Correction and Retraction

Transparan! is committed to maintaining an accurate and reliable scholarly record. When errors or ethical concerns are identified after publication, the journal will assess the available evidence and take appropriate editorial action.

Reporting Errors and Concerns

Authors, readers, reviewers, and other parties may report errors or concerns through the contact details provided on the journal’s Contact page. Reports should identify the article by its title or DOI, describe the issue, and provide supporting evidence where available.

Authors must promptly inform the editorial office if they discover a significant error in their published work.

Corrections

A correction may be published when an error affects the accuracy or interpretation of an article but its overall findings remain reliable. Examples include errors in data presentation, calculations, author details, affiliations, or disclosures.

The correction notice will describe the error and the amendment and will be linked to the original article. Substantive changes to published content will be documented rather than made silently.

Retractions

An article may be retracted when there is clear evidence that its findings are substantially unreliable, whether because of an honest error or misconduct. Retraction may also be appropriate in cases of plagiarism, redundant publication without appropriate disclosure, unethical research, or a compromised publication process that undermines confidence in the article.

Retraction is intended to correct the scholarly record, rather than punish authors. Disagreement with an article’s conclusions or an authorship dispute alone does not justify retraction when the findings remain reliable.

Assessment and Decisions

The editorial office will assess the evidence, seek an explanation from the authors, and obtain independent advice or contact the relevant institution when necessary. Authors will have a reasonable opportunity to respond.

The final decision rests with the editor responsible for the case. An editor with a relevant conflict of interest will be replaced by an independent editor or publisher representative. An author’s disagreement does not prevent a justified correction or retraction.

Retraction Notices

Retraction notices will clearly identify the affected article, state who is retracting it, and explain the reasons for the decision using factual and objective language.

The notice will be freely accessible and linked to the original article. The article will normally remain available, clearly marked as retracted, to preserve the scholarly record.

Expressions of Concern

An expression of concern may be published when credible questions about an article remain unresolved or an investigation is ongoing. The notice will be updated when sufficient information becomes available for a final decision.

Appeals

Authors may appeal an editorial action by submitting a reasoned explanation and supporting evidence to the editorial office. Where possible, the appeal will be assessed by someone who was not involved in the original decision.