What Are Student Journals To Do When Authors Refuse To Change False Claims?

This submit is predicated on my expertise with Professor Xiao Wang’s article, however addresses a broader concern: what ought to a scholar journal do when an creator refuses to appropriate a false declare. I believe there are 3 ways to strategy this query.

First, think about throughout the overview course of, the journal recognized an error within the creator’s paper, and requested the creator to make the change. The creator steadfastly refused to make the correction, satisfied he was appropriate. The journal may rescind the supply of publication. Or the journal may submit some kind of editor’s observe on the article, to flag the error. However normally, the journal could resolve that the article has the creator’s identify on it, and it’s the creator’s downside. I am undecided I agree with that sentiment, but it surely in all probability describes how publishing works in apply.

Second, think about throughout the overview course of, the journal fails to establish the error within the creator’s paper, and solely turns into conscious of it after publication. Right here, there was a failure of the editorial course of (to 1 diploma or one other). What are the choices right here? The journal may submit a correction, with the consent of the creator. Or the journal may submit an editor’s observe, with out the creator’s consent. Or, maybe in egregious circumstances, the journal may withdraw the article altogether.

Third, think about that the error was solely recognized after publication, however the journal takes no motion to acknowledge any correction. Maybe the creator refuses to acknowledge the error, and the journal stands by that call. At that time, the error will stand in perpetuity.

Amongst these three choices, I’d have essentially the most sympathy for the scholars within the first state of affairs. They did their due diligence, and tried to get the creator to appropriate an error, however finally acquiesced. I’m additionally partially sympathetic to the scholars within the second state of affairs. Even the place the creator refuses to make the change, the editors can train their prerogative to distance themselves from the error. I’m least sympathetic to the scholars within the third state of affairs. Their overview course of didn’t uncover the error, and now the journal takes no motion to personal that error on their half.