Retraction, Correction, and Expression of Concern Policy

The Editorial Board of the journal "Professional Education" (Professionalna Pedahohika) is committed to maintaining the integrity of the scientific record. We strictly adhere to the guidelines provided by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) regarding corrections, retractions, and expressions of concern.

1. Corrections

A correction notice will be published in the form of Errata (journal errors) or Corrigenda (author errors) if:

  • A significant technical error is found in the author’s name, title, or metadata.

  • An error in calculations or graphical materials is identified that does not change the main conclusions of the study.

  • The authors identify an omitted reference or need to clarify acknowledgments.

Correction notices are published separately but are electronically linked to the original article.

2. Expression of Concern

The Editorial Board may publish an "Expression of Concern" if:

  • An investigation into potential research misconduct is ongoing, but the evidence is not yet conclusive.

  • There is evidence that the findings are unreliable, but the authors’ institution refuses to investigate.

  • An investigation is taking a prolonged period to conclude, and the readers should be alerted to potential issues.

3. Retraction

Retraction is a mechanism for correcting the literature and alerting readers to publications that contain such seriously flawed or erroneous data that their findings and conclusions cannot be relied upon.

Grounds for Retraction:

  • Plagiarism: Identification of significant overlap with other published work without proper attribution.

  • Data Fabrication or Manipulation: Proven instances of fraudulent data, image manipulation, or unethical statistical processing.

  • Serious Errors: Unintentional miscalculations or experimental errors that render the findings completely invalid.

  • Redundant Publication: The article has already been published elsewhere without proper justification or permission.

  • Ethical Breaches: Failure to follow ethical protocols for human or animal research or lack of informed consent.

4. Retraction Procedure

  1. Notification: The Editorial Board receives information regarding potential misconduct from readers, reviewers, or the authors themselves.

  2. Investigation: The Editor-in-Chief, in collaboration with the Editorial Board, conducts a thorough review. Independent experts may be consulted if necessary.

  3. Decision: If the violation is confirmed, the Board makes a final decision to retract the article.

  4. Publication: * A "Retraction Note" is published, clearly stating the reasons and who is retracting the article.

    • The original article’s PDF is marked with a "RETRACTED" watermark but remains available on the website to maintain the transparency of the scientific record.

    • Relevant indexing databases (such as Index Copernicus, Google Scholar, etc.) are notified of the retraction.

Contact Information

If you identify an error or a breach of ethics in a published material, please notify the Editorial Board at: [professional.pedagogics@gmail.com].