Corrections and Retractions

Sophia preserves the integrity of the scholarly record in accordance with COPE guidelines. A published article is never silently altered or removed: any change is communicated through a public notice linked to the original article.

Erratum or corrigendum: published when an error by the journal or the authors affects the accuracy of the record without invalidating the findings, for example in a name, an affiliation or a figure. The correction is also reflected in the metadata deposited with Crossref.

Retraction: applies when there is clear evidence that the findings are unreliable, through serious error or misconduct, or in cases of plagiarism, duplicate publication or unauthorised use of data. The retracted article remains accessible, marked as “Retracted”, together with the notice explaining the reasons.

Expression of concern: published when there are indications of a serious problem whose investigation has not concluded or is inconclusive. It is updated, or replaced by a retraction or a correction, once the case is resolved.

Procedure: anyone may report a possible error or suspected misconduct to the journal’s email address. The Editor-in-Chief acknowledges receipt, informs the authors, follows the COPE flowcharts and, where appropriate, consults the authors’ institution. The decision is communicated in writing.