Correction Policy

Correction and Retraction Policy of the Journal of Data and Digital Innovation (JDDI)

The Journal of Data and Digital Innovation (JDDI) is committed to maintaining academic integrity, transparency, and accountability in scholarly publishing. To uphold these principles, JDDI follows a structured policy for handling corrections, retractions, and expressions of concern in accordance with Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) guidelines.

1. Corrections Policy

Corrections are issued when published articles contain errors that do not affect the overall validity or conclusions of the research but require clarification or amendment.

Types of Corrections

  1. Minor Corrections (Errata)

    • Small errors in spelling, formatting, or minor data inaccuracies that do not impact the study’s findings.
    • A correction notice is added to the article without altering the original document.

  2. Major Corrections (Corrigenda)

    • Errors in author names, affiliations, equations, data interpretation, or figure labeling that could cause misunderstandings.
    • The corrected version of the article is published with a detailed correction note.

  3. Publisher’s Corrections

    • If the journal introduces an error during production (e.g., typesetting mistakes), a publisher’s note will be issued to correct the record.

2. Retraction Policy

Retractions are issued when an article is found to have serious ethical violations, data fabrication, plagiarism, or errors that invalidate its conclusions. Retractions follow COPE guidelines and are considered in cases of:

  • Plagiarism or duplicate publication (substantial overlap with previously published work).
  • Data fabrication or falsification (manipulated or fraudulent data).
  • Undisclosed conflicts of interest that compromise the integrity of the research.
  • Serious ethical breaches (e.g., lack of informed consent in human research).
  • Significant methodological errors that render the study’s conclusions invalid.

Retraction Process

  1. Investigation: The editorial team, in consultation with reviewers and subject matter experts, will assess the issue.
  2. Author Notification: Authors are given an opportunity to respond before the final decision.
  3. Retraction Notice: If retraction is warranted, a formal retraction statement is published, clearly stating the reason.
  4. Marking of the Article: The original article remains online with a “Retracted” watermark, but it is not removed to maintain transparency.

3. Expressions of Concern

When concerns arise about a published article but an investigation is ongoing, JDDI may issue an Expression of Concern to alert readers about potential issues.

4. Article Removal Policy

Articles may be removed only in exceptional cases, such as:

  • Legal or privacy violations (e.g., breach of confidentiality).
  • Defamatory content or ethical violations that pose serious risks.
    In such cases, a removal notice will replace the original article.

5. Appeals and Author Rights

Authors may appeal correction or retraction decisions by submitting a formal request with supporting evidence. The editorial board will review the appeal and make a final determination.

By implementing this policy, JDDI ensures the credibility, integrity, and reliability of its published research.