Post-Publication Discussions and Corrections Policy

Journal of Science and Science Education (JoSSEd), published by the Postgraduate Program, University of Mataram, Indonesia, is committed to maintaining the accuracy, reliability, transparency, and integrity of the scholarly record after publication.

The journal recognizes that scholarly communication is an ongoing process and that scientific findings may be subject to further discussion, verification, clarification, correction, or reassessment after publication.

JoSSEd supports responsible post-publication discussion and maintains procedures for addressing errors, concerns about research integrity, and other issues affecting published articles. This policy is informed by the principles and guidance of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).

1. Post-Publication Discussions

JoSSEd welcomes constructive, evidence-based scholarly discussions concerning articles published in the journal. Such discussions contribute to scientific progress, critical evaluation, and the continuous improvement of research quality.

Authors, readers, researchers, reviewers, and other interested parties may communicate post-publication comments, questions, or concerns to the editorial office through the journal's official communication channels.

Post-publication discussions may address:

• Interpretation of research findings and conclusions.
• Methodological strengths, weaknesses, or limitations.
• Statistical analyses and data interpretation.
• Reproducibility and reliability of reported results.
• Potential errors in published articles.
• Research ethics and publication integrity concerns.
• Scientific disagreements supported by relevant evidence.

Comments must be professional, relevant, respectful, and supported by appropriate evidence. Personal attacks, defamatory statements, and unsupported allegations will not be accepted as scholarly discussion.

2. Submission and Evaluation of Post-Publication Comments

Individuals wishing to raise questions or concerns about a published article should contact the editorial office and provide sufficient information to identify the article and explain the issue.

Where applicable, submissions should include:

1. The title, authors, DOI, or URL of the published article.
2. A clear description of the issue or concern.
3. Relevant scientific evidence or supporting documentation.
4. References to specific sections, tables, figures, or research findings.
5. Contact information for editorial correspondence, where appropriate.

The editorial team will assess the relevance, credibility, and scientific significance of the submitted comments.

Where appropriate, the authors of the original article may be invited to provide a response or clarification. The journal may seek independent expert advice when necessary.

The journal may publish a formal comment, author response, or other scholarly notice when such publication would provide meaningful clarification to readers. Publication of correspondence is subject to editorial assessment and is not automatic.

3. Corrections to Published Articles

JoSSEd may publish a correction when an error is identified in a published article and the error can be addressed without invalidating the article's principal findings or conclusions.

Corrections may be necessary for:

• Errors in numerical values, tables, figures, or statistical reporting.
• Incorrect descriptions of methods or research procedures.
• Errors in author names, affiliations, or relevant article metadata.
• Omitted or inaccurate funding and conflict of interest declarations.
• Errors in references or acknowledgements that require formal correction.
• Other substantive inaccuracies that do not fundamentally undermine the reliability of the article.

A formal correction notice will clearly identify the original article, describe the error, and explain the correction made.

Where possible, the correction notice will be linked to the original article, and the article record will clearly indicate that a correction has been issued.

4. Author-Initiated Corrections

Authors who discover significant errors or inaccuracies in their published work must promptly notify the JoSSEd editorial office.

Authors should provide a clear explanation of the error, the proposed correction, and any supporting evidence necessary to assess its implications.

The editorial team will determine whether the issue requires a formal correction, additional investigation, or another appropriate editorial action.

Authors must not independently replace or modify the published version of record without the journal's authorization and appropriate documentation.

5. Expressions of Concern

JoSSEd may issue an Expression of Concern when credible and serious questions arise regarding the reliability or integrity of a published article, but the available evidence is insufficient to support an immediate correction or retraction.

An Expression of Concern may be appropriate when:

• Serious concerns about research integrity remain unresolved.
• An institutional investigation is ongoing or its outcome is uncertain.
• There is substantial evidence of potential problems affecting the reliability of the findings.
• Further clarification or investigation is required before a definitive editorial decision can be made.

An Expression of Concern will be clearly identified, linked to the original article, and updated or followed by further editorial action when additional evidence becomes available.

An Expression of Concern is not a formal determination of research misconduct.

6. Retraction of Published Articles

JoSSEd may retract a published article when its findings are unreliable due to serious error or research misconduct, or when other circumstances justify retraction under recognized publication ethics guidance.

Grounds for retraction may include:

• Fabrication or falsification of research data.
• Serious plagiarism or substantial unauthorized reproduction of previously published work.
• Major errors that invalidate the article's findings or conclusions.
• Redundant or duplicate publication without appropriate disclosure or justification.
• Serious ethical violations involving research participants or research conduct.
• Manipulation of the peer-review or publication process.
• Other substantial violations that compromise the reliability or integrity of the scholarly record.

Retraction decisions will be based on the available evidence and the need to maintain an accurate scholarly record. Retraction is intended primarily to correct the literature rather than to punish authors.

A retraction notice will explain the reason for retraction, identify the parties responsible for the notice, and be linked to the original article.

7. Retraction Procedure

When a published article is suspected of requiring retraction, JoSSEd follows an appropriate editorial evaluation process.

1. Identification of Concern: The editorial office receives or identifies credible evidence that may affect the reliability or integrity of an article.
2. Preliminary Assessment: The Editor-in-Chief or an independent handling editor evaluates the concern and available evidence.
3. Author Communication: The authors are ordinarily invited to provide an explanation and relevant supporting documentation.
4. Further Investigation: The journal may seek independent expert advice or refer the concern to an appropriate research institution.
5. Editorial Decision: The journal determines whether a correction, Expression of Concern, retraction, or no further action is appropriate.
6. Publication of Notice: When retraction is warranted, a formal retraction notice is published and linked to the original article.
7. Metadata and Record Updates: The article's publication record and relevant metadata are updated as appropriate to reflect its retracted status.

The journal may proceed with retraction when the evidence justifies it, even if one or more authors disagree with the decision or do not respond to editorial correspondence.

8. Preservation of the Scholarly Record

JoSSEd is committed to preserving the integrity and transparency of the scholarly record.

Retracted articles will ordinarily remain accessible on the journal website, clearly identified as retracted and linked to the corresponding retraction notice.

The original article will not normally be deleted solely because it has been retracted. Removal of published content will be considered only in exceptional circumstances, such as legal requirements, serious privacy violations, or substantial risks of harm.

Corrections, Expressions of Concern, and retractions will be presented in a manner that allows readers and indexing services to understand the current status of the publication.

9. Article Updates and Version Control

JoSSEd maintains the published version of record and documents substantive changes through appropriate editorial notices.

Minor technical corrections that do not alter the scientific meaning of an article may be handled through editorial procedures. Substantive changes affecting scientific content, authorship, data interpretation, or conclusions require appropriate documentation and, where necessary, a formal published notice.

The journal will seek to maintain clear links between original articles and subsequent corrections or other post-publication notices.

10. Responsibilities of Authors, Editors, and Readers

10.1 Authors

Authors must promptly report significant errors, cooperate with reasonable editorial inquiries, provide supporting research documentation when necessary, and participate in correcting the scholarly record.

10.2 Editors

Editors must evaluate post-publication concerns objectively, manage conflicts of interest, preserve confidentiality where appropriate, and make proportionate editorial decisions based on evidence and publication ethics guidance.

10.3 Readers and Other Researchers

Readers and researchers are encouraged to report credible errors or integrity concerns through the journal's official communication channels and provide relevant supporting evidence.

11. Editorial Independence and Fairness

Post-publication decisions are made independently and must not be improperly influenced by the academic status, institutional affiliation, nationality, financial relationships, or professional reputation of the individuals involved.

Editors with relevant conflicts of interest must not manage the affected case. Where necessary, an independent editor or qualified expert will be appointed.

The journal will ordinarily provide relevant authors with an opportunity to respond before making a final decision involving substantive allegations, while retaining the responsibility to protect the integrity of the published record.

12. Post-Publication Editorial Actions

13. Post-Publication Handling Procedure

14. Ethical Guidelines and References

This policy is informed by internationally recognized guidance concerning post-publication discussions, corrections, retractions, and publication integrity:

• Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE): https://publicationethics.org/
• COPE Core Practices: https://publicationethics.org/core-practices
• COPE Retraction Guidelines: https://publicationethics.org/retraction-guidelines