ELTE Journal (English Language Teaching and Education) is committed to maintaining the accuracy, transparency, and integrity of the scholarly record. The journal recognizes the importance of correcting errors and addressing publications that may contain unreliable findings or serious ethical violations. All decisions concerning corrections and retractions will be made fairly, transparently, and in accordance with established publication ethics principles, including the guidelines of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).
1. Corrections
A correction may be issued when an error is identified in a published article and an amendment is necessary to maintain the accuracy of the scholarly record. Errors may be reported by authors, readers, editors, reviewers, or other parties.
Corrections may address errors in author names, affiliations, references, tables, figures, data presentation, or other published information. The editorial team will evaluate the nature and significance of each error and determine whether a correction is sufficient or whether further action is necessary.
Depending on the source of the error, the journal may publish an erratum for errors introduced during the publication process or a corrigendum for errors originating from the authors. The terminology used will be determined by the editorial team.
Correction notices will clearly identify the original article and describe the changes made. The notice will be linked to the original article whenever possible. Published articles will not be silently altered in a manner that conceals substantive changes to the scholarly record.
2. Retraction
Retraction is a mechanism for correcting the scholarly record when a published article is found to be seriously unreliable or affected by significant ethical or publication misconduct.
ELTE Journal may retract a published article when there is clear and reliable evidence of circumstances such as:
Unreliable findings: The research findings or conclusions are unreliable because of major errors, miscalculations, data fabrication, data falsification, or other serious problems.
Plagiarism: Substantial portions of the article have been copied from other works without appropriate acknowledgment.
Duplicate publication: The article substantially overlaps with previously published work without proper disclosure, attribution, permission, or justification.
Unethical research: The research was conducted or reported in violation of applicable ethical requirements.
Compromised peer review: The publication was accepted through a manipulated or seriously compromised peer-review process.
Undisclosed conflicts of interest: A significant undisclosed conflict of interest has materially affected the interpretation or assessment of the research.
Other serious violations: Copyright infringement, unauthorized use of data or materials, or other substantiated issues that undermine the reliability or integrity of the publication.
Retraction will not be imposed automatically for every error or disagreement. When an issue can be adequately resolved through a correction, that option will be considered. Retraction is intended to correct the scholarly record and protect readers, rather than to punish authors.
3. Retraction Procedure
When potential grounds for retraction are identified, the editorial team will examine the available evidence and may request explanations or supporting documentation from the authors. The editors may also consult independent experts or contact the authors' affiliated institutions when appropriate.
Authors will normally be given an opportunity to respond to the concerns before a final decision is made. However, the journal may proceed with appropriate action without the agreement of all authors when the evidence justifies it.
If the available evidence is inconclusive or an investigation remains ongoing, the journal may publish an Expression of Concern to inform readers of unresolved issues. The editorial team will make the final decision based on the evidence and the need to protect the integrity of the scholarly record.
4. Retraction Notice
A retraction notice will be published promptly once the editorial team determines that retraction is warranted. The notice will:
Clearly state that the article has been retracted.
Identify the title, authors, and publication details of the original article.
Explain the reasons and basis for the retraction in objective and factual language.
Identify the party or parties responsible for issuing the retraction.
Be linked to the original article and made freely accessible whenever possible.
The original article will ordinarily remain available in the journal's archive, with its retracted status clearly indicated, to preserve the transparency of the scholarly record. Removal of published content will be considered only in exceptional circumstances where legally or ethically necessary.
5. Responsibilities of Authors
Authors are responsible for notifying the editorial team promptly if they discover a significant error in their published work or become aware of a potential ethical issue affecting the article.
Authors should provide relevant explanations, documentation, and proposed corrections when requested. They are expected to cooperate with editorial assessments and investigations and to support appropriate corrective action when warranted.
Requests from authors to correct or retract an article will be evaluated objectively. An author's request alone does not automatically require a correction or retraction; the editorial decision will depend on the nature of the issue and the available evidence.
6. Editorial Independence and Transparency
All decisions concerning corrections and retractions will be based on the reliability of the research, the seriousness of the identified issue, and the evidence available. The editorial team will handle cases impartially and manage any relevant conflicts of interest.
The journal will communicate decisions to the relevant parties and document corrective actions appropriately. Corrections, Expressions of Concern, and retraction notices will be linked to the original publication whenever possible to ensure that readers can identify the current status of the article.
7. Final Statement
ELTE Journal is committed to upholding responsible scholarly publishing and maintaining public trust in academic research. Through transparent correction and retraction procedures, the journal seeks to preserve the accuracy of the scholarly record, address publication ethics concerns, and ensure that published research meets appropriate standards of academic integrity.
This policy is informed by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) Retraction Guidelines and relevant principles of publication ethics.
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