Corrections, Retractions and Complaints Policy

1. Purpose and Scope

The International Journal of Multidisciplinary Inquiry (IJMI) is committed to maintaining the accuracy, reliability, transparency, and integrity of the scholarly record. The journal recognizes that errors, ethical concerns, and disputes may arise during editorial evaluation or after publication and that such matters require fair, proportionate, and appropriately documented responses.

This policy establishes the procedures for addressing corrections, retractions, expressions of concern, complaints, and appeals relating to manuscripts and articles associated with IJMI. It applies to authors, reviewers, editors, readers, and other parties who raise legitimate concerns about the journal's editorial or publication activities.

IJMI's approach is informed by established principles of responsible scholarly publishing, including relevant guidance issued by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE). Reference to such guidance does not imply COPE membership or formal endorsement.

2. General Principles for Addressing Publication Concerns

IJMI evaluates publication-related concerns according to their nature, seriousness, available evidence, and potential implications for the integrity of the scholarly record.

The journal seeks to distinguish between unintentional errors, legitimate scholarly disagreements, procedural concerns, and allegations involving possible research or publication misconduct.

Decisions concerning corrections, retractions, or other editorial actions will be based on reasoned assessment and relevant supporting information. Where appropriate, individuals involved in a matter will be given a reasonable opportunity to provide explanations or respond to substantive concerns.

The journal will seek to maintain confidentiality during investigations while recognizing that transparency may be necessary where the reliability of published research is in question.

Corrective actions are intended primarily to preserve the accuracy and integrity of the scholarly record. They should not automatically be interpreted as findings of deliberate misconduct.

3. Corrections to Published Articles

A correction may be issued where an identifiable error or omission in a published article requires amendment but does not fundamentally undermine the reliability of the work or its principal conclusions.

Corrections may concern factual inaccuracies, author information, affiliations, funding acknowledgements, declarations, references, tables, figures, or other elements requiring clarification.

Authors who identify a significant error in their published work are expected to notify IJMI promptly and provide sufficient information to enable the editorial team to assess the matter.

Readers, reviewers, or other individuals may also report suspected errors through the journal's official communication channels.

The editorial team will determine whether a formal correction is necessary, taking account of the nature of the error, its potential effect on interpretation, and the importance of maintaining an accurate publication record.

Where a formal correction is issued, the notice should identify the affected article, describe the correction clearly, and remain publicly accessible and linked to the original publication.

Minor typographical or presentation errors that do not materially affect scholarly understanding may be addressed without a separate formal correction notice, where appropriate. Any substantive alteration to the published record should remain transparent.

4. Retraction of Published Articles

Retraction may be considered where substantial evidence indicates that a published article contains unreliable findings, serious ethical deficiencies, significant plagiarism, redundant publication, or other problems that materially compromise its scholarly integrity.

Grounds for retraction may include fabrication or falsification of research data, major errors that invalidate central findings, unethical research practices, unauthorized use of protected materials, or serious irregularities affecting the legitimacy of the publication.

Retraction may also be appropriate where the peer review or editorial process has been materially compromised, or where other circumstances render continued reliance on the published article inappropriate.

Before determining whether retraction is warranted, IJMI will ordinarily examine the available evidence, seek relevant explanations from the authors, and consider whether further information from institutions or other qualified parties is necessary.

A retraction decision does not necessarily require proof of deliberate misconduct. The central consideration is whether the published work can continue to be regarded as reliable and appropriate for the scholarly record.

Where an article is retracted, the journal will publish a retraction notice explaining the reason for the action to the extent supported by the available evidence and consistent with relevant confidentiality and legal considerations.

The original article will ordinarily remain accessible as part of the publication record, clearly identified as retracted and linked to the retraction notice. Removal of published content will be considered only in exceptional circumstances involving compelling legal, privacy, safety, or other serious concerns.

5. Expressions of Concern

An expression of concern may be issued where significant questions arise about the reliability, ethical conduct, or publication integrity of an article, but the available information is insufficient to justify an immediate correction or retraction.

Such circumstances may include unresolved allegations of research misconduct, ongoing institutional investigations, substantial concerns about data reliability, or uncertainty regarding the integrity of the editorial or peer review process.

An expression of concern is intended to inform readers that material questions remain unresolved. It does not, by itself, establish misconduct or determine the final status of the article.

The notice should identify the relevant publication and explain the nature of the concern as clearly as the available evidence permits.

Where further information becomes available, IJMI may review the matter and determine whether the expression of concern should be updated, withdrawn, or followed by another appropriate editorial action.

6. Reporting Research and Publication Misconduct

IJMI accepts concerns relating to suspected plagiarism, fabricated or falsified research findings, unethical research practices, inappropriate authorship, undisclosed competing interests, duplicate publication, peer review manipulation, or other conduct that may compromise publication integrity.

Concerns should be communicated through the journal's official contact channels and should include sufficient information to identify the manuscript or article concerned, explain the allegation, and provide relevant supporting materials where available.

The editorial team will undertake an initial assessment to determine whether the concern falls within the journal's responsibilities and whether further inquiry is warranted.

Where appropriate, the journal may request clarification from the authors, consult relevant records, seek independent academic advice, or contact the institution responsible for the research.

IJMI recognizes that certain allegations, particularly those involving research conduct, institutional ethics approval, or the authenticity of underlying data, may require investigation by the relevant research institution or another competent authority.

The journal will not present an unsubstantiated allegation as an established finding of misconduct.

7. Editorial Complaints

IJMI recognizes the right of authors, reviewers, readers, and other stakeholders to raise legitimate concerns about its editorial conduct, manuscript handling, communication, publication procedures, or application of journal policies.

Complaints should be submitted through the journal's official communication channels and should clearly describe the issue, identify the relevant manuscript or publication where applicable, and explain the outcome or clarification being requested.

The journal will assess complaints according to their substance and may request further information where necessary.

Complaints concerning administrative matters may be addressed by the Managing Editor. Where a complaint concerns the conduct or decision of a particular editor, it should, where practicable, be considered by another appropriately qualified individual who was not directly involved in the matter.

Where a complaint concerns the Managing Editor, the matter should be referred to an independent member of the editorial leadership or another suitably qualified person designated to assess the concern.

The journal will seek to respond within a reasonable period, taking account of the complexity of the matter and any additional information required.

8. Appeals Against Editorial Decisions

Authors may request reconsideration of an editorial decision where there are reasonable grounds to believe that a substantive factual misunderstanding, procedural irregularity, or other material issue affected the evaluation of their manuscript.

An appeal should identify the manuscript concerned, explain the grounds for reconsideration, and provide relevant supporting information.

Disagreement with reviewer comments or dissatisfaction with an editorial decision does not, by itself, establish grounds for an appeal.

The journal may review the original editorial assessment, examine relevant reviewer reports, seek clarification from the handling editor, or obtain an additional independent opinion where appropriate.

Where practicable, an appeal should be considered by an editor who was not directly responsible for the original decision.

An appeal does not guarantee that the original decision will be reversed or that the manuscript will undergo another round of external peer review.

Following consideration of the relevant information, IJMI will communicate the outcome of the appeal through its official editorial channels.

9. Confidentiality, Fairness and Independence

Complaints, appeals, and allegations of publication misconduct will be handled with appropriate confidentiality and professional discretion.

Information obtained during an inquiry should be shared only with individuals who have a legitimate role in assessing or resolving the matter, except where disclosure is required by law or is reasonably necessary for an appropriate institutional investigation.

Individuals responsible for examining a concern must disclose any competing interest that could compromise their impartiality.

Where such an interest exists, responsibility should be transferred to another suitably qualified and independent individual.

IJMI will seek to ensure that individuals facing substantive allegations are given a reasonable opportunity to respond before a final determination is made.

The journal will not permit article processing charges, institutional relationships, personal interests, or other commercial considerations to determine the outcome of publication ethics inquiries or editorial appeals.

10. Publication and Documentation of Editorial Actions

Formal corrections, retractions, and expressions of concern should be published in a manner that enables readers to identify the affected article and understand the nature of the editorial action.

Where possible, notices will be linked electronically to the original article and will include relevant bibliographic information and persistent identifiers when available.

A correction or retraction notice should be clearly distinguished from the original article and should provide sufficient explanation to avoid misleading readers about the status of the published work.

IJMI will seek to preserve an accurate record of substantive post-publication changes. The journal will ordinarily retain the original publication record, with appropriate notices and status indicators, rather than silently replacing or deleting material.

Relevant editorial correspondence, supporting documentation, and decisions may be retained in accordance with the journal's record-management and confidentiality requirements.

11. Policy Administration and Review

The editorial team is responsible for implementing this policy and ensuring that complaints, appeals, corrections, and retraction matters are handled in a fair and consistent manner.

IJMI may seek independent advice where the nature of a concern requires expertise beyond that available within the editorial team.

The journal may periodically revise its procedures to reflect developments in publication ethics, scholarly publishing standards, applicable legal requirements, and operational experience.

This policy should be read alongside IJMI's Publication Ethics and Malpractice Statement, Peer Review Policy, Plagiarism and Similarity Screening Policy, and Conflict of Interest and Funding Disclosure Policy.

All parties involved in the journal's publication activities are expected to contribute to the responsible identification, assessment, and resolution of concerns affecting scholarly integrity.