Retraction and Correction

Journal Software, Hardware and Information Technology (SHIFT) is committed to maintaining the integrity and accuracy of the scholarly record. Corrections, retractions, and withdrawals are handled in accordance with the COPE Retraction Guidelines.

1. Correction (Erratum / Corrigendum)
A correction is published when an error is found that does not invalidate the main findings or conclusions of an article, such as errors in author names, affiliations, figures, tables, or data presentation.

  • An erratum corrects an error introduced by the journal during production.
  • A corrigendum corrects an error made by the authors.

2. Retraction
An article is retracted when its findings or conclusions can no longer be considered reliable, including in cases of research misconduct (fabrication, falsification, or plagiarism), duplicate publication, unauthorized use of data, unethical research, or major errors.

3. Withdrawal
Authors may request to withdraw a manuscript only before it is published. Withdrawal requests must be submitted in writing to the editor, signed by all authors, and include the reasons for withdrawal. Once an article has been published, it can no longer be withdrawn; it can only be corrected or retracted.

4. Expression of Concern
When an investigation is ongoing or its outcome is inconclusive, the editor may publish an Expression of Concern to alert readers.

Procedure

  1. Requests or reports may come from authors, readers, reviewers, or editors and should be sent to [email protected] (alternative: [email protected]), together with supporting evidence.
  2. The editors review the evidence and give the authors an opportunity to respond.
  3. The Editor-in-Chief, in consultation with the Editorial Board, decides on the appropriate action.
  4. Decisions are based solely on the evidence and remain free from conflicts of interest.

Publication of notices

  • Every correction, retraction, or Expression of Concern is published as a separate, openly accessible notice.
  • Each notice states the title and authors of the original article, the type of action, the reason, and who initiated it.
  • Each notice is linked to the original article, and its DOI metadata is updated through Crossref.

Retracted articles

  • Retracted articles are not removed from the journal website or archive.
  • The article page and the PDF are clearly marked as “RETRACTED”, and the article is linked to the retraction notice.
  • The article’s metadata is updated accordingly.
  • Content is removed only in exceptional cases, such as legal requirements or a serious risk to privacy or safety. In such cases, the bibliographic information and the reason for removal remain available.