Quick Navigation
Volumes & Issues Quick Submit Call for Paper Editorial Board Search Research
Information
For Readers For Authors For Librarians
Keywords
Behavioral Sciences Social Sciences Movement Sciences Physical Education Sports Sciences Exercise Science Sports Psychology Kinesiology Human Movement Exercise Physiology

Corrections, Retractions & Withdrawal Policy

Policy Framework

1. General Overview & Editorial Commitment

E-ISSN: 2277-7547

The International Journal of Behavioral Social and Movement Sciences (IJOBSMS) is committed to maintaining the accuracy, integrity, transparency, and reliability of the scholarly record. Published research forms an integral foundation of scientific literature; therefore, preserving trust through ethical, verifiable, and transparent scholarly communication is paramount.

IJOBSMS adheres strictly to internationally recognized publication ethics standards and the recommendations of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) when addressing corrections, editorial expressions of concern, post-publication retractions, and pre-publication withdrawals.

2. Policy Scope & Applicability Summary
Policy Type Stage of Manuscript Primary Purpose / Scope Resulting Action
Withdrawal Pre-publication (Submission, Peer Review, or Post-Acceptance) Resolves errors or ethical issues before official archiving. Manuscript is removed from editorial processing.
Correction Post-publication Addresses minor errors that do not alter main conclusions. Formal, linked Correction Notice; original article remains active.
Retraction Post-publication Addresses severe errors, invalid findings, or research misconduct. Watermarked as retracted, permanent linked Retraction Notice; DOI persists.
3. Article Withdrawal Policy (Pre-Publication)
3.1. Purpose of Withdrawal

Article withdrawal applies solely to manuscripts that have been submitted to the journal but have not yet been formally published. This process ensures:

  • Preserving the integrity of the scholarly record before publication.
  • Preventing the dissemination of inaccurate or unreliable research.
  • Addressing legitimate author concerns during review and production.
  • Upholding ethical and transparent editorial procedures.
3.2. Author-Initiated Withdrawal

Authors may request withdrawal under legitimate circumstances, including:

  • Discovery of significant errors within the manuscript.
  • Unintentional duplicate submission to another journal.
  • Identification of serious ethical concerns affecting the study.
  • Methodological or analytical issues invalidating the findings.
  • Errors in data collection, processing, or interpretation.
  • Other valid, verifiable circumstances recognized by the Editorial Office.
Submission Requirements:
  • All requests must be submitted in writing by the corresponding author to the Editorial Office.
  • The communication must state a clear, comprehensive justification.
  • The corresponding author must confirm that all co-authors have consented to the withdrawal.
  • Note: The journal reserves the right to request separate written confirmation from all co-authors before finalizing withdrawal.
3.3. Stage-Specific Considerations
Withdrawal During Peer Review: Authors are encouraged to request withdrawal only after careful evaluation. Requests submitted after reviewers have dedicated substantial effort may undergo additional editorial assessment before formal approval.
Withdrawal After Acceptance: Permitted only under exceptional circumstances (e.g., critical errors undermining the study, newly identified ethical non-compliance, or major data/authorship disputes). Authors must submit detailed explanations and supporting documentation. Final approval rests with the Editor-in-Chief.
3.4. Withdrawal Initiated by the Journal

The journal reserves the right to withdraw a manuscript pre-publication if:

  • Evidence of plagiarism or unattributed text recycling is identified.
  • Suspected or confirmed data fabrication/falsification.
  • Duplicate or simultaneous submission is established.
  • Mandatory ethical approvals (human/animal subjects) are missing or invalid.
  • Unresolved authorship disputes arise.
  • Undisclosed, critical conflicts of interest are detected.
  • Any severe breach of academic publication ethics occurs.
3.5. Unethical Withdrawal Practices

IJOBSMS explicitly discourages practices that compromise scholarly workflows, such as:

  • Withdrawing a paper solely to submit elsewhere after benefiting from peer reviewer feedback.
  • Unjustified withdrawal requests following extensive editorial and reviewer investment.
  • Simultaneous submission to multiple venues.
  • Ceasing editorial communications followed by withdrawal demands.
Such practices may be treated as ethical violations, potentially leading to appropriate sanctions or institutional notifications.
4. Corrections Policy (Post-Publication)
4.1. Criteria for Issuing Corrections

An official correction notice (Errata or Corrigenda) may be issued when an identified error does not invalidate the overarching findings, analytical interpretations, or conclusions of the published article. Eligible items include:

Typographical errors
Author name misspellings
Institutional affiliation updates
Reference and citation corrections
Minor errors in figures, tables, or data
Production, typesetting, or layout discrepancies
4.2. Procedure & Transparency
  • A formal correction notice will be published online and directly bi-directionally linked to the original article.
  • The original article's metadata and electronic record will reflect the correction to ensure transparent citation and archiving.
5. Retraction Policy (Post-Publication)
5.1. Purpose & Principles

Retractions are enacted when a published study contains substantial errors, ethical violations, or research misconduct that undermine the validity, reliability, or integrity of the scientific conclusions.

  • Objectives: Correct the scientific literature, alert readers to unreliable findings, and protect research integrity.
  • Non-Punitive Nature: Retractions are not intended as punitive measures against authors, but as corrective mechanisms to safeguard scholarly communication.
5.2. Grounds for Retraction

A published article may be retracted under grounds including, but not limited to:

Clear evidence of data fabrication or falsification.
Significant methodological, statistical, or analytical flaws invalidating conclusions.
Unattributed plagiarism or substantial content redundancy.
Duplicate or overlapping publication.
Compromised or fraudulent peer review processes.
Image manipulations that alter result interpretation.
Severe ethical breaches regarding human subjects or animal care protocols.
Undisclosed competing interests that materially undermine credibility.
Authorship misconduct or systemic misrepresentation of contributions.
Any publication misconduct that threatens the reliability of the scholarly record.
5.3. Assessment & Investigation Process

When concerns are raised:

Step 1 Preliminary Review

Initial evaluation of concerns by the Editorial Office and Editor-in-Chief.

Step 2 Author Communication

Contact with corresponding author for clarifications, original datasets, or documentation.

Step 3 Expert Consultation

Review with editorial members, independent subject experts, or institutional representatives.

Step 4 Fairness & Objectivity

Authors get fair opportunity to explain. Failure to respond factors into final editorial ruling.

5.4. Expression of Concern

Where serious, credible concerns are identified but conclusive evidence is not yet established (or formal institutional investigations are pending), the journal may issue an Expression of Concern to alert readership while inquiries proceed.

5.5. Retraction Notice & Archival Record

When a retraction is finalized:

  • A formal Retraction Notice will be published, outlining the explicit reasons transparently.
  • The notice is permanently linked to the original article.
  • Post-Retraction Preservation: The original article will remain accessible in the archive but will be prominently watermarked on each page as "RETRACTED".
  • The digital object identifier (DOI) remains functional, and indexing/abstracting databases will be formally informed.
  • Complete removal of an article from archives will occur only under exceptional legal circumstances.
5.6. Author-Initiated Retractions

Authors who discover critical, irreproducible errors or ethical faults in their published research post-publication may formally request a retraction. Such requests will be evaluated under COPE guidelines, with final authority resting with the Editor-in-Chief.

6. Editorial Governance, COPE Compliance & Policy Review
  • Editorial Responsibility: The Editor-in-Chief and the Editorial Board hold the ultimate authority and fiduciary responsibility for safeguarding the integrity of the journal and the wider scholarly record.
  • COPE Standards: IJOBSMS operates in strict alignment with the principles and workflows published by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).
  • Policy Review Notice: This policy framework is reviewed and updated periodically to mirror evolving global publishing ethics standards, legal considerations, and academic integrity developments.
Related Journal Policies

This policy should be read alongside related journal policies including:

Publication Ethics & Malpractice
Research Misconduct Policy
Authorship Criteria and Policy
Conflict of Interest Policy
Peer Review Policy
Plagiarism Policy
Complaints and Appeals Policy
Corrections, Retractions & Withdrawal Policy
Policy Review and Updates: This Corrections, Retractions & Withdrawals Policy may be reviewed periodically and updated where necessary. Material amendments will be reflected on the journal website.