PKM: Jurnal Pengabdian kepada Masyarakat is committed to maintaining the accuracy, reliability, transparency, and traceability of its published articles. When errors or concerns affecting the integrity of a publication are identified, the journal may issue a correction, an expression of concern, or a retraction, with reference to the guidance of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).

These actions aim to correct the scholarly record and provide readers with accurate information about published community service activities, implementation methods, partner participation, evaluation results, and reported outcomes. Corrections and retractions do not necessarily indicate intentional misconduct, as unintentional errors may also require editorial action.

1. Reporting Errors or Concerns

Authors who discover a significant error in their published article must promptly notify the editor of PKM: Jurnal Pengabdian kepada Masyarakat. Readers, reviewers, community partners, institutions, funding organizations, and other concerned parties may also report errors or concerns through the journal's official contact channels.

Reports should identify the affected article by title, DOI, or other available bibliographic information; describe the issue clearly; and provide supporting evidence where available.

For community service articles, relevant concerns may involve inaccurate descriptions of activities, incorrect participant numbers, misreported community needs, errors in evaluation data, misleading documentation, inaccurate attribution of partner contributions, or unsupported claims regarding program outcomes and community impact.

The editor will assess the nature of the concern, the strength of the available evidence, and its implications for the article's factual accuracy, interpretation, ethical acceptability, and overall reliability. Allegations of research or publication misconduct will be examined in accordance with the journal's policy on research misconduct and allegations.

2. Corrections

A correction will be issued when an error affects the understanding, factual accuracy, attribution, or completeness of an article but does not undermine its overall reliability.

Correctable errors may concern:

• Numerical data, tables, figures, and statistical information.

• Descriptions of community service methods, implementation procedures, or evaluation processes.

• Participant numbers, partner identities, institutional affiliations, or descriptions of community involvement.

• Author names, affiliations, contribution statements, funding information, or conflict of interest disclosures.

• References, quotations, acknowledgments, and other information necessary for accurate attribution.

• Statements concerning program outcomes, benefits, or impact that require factual clarification without invalidating the article's principal findings.

The correction notice will identify the affected article, explain the nature of the error, describe the amendment, and be linked to the original publication.

Where the article file is updated, substantive changes will be documented clearly to preserve the publication history and ensure traceability. Minor typographical or formatting errors that do not affect meaning may be corrected administratively without a separate correction notice.

A correction will not be used to conceal serious errors, misrepresentations, or ethical violations that materially undermine the reliability of the article. Such cases will be assessed for other appropriate editorial action.

3. Expressions of Concern

PKM: Jurnal Pengabdian kepada Masyarakat may issue an Expression of Concern when serious questions arise regarding the reliability, integrity, or ethical acceptability of a published article, but the available evidence is inconclusive, a formal investigation is ongoing, or resolution is expected to take considerable time.

An Expression of Concern may be appropriate when questions arise about the authenticity of reported community service activities, the validity of evaluation data, the accuracy of partner participation claims, the adequacy of ethical safeguards, or the reliability of reported outcomes.

The notice will describe the concern in a factual and proportionate manner and will be linked to the affected article. It does not constitute a final finding of misconduct.

Once sufficient information becomes available, the journal will publish an appropriate follow-up explaining the outcome. Depending on the findings, this may include a correction, a retraction, or a statement that the concern has been resolved without further action.

4. Retractions

Retraction will be considered when sufficient evidence demonstrates that an article is unreliable or contains serious problems that cannot be adequately addressed through a correction.

Grounds for retraction may include:

• Major errors in data, analysis, or interpretation that invalidate the article's principal conclusions.

• Fabrication or falsification of community service activities, participant data, evaluation results, or reported outcomes.

• Plagiarism or other serious violations of intellectual attribution.

• Unjustified duplicate or redundant publication.

• Serious ethical violations involving participants, community partners, consent, privacy, or the use of personal information.

• Misrepresentation of community participation, partner endorsement, implementation processes, or program outcomes.

• Manipulation of the peer-review process that compromises the integrity of the publication.

• Other substantiated forms of misconduct or serious breaches of publication ethics that undermine the reliability or integrity of the article.

An undisclosed conflict of interest may warrant retraction or another editorial action if it is shown to have seriously affected the interpretation of the article or the editorial decision.

An authorship dispute alone does not automatically justify retraction if the article's content remains reliable and the attribution issue can be resolved through an appropriate correction.

Retraction decisions will be based on the available evidence and editorial assessment, taking into account the authors' explanations and relevant institutional findings where available. Authors will be given an opportunity to respond. However, their agreement is not required when sufficient grounds for retraction have been established.

5. Retraction Notices and Article Status

A retraction notice will clearly identify the affected article, state who is retracting it, and explain the reasons for retraction in a factual, transparent, and proportionate manner.

The notice will be accessible to readers and linked to the affected article. The article will also contain a reciprocal link to the retraction notice so that readers can readily identify its status.

Retracted articles will generally remain available as part of the scholarly record, with their retracted status clearly indicated on the article webpage and, where technically feasible, in the publication file. Relevant bibliographic metadata will be updated, and indexing services or other relevant providers will be notified where feasible.

The journal will ensure that the reasons for retraction are communicated without making unsupported allegations or disclosing confidential information unnecessarily. Retraction is intended to correct the scholarly record, not to erase the history of publication.

Articles will not be removed merely to conceal errors, avoid accountability, or erase the publication history.

6. Content Removal in Exceptional Circumstances

Partial or complete removal of published content will be considered only in exceptional circumstances, such as when removal is necessary to protect an individual's confidentiality or safety, address a serious infringement of rights that cannot be resolved through a correction, or comply with applicable legal obligations.

In the context of community service publications, exceptional circumstances may include the unauthorized disclosure of identifiable or sensitive information about community members, participants, or partner organizations where continued public access presents a substantial risk that cannot be adequately addressed through redaction or correction.

The journal will assess whether a less extensive measure, such as removing identifiable details, replacing an affected file, or issuing a correction, can adequately resolve the concern before considering complete removal.

Where removal is necessary, the journal will retain bibliographic information and provide a notice explaining the removal to the extent permitted by applicable confidentiality and legal requirements. The action will be documented to preserve the integrity and traceability of the publication record.

7. Decision-Making and Appeals

Editors handling a case must be free from relevant conflicts of interest. Where necessary, the journal may consult independent experts, request clarification from the authors or community partners, or seek information from the institutions concerned.

The publisher supports the implementation of editorial decisions and the maintenance of an accurate publication record, including the publication of corrections, Expressions of Concern, retraction notices, and other appropriate updates.

Authors may appeal an editorial decision through the journal's official contact channels by providing clear reasons for reconsideration and any relevant additional evidence. Appeals will be assessed by an individual who has no conflict of interest and, wherever possible, was not involved in the original decision.

The journal may request further clarification or independent advice when necessary. An appeal does not automatically suspend action required to inform readers of significant concerns or to protect the integrity of the scholarly record.

All decisions and subsequent actions will be documented appropriately to support transparency, consistency, and accountability in the journal's publication ethics procedures.