Correction Retraction & Withdrawal

ORLI aims to ensure that the published scholarly record remains accurate, reliable, and transparent. When an error, ethical concern, or other problem is identified, the journal will assess the available evidence and determine an appropriate response that reflects the seriousness of the issue and its impact on the article or publication process.

Corrections, retractions, and withdrawals serve different purposes and must not be used interchangeably. Corrections address errors that can be remedied without retracting the entire article; retractions alert readers that a published article should no longer be relied upon in its existing form; and withdrawals generally concern manuscripts that have not yet been formally published. These distinctions are consistent with the COPE Retraction Guidelines.

Editorial decisions will be based on evidence, fairness, proportionality, and the need to maintain the integrity of the scholarly record. The journal will provide authors with a reasonable opportunity to respond to concerns when appropriate, without allowing that process to prevent necessary action to protect readers. ORLI will consider the relevant principles in the COPE Core Practices when handling publication ethics concerns.

ORLI may publish a correction when an error or omission is identified in a published article and the issue can be addressed without invalidating the overall findings or conclusions. Examples may include errors in author names, affiliations, acknowledgements, references, tables, figures, data presentation, or other content where a formal correction is necessary to maintain an accurate publication record.

Corrections may be considered for errors made by authors, editors, or the publisher. The journal will assess the nature of the error, its significance, and whether it affects the interpretation or reliability of the article. If the main findings remain reliable and a correction adequately addresses the problem, a correction may be more appropriate than retraction. This distinction is explained in the COPE Retraction Guidelines.

A correction request may be initiated by an author, editor, reader, reviewer, institution, or another party with relevant information. Requests should identify the published article, describe the error, explain why a correction is needed, and provide supporting evidence where available. ORLI may contact the authors or other relevant parties to verify the information before deciding whether to issue a correction.

Where a correction is approved, ORLI will publish a clear correction notice identifying the affected article and explaining the change. The notice should distinguish the original content from the corrected information and provide enough detail for readers to understand the nature of the correction.

Where technically possible, the correction notice will be linked to the original article, and the original article will link back to the correction notice. The journal will maintain the original article's identity and publication history rather than silently changing material in a way that obscures the correction. This approach supports the COPE Core Practices on post-publication discussion and corrections.

ORLI may retract a published article when there is clear and sufficient evidence that the article's findings are unreliable because of a major error, fabrication, falsification, or another serious problem. Retraction may also be considered in cases involving plagiarism, redundant publication, unauthorized use of material or data, serious legal issues, unethical research, compromised peer review, or an undisclosed competing interest that materially affected the article's interpretation or recommendations.

The journal will evaluate each case individually and determine whether retraction is justified under the circumstances. The purpose of retraction is to correct the literature and alert readers to unreliable work, rather than to punish authors. These principles are stated in the COPE Retraction Guidelines.

Retraction will not normally be used when the authorship is disputed but the findings remain reliable, when a minor or limited error can be adequately corrected, or when the available evidence is inconclusive and further investigation is required. In such cases, ORLI will consider a correction, an expression of concern, or another proportionate response, depending on the circumstances. See the COPE Retraction Guidelines.

Before issuing a retraction, ORLI will assess the evidence, contact the relevant authors where appropriate, and provide a reasonable opportunity for them to respond. The journal may also consult independent experts or contact the authors' institution when the concern requires further investigation. An author's disagreement with a retraction decision will be considered, but it will not prevent the journal from acting when sufficient evidence supports retraction.

A retraction notice will clearly identify the article and be explicitly labelled as a retraction. It will state the reason for retraction, identify who is retracting the article, and present the explanation objectively and factually. The notice should be published promptly, be freely accessible, and be linked to the retracted article wherever possible. These requirements are set out in the COPE Retraction Guidelines.

The original article will normally remain accessible with a clear retracted status, subject to applicable legal requirements and platform capabilities. ORLI will avoid removing the article in a manner that obscures its publication history or prevents readers from understanding the reason for the retraction. The retraction notice and the original article should be connected so that the status of the publication is clear.

Where credible concerns have been raised about a published article but the available evidence is inconclusive, ORLI may consider publishing an expression of concern. This may be appropriate when an investigation is ongoing, relevant information cannot yet be obtained, or an institutional investigation is substantially delayed.

An expression of concern is a notice that informs readers of an unresolved issue; it is not a final determination that misconduct has occurred. The notice should identify the article, explain the nature of the concern as objectively as possible, and be linked to the original publication wherever technically possible.

ORLI may review the expression of concern when additional evidence or the outcome of an investigation becomes available. Depending on the findings, the journal may retain the notice, publish a correction, retract the article, or take another appropriate action. This approach is consistent with the COPE Retraction Guidelines, which discuss expressions of concern when evidence is inconclusive or investigations are delayed.

Withdrawal generally applies to manuscripts that have not yet been formally published. An author or the corresponding author may request withdrawal during submission, peer review, or editorial processing by submitting a written request to the ORLI Editorial Office and explaining the reason for the request.

Where a manuscript has multiple authors, ORLI may request confirmation that all co-authors have been informed of and agree to the withdrawal. If the authors disagree, or if the request raises concerns about authorship, research integrity, duplicate submission, or another ethical issue, the journal may suspend the withdrawal decision while the matter is assessed.

Once a withdrawal request has been approved, ORLI will confirm the decision to the corresponding author and update the manuscript's editorial status. A withdrawn manuscript will not proceed to publication in ORLI unless the journal subsequently agrees to reconsider it under its applicable editorial procedures.

Authors must not use withdrawal to conceal suspected misconduct, duplicate submission, unreliable data, or another matter requiring editorial assessment. If a withdrawal request raises a credible publication ethics concern, ORLI may investigate the concern and, where appropriate, consult the relevant institution or other competent body. COPE provides relevant procedures for suspected ethical problems and redundant publication in submitted manuscripts through its flowchart on suspected ethical problems in a submitted manuscript and its collection of publication ethics flowcharts.

If an author requests withdrawal after a manuscript has been accepted but before formal publication, ORLI will assess the request in light of the publication stage, the reasons given, the status of any publishing agreement, and the journal's editorial procedures.

The journal may request written confirmation from all authors and clarification of any unresolved authorship, ethical, or research integrity concerns. ORLI will confirm whether the withdrawal is approved and ensure that the manuscript is not inadvertently published after the withdrawal decision.

If the manuscript has already been formally published online or in an issue, the matter will generally be handled under the provisions for correction, retraction, or another appropriate post-publication notice rather than as an ordinary pre-publication withdrawal. The COPE Retraction Guidelines provide guidance on correcting the scholarly record when a published article meets the criteria for retraction.

ORLI does not treat the withdrawal of a published article as an ordinary manuscript withdrawal. A request to remove or withdraw published content will be assessed carefully, taking into account the reliability of the article, the nature of the concern, the rights of the parties involved, and the need to preserve the integrity of the scholarly record.

Where a published article contains correctable errors, the journal will consider a correction. Where the article meets the criteria for retraction, the journal will consider a formal retraction notice. Where evidence is inconclusive, an expression of concern may be appropriate. These options follow the distinctions set out in the COPE Retraction Guidelines.

Removal of the full text may be considered only in exceptional circumstances, such as a serious legal requirement, a material risk to personal privacy, or another compelling reason that cannot be adequately addressed by a correction or retraction notice. Any such action must be assessed on its specific merits and must comply with applicable law and publishing obligations.

Where removal is necessary, ORLI will seek to preserve a transparent record of the editorial action to the extent legally and technically possible. The journal will avoid silently deleting a published article in a way that misleads readers about its publication history or the reason for its removal.

If ORLI identifies a manuscript that substantially overlaps with work published elsewhere, the journal will assess the extent of overlap, the relationship between the publications, the authors' disclosures, and whether the earlier work has been properly acknowledged. Not every overlap automatically justifies rejection or retraction; the response depends on the circumstances and the stage of publication.

For a submitted manuscript, ORLI may request an explanation, ask for appropriate citation or revision, reject the manuscript, or take further action where warranted. COPE's flowcharts on suspected redundant publication describe how editors can assess the degree of overlap, contact the authors, and determine the appropriate response.

If redundant publication is identified after publication, ORLI will consider whether a correction, notice of redundant publication, or retraction is appropriate. The COPE Retraction Guidelines explain that a subsequently published redundant article may warrant retraction, while the first publication should not automatically be retracted unless other concerns justify that action.

When a correction, retraction, withdrawal, or removal request raises a credible concern about research or publication misconduct, ORLI will assess the concern under its relevant publication ethics procedures. Possible issues include fabrication or falsification of data, plagiarism, unethical research, manipulated peer review, unauthorized use of material, or undisclosed competing interests that could have materially affected the article.

Depending on the nature of the concern, the journal may request an explanation, examine supporting evidence, consult independent experts, or contact the relevant institution or research integrity office. The journal will distinguish between editorial action needed to protect the publication record and investigations into conduct that may require institutional authority.

COPE's flowchart on suspected ethical problems in a submitted manuscript provides a process for requesting relevant information, assessing the response, and referring unresolved concerns to an institution where appropriate. For published articles, ORLI will consider the COPE Retraction Guidelines when deciding whether a formal correction or retraction is justified.

ORLI will normally notify the corresponding author and, where appropriate, the other authors of a proposed correction, retraction, or other formal editorial action. The journal will explain the concern, identify the evidence or basis for the proposed action, and provide a reasonable opportunity for the authors to respond.

The authors' responses will be considered fairly, but the journal retains responsibility for decisions concerning the integrity of its published record. If the authors do not respond within a reasonable period, ORLI may proceed based on the available evidence when sufficient grounds exist.

Where authors disagree about the proposed action, ORLI may document the disagreement and seek further advice where appropriate. An unresolved disagreement does not automatically prevent a correction or retraction if the evidence supports that action under the COPE Retraction Guidelines.

Formal correction and retraction notices will be clearly identified and will provide enough information for readers to understand the nature and reason for the editorial action. The notice should include the title and authors of the affected article or another unambiguous reference to it.

Where technically possible, ORLI will link the notice to the original article and link the original article to the notice. Retraction notices should be freely accessible to readers and published promptly to reduce the risk that unreliable findings continue to be relied upon. These practices are specified in the COPE Retraction Guidelines.

ORLI will preserve a clear publication history and make the status of the article apparent to readers. The journal will not silently replace or alter a published article when a formal notice is required to explain a material change to the scholarly record.

Authors or other affected parties may submit a reasoned request for reconsideration if they believe that a decision concerning correction, retraction, or withdrawal was based on a material factual error, a significant procedural irregularity, or relevant evidence that was not considered.

Requests should identify the decision being challenged, explain the grounds for reconsideration, and provide supporting information. ORLI may ask an independent editor or another appropriate person who was not responsible for the original decision to review the request.

A request for reconsideration does not automatically suspend a correction, retraction, or other editorial action. ORLI will determine the appropriate response based on the evidence, the circumstances, and its responsibility to protect the scholarly record.

ORLI will handle correspondence and supporting documents confidentially to the extent reasonably possible, subject to applicable legal requirements and the need for a fair assessment. Information may be shared with authors, reviewers, institutions, experts, publishers, or other appropriate parties when necessary to resolve the concern.

The journal will maintain appropriate records of requests, supporting evidence, author responses, editorial assessments, decisions, and formal notices. These records support consistency, accountability, and transparency in decisions affecting the scholarly record.ources.