Post-publication Discussion

Introduction

CULTURE & SOCIETY: JOURNAL OF ANTHROPOLOGICAL RESEARCH is committed to maintaining the integrity and accuracy of the scholarly record after publication. We recognize that science is a continuous process of discovery and refinement, and that published work may require discussion, clarification, or amendment over time. This policy outlines CULTURE & SOCIETY: JOURNAL OF ANTHROPOLOGICAL RESEARCH's approach to facilitating scholarly debate on published articles and our procedures for issuing corrections, retractions, expressions of concern, and other post-publication updates when necessary. CULTURE & SOCIETY: JOURNAL OF ANTHROPOLOGICAL RESEARCH adheres to the guidelines of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) in managing all post-publication issues.

Description

  • Post-Publication Discussion: Scholarly discourse does not end with publication. CULTURE & SOCIETY: JOURNAL OF ANTHROPOLOGICAL RESEARCH values and encourages ongoing discussion of published work as a means to advance understanding and refine knowledge within the fields of anthropology.
  • Need for Post-Publication Amendments: Published articles may require amendment for various reasons, including:
    • Honest errors by authors or the journal that affect the interpretation or understanding of the work but do not invalidate its core findings.
    • New critical information or evidence that becomes available after publication and significantly impacts the original findings or conclusions.
    • Instances of research misconduct (e.g., plagiarism, data fabrication or falsification) that undermine the validity or reliability of the published work.
  • Types of Post-Publication Amendments:
    • Corrigendum: An error originating from the author(s).
    • Erratum: An error originating from the journal during the production process.
    • Corrections: Published to rectify unintentional, significant errors or omissions in a published article. These can be:
    • Retractions: A mechanism for withdrawing a published article from the scholarly record when there is clear evidence that its findings are unreliable due to major error (e.g., miscalculation or experimental error of such magnitude that the main conclusions are no longer justified) or as a result of research misconduct (e.g., data fabrication, falsification, plagiarism), redundant publication, or unethical research.
    • Expressions of Concern (EoC): Notices issued by the editors to alert readers to serious concerns about the integrity or validity of a published article, typically when an investigation into alleged misconduct is ongoing, or when an investigation is inconclusive but significant concerns about the reliability of the work remain.
    • Addenda: Supplementary information added by the authors to an article, deemed essential for readers' understanding of the work (e.g., an expansion of methods or a clarification), which does not correct an error in the original article.
    • Article Versioning/Updates: In some cases, substantial new data or interpretations may warrant an update to an article, which would be handled with clear versioning to distinguish it from the original publication. CULTURE & SOCIETY: JOURNAL OF ANTHROPOLOGICAL RESEARCH will consider such updates on a case-by-case basis.

Policy

  • Encouraging Scholarly Debate:
    • CULTURE & SOCIETY: JOURNAL OF ANTHROPOLOGICAL RESEARCH encourages constructive and respectful post-publication discussion regarding articles it has published.
    • The journal will provide clear mechanisms for readers and authors to engage in such discussions (e.g., letters to the editor, online commenting where available).
  • Maintaining the Integrity of the Record:
    • CULTURE & SOCIETY: JOURNAL OF ANTHROPOLOGICAL RESEARCH has a fundamental responsibility to ensure the accuracy and integrity of the scholarly record it publishes.
    • The journal will take appropriate and timely action to address any confirmed errors, inaccuracies, or misconduct in published articles.
  • Transparency and Clarity:
    • All post-publication amendments (corrections, retractions, expressions of concern, addenda) will be clearly identified as such, published promptly, and permanently linked to the original article in all its online forms.
    • The reasons for any such amendment will be clearly explained in the published notice.
  • Impartiality in Decision-Making:
    • Decisions regarding the issuance of corrections, retractions, or expressions of concern will be made by the Editor-in-Chief, based on a thorough investigation of the available evidence and in consultation with relevant parties (including authors, reviewers, and potentially institutions or ethics committees).
    • These decisions will be made objectively, without regard to the status, affiliation, or seniority of the authors, and will follow COPE guidelines.
  • Grounds for Retraction:
    • Clear evidence that the findings are unreliable, either as a result of major error (e.g., miscalculation or experimental error) or as a result of fabrication or falsification.
    • Plagiarism.
    • Redundant (duplicate or overlapping) publication where the article adds no new contribution to the literature.
    • Unethical research, such as failure to obtain required ethics approvals or informed consent.
    • Retractions will be considered in cases of:
    • Retractions are not generally issued for minor errors that do not significantly affect the overall findings or conclusions of the article.
  • Use of Expressions of Concern:
    • There is inconclusive evidence of research or publication misconduct by the authors, but there are well-founded concerns regarding the reliability of the findings.
    • An investigation into alleged misconduct related to a publication is underway or is anticipated to be prolonged, and editors wish to alert readers to the situation.
    • An Expression of Concern is a temporary measure and will be updated or replaced once an investigation is complete or further information becomes available.
    • An Expression of Concern may be issued if:
  • Author Cooperation:
    • Authors of articles published in CULTURE & SOCIETY: JOURNAL OF ANTHROPOLOGICAL RESEARCH are expected to cooperate fully with the journal in resolving any post-publication issues concerning their work, including providing data or necessary clarifications when requested.

Technicalities to Achieve and Materialise the Policies

Post-Publication Discussions

  1. Letters to the Editor / Commentaries:
    • CULTURE & SOCIETY: JOURNAL OF ANTHROPOLOGICAL RESEARCH provides a mechanism for readers to submit formal letters to the editor or short commentaries that discuss or critique articles recently published in the journal.
    • Submissions should be concise, constructive, and directly relevant to the specific CULTURE & SOCIETY: JOURNAL OF ANTHROPOLOGICAL RESEARCH article. They may be subject to editorial review and light editing.
    • The authors of the original article being discussed will typically be given an opportunity to submit a formal response, which may be published alongside the letter/commentary.
  2. Online Commenting (if available):

If CULTURE & SOCIETY: JOURNAL OF ANTHROPOLOGICAL RESEARCH implements an online commenting feature on its article pages, clear guidelines for acceptable use and community standards will be provided. Comments may be moderated to ensure they are constructive and not defamatory or offensive.