To err is human; to admit it, trying.

SCHOLARLY periodical corrections; ERRORS; RESEARCH methodology; PERIODICAL editors; GRAF, Chris; JOURNALISTIC ethics; ALLISON, David; UNIVERSITY of Alabama at Birmingham; PREVENTION

The author discusses the emotional, reputational and practical challenges to correcting and publicly admitting errors in research. It mentions ethical guidelines for editors and publishers to investigate research errors, presenting the views of Chris Graf of the membership organization Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and David Allison of School of Public Health at the University of Alabama at Birmingham on the proper process of assessing errors and improving the correction mechanisms. INSET: WHO WOULD SET THE RECORD STRAIGHT? TIMES HIGHER EDUCATION POLL..