated to preserving a trustworthy, accurate, and transparent scholarly record. Through the timely publication of errata, corrections, expressions of concern, retractions, and article removals when warranted, the journal promotes accountability, protects research integrity, and ensures that published scholarship remains reliable and ethically sound.
This policy is informed by the guidance and best practices of:
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Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) – Core Practices, Retraction Guidelines, and Flowcharts for Post-Publication Discussions and Corrections
https://publicationethics.org/ - ■
International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE) – Recommendations (Corrections, Retractions, Republications, and Version Control)
https://www.icmje.org/recommendations/ - ■
Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ) – Principles of Transparency and Best Practice in Scholarly Publishing
https://doaj.org/apply/guide/
