In this era of misinformation and questions about academic integrity, it is important to have transparent and clear ethical policies even after peer review and publication.
Once published, an article is referred to as the version of record. This is understood to be a reliable, complete version of the article which others can cite and build upon. However, if an error or inaccuracy in the version of record is identified, it can be addressed through a correction, an expression of concern, a retraction or a removal. Publications may be retracted or removed, or expressions of concern (EoCs) may be issued, for many reasons, such as serious error or research misconduct.
Please contact help@escholarship.org if you have an article that needs to be corrected, retracted, or removed so that we can log the change and take steps to make sure we are following best practices.
Below are some guidelines provided by scholarly publishing organizations outlining recommendations for best practices:
Corrections and retractions - OA Journals Toolkit
Provides definitions of corrections, retractions, expressions of concern, and communicating changes to an article's version of record.
COPE Retraction Guidelines
Guidance for editors on retracting articles: when should a retraction be considered, what to include in a notice, who should issue a retraction and how quickly, what to do when there is inconclusive evidence, and how to deal with batch retractions where many articles are affected by the same issue.
NISO Corrections, Retractions, or Notes of Editorial Concern (CREC) recommendations
The primary aim of this recommended practice is to establish best practices for metadata creation, transfer, and display for both the original publication and the statement of retraction, removal, or EoC, with the goal of facilitating the timely and efficient communication of information to all relevant stakeholders. Although retraction remains relatively rare, rates of retraction are increasing, and mass retractions have emerged.
Retraction Watch
Founded by journalists Adam Marcus and Ivan Oransky, this blog has done more to raise awareness of retractions and misconduct in scientific publishing than any other outlet. It is funded by nonprofit organization The Center for Scientific Integrity, "whose mission is to promote transparency and accuracy in science and scientific publications."