Correction and Retraction Policies

 
 
 
Editorial Integrity Policy

Correction and Retraction Policy

PTJI is committed to the accuracy and trustworthiness of its published content. All corrections and retractions are handled transparently and permanently documented in accordance with COPE guidelines.

COPE Guidelines
Version of Record Integrity
Transparent Documentation
Crossref + Scopus Indexed
 
Correction

Errors that affect interpretation but not core scientific validity

 
Retraction

Unreliable findings due to fundamental errors or ethical breaches

 
Expression of Concern

Interim notice while investigation is ongoing or inconclusive

 
Article Removal

Reserved for legal necessity only — extremely rare

1. Core Commitment

 
Accuracy First

PTJI prioritizes accuracy and trustworthiness of all published content — the Version of Record (VoR).

 
Prompt Response

Errors, ethical breaches, and misconduct are addressed promptly and transparently without undue delay.

 
Permanent Record

All correction and retraction actions are permanently documented and linked to the original article in all databases.

The Physical Therapy Journal of Indonesia (PTJI) prioritizes the accuracy and trustworthiness of its published content (the Version of Record, or VoR). Any correction or retraction action taken will be permanently documented, linked to the original article, and performed based on Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) guidelines, thereby maintaining the integrity of the scientific record.

2. Policy on Corrections

A correction is issued when errors or omissions in a published article affect its interpretation or readability but do not undermine the scientific validity of the core research findings.

A. Types of Formal Corrections

PTJI uses specific terminology based on where the error originated:

 
Corrigendum
Author Error

Issued when the authors are responsible for the error — e.g., mistakes in data analysis, mislabeled figures, incorrect calculations, or faulty interpretation made during manuscript preparation.

 
Erratum
Publisher / Journal Error

Issued when the publisher or editorial process is responsible — e.g., typesetting errors, omitted text introduced during production, or formatting mistakes introduced post-acceptance.

Figure: Corrigendum vs Erratum — distinction based on error origin

B. Minor vs. Major Errors

 
Minor Errors
e.g., typos

These usually do not warrant a separate published notice. They may be corrected directly in the online article (HTML/PDF) at the Editor-in-Chief's discretion, with a small footnote indicating the date and nature of the change. Requests for simple stylistic changes may be declined to prevent issues with indexing databases.

 
Major Errors
Formal notice required

When a formal correction (Corrigendum or Erratum) is necessary, a dedicated notice explaining the change will be drafted. This notice will be published immediately online, appear in the next print issue, and be prominently linked to the updated online Version of Record.

3. Policy on Retraction

A Retraction is the most serious public notice, used when an article's results or conclusions are determined to be unreliable due to fundamental errors or breaches of scholarly ethics.

A. Grounds for Retraction

An article may be retracted following an investigation (aligned with COPE Retraction Guidelines) if any of the following are confirmed:

 
Unreliable Data

Fundamental findings based on unreliable data — even when due to honest error (not misconduct)

 
Research Misconduct

Confirmed plagiarism, data fabrication, or image manipulation

 
Duplicate Publication

Redundant or duplicate publication without proper prior disclosure

 
Compromised Peer Review

Evidence that the peer review process was manipulated or fraudulently circumvented

 
Failure to Verify / Provide Data

Authors unable to verify work, provide raw data, or confirm participation upon request

 
Ethical Standards Violation

Research conducted without valid ethics approval (KEPK), informed consent, or in violation of the Declaration of Helsinki

B. Retraction Procedure

1
 
Investigation & Author Notification

The Editor-in-Chief and Publisher investigate the issue and give the authors a reasonable opportunity to respond before a decision is made.

2
 
Independent Final Decision

The Editor-in-Chief makes the final, independent decision to retract. Author approval is not required. The decision is based solely on scientific integrity and COPE principles.

3
 
Retraction Notice Published

A formal Retraction Notice detailing the specific reason for retraction is published openly and linked to the original article in all indexing databases.

4
 
"RETRACTED" Watermark Applied

The original article remains online but its text is replaced by the metadata and full Retraction Notice. The PDF is branded with a permanent "RETRACTED" watermark to prevent inadvertent citation.

5
Database Indexing

Retraction notices are indexed in Scopus, Crossref, PubMed, and other databases to ensure the record propagates across the scholarly ecosystem.

Note: Article Processing Charges (APCs) are non-refundable if an article is retracted.

4. Expression of Concern

 
Interim Alert to Readers

The Editor-in-Chief may issue an Expression of Concern when serious ethical or validity issues are under review, but the investigation is ongoing or inconclusive. This immediate notice alerts readers to potential problems and is published without requiring author permission.

When Issued

Investigation opened but not yet concluded; evidence insufficient for full retraction but serious enough to alert readers

Author Permission

Not required. Published at the Editor-in-Chief's sole discretion to protect readers and the scientific record

Resolution

Replaced by a final notice (Correction or Retraction) once the investigation concludes. If cleared, the EoC is removed with an explanatory note

5. Article Removal (Exceptional Circumstance)

Complete removal of an article from all databases is extremely rare and reserved only for cases of legal necessity — not for scientific disputes or reputational concerns.

Grounds Limited to:

 

Defamatory or libelous content that is subject to legal action

 

Content posing an immediate, serious risk to public health or safety

 

Inappropriate violation of a research participant's privacy or identifiable personal data

What remains: The article text is removed, leaving only the title and authors with a note confirming the removal was for legal reasons. The bibliographic record is preserved to maintain citation integrity.

6. How to Report a Concern

 
Authors

Authors who identify errors in their own published work should contact the Editorial Office promptly. Include the manuscript number, description of the error, and the proposed correction.

editorptji@gmail.com
 
Third Parties (Readers, Institutions)

Readers, peer reviewers, or institutions who identify concerns about a published article are encouraged to report them to the Editorial Office. All reports are treated confidentially. Anonymous reports are accepted but may limit the scope of investigation.

editorptji@gmail.com

Regulatory & Ethical Standards

COPE Retraction Guidelines COPE Expression of Concern
ICMJE Recommendations
Crossref Metadata Indexed
DOAJ & Scopus Compliant
Declaration of Helsinki