Complaints and Appeals Policy
Complaints and Appeals Policy
The Journal of Sustainable Research in Humanities (JSRHS) is committed to handling complaints and appeals in a fair, transparent, and confidential manner, in accordance with the principles of publication ethics and internationally recognized professional practices. This policy establishes a clear mechanism for addressing complaints or objections concerning the journal’s procedures, editorial decisions, or publishing practices.
- Scope of Complaints
Complaints may be submitted to the journal concerning any of the following matters, including but not limited to:
- Peer-review procedures.
- Editorial decisions concerning a manuscript.
- Unjustified delays in the evaluation or publication process.
- Conflicts of interest.
- Violations of publication ethics.
- Plagiarism, duplicate publication, or any form of research misconduct.
- The handling of authors’ data or the confidentiality of manuscripts.
- Published fees and financial procedures.
- Copyright and licensing matters.
- The conduct of an editor, reviewer, or any other party involved in the publication process.
- Any other violation of the journal’s published policies.
- Submission of Complaints
Complaints should be submitted in writing to the Editorial Board through the official contact channel published on the journal’s website.
Where possible, a complaint should include:
- The complainant’s name, position, and relationship to the manuscript or the journal.
- The title of the manuscript and its manuscript number or DOI, where applicable.
- A clear description of the issue or incident giving rise to the complaint.
- Relevant supporting documents or evidence, where available.
- The action requested by the complainant, if a specific action is sought.
Complaints should preferably be submitted as soon as reasonably possible following the incident or decision to which the complaint relates.
- Confidentiality of Complaints
The journal treats complaints confidentially and will disclose information relating to a complaint only to individuals whose involvement is necessary for the investigation or where disclosure is required by law or relevant institutional procedures.
- Appeals Against Editorial Decisions
Authors may appeal a decision to reject a manuscript if they believe that the decision was based on:
- A clear misunderstanding of the content of the research.
- A substantial error in the assessment of the methodology or data.
- Failure to consider important information or clarifications provided by the author.
- An apparent bias or conflict of interest involving a person participating in the evaluation process.
- A clear violation of the journal’s peer-review procedures or policies.
An appeal must provide specific academic and factual grounds. Mere disagreement with the editorial decision is not, in itself, sufficient grounds for an appeal.
- Appeals Procedure
Upon receiving an appeal:
- The Editorial Board will acknowledge receipt of the appeal.
- The Editor-in-Chief or an independent editor will review the case and the grounds presented.
- The journal may seek the opinion of another editor or an independent reviewer, where necessary.
- If a procedural or evaluative error is identified, the decision may be reconsidered.
- If no substantial error is identified, the original decision will be upheld, and the author will be informed accordingly.
The decision resulting from the appeal process is final within the journal, unless substantial new information emerges that warrants reconsideration.
- Appeals Must Not Be Used to Disrupt the Editorial Process
Submitting an appeal does not automatically suspend all editorial procedures or require the peer-review process to be reopened without sufficient grounds.
Repeated or unjustified appeals must not be used to pressure the Editorial Board or to attempt to influence an editorial decision.
- Complaints Concerning Reviewers or Editors
Where a complaint concerns the conduct of a reviewer or editor, the journal will, to the extent reasonably possible, review the allegation independently of the person who is the subject of the complaint.
Measures may include:
- Reviewing relevant correspondence and records.
- Replacing a reviewer where a conflict of interest or breach of confidentiality is identified.
- Excluding an editor from handling the case where a conflict of interest exists.
- Taking appropriate corrective or administrative measures where a violation is established.
- Complaints Concerning Research and Publication Ethics
Where a complaint involves allegations of plagiarism, fabrication or falsification of data, duplicate publication, or other forms of research misconduct, the case will be handled in accordance with the journal’s Publication Ethics Policy and Plagiarism and Research Misconduct Policy.
Depending on the nature of the case, the journal may request additional information or supporting documentation from the authors or their affiliated institution.
- Complaints Against the Editor-in-Chief
If a complaint directly concerns the Editor-in-Chief or involves a conflict of interest that prevents the Editor-in-Chief from handling the matter independently, the complaint will be referred to an independent editorial or administrative party designated by the journal’s publisher.
The person who is the subject of the complaint will not participate in the decision-making process concerning that complaint.
- Non-Retaliation
No retaliatory action shall be taken against any person who submits a complaint or appeal in good faith, whether the person is an author, reviewer, reader, or any other party.
However, the journal may take appropriate action where it is established that intentionally misleading information has been submitted or that the complaints mechanism has been used abusively or threateningly.
- Record-Keeping
The journal maintains appropriate records of complaints, appeals, decisions, and actions taken in response to them, while observing confidentiality and applicable data-protection requirements.
Where appropriate, these records may be used to improve the journal’s procedures and policies and to prevent the recurrence of identified problems.
- Processing Time
The journal endeavors to address complaints and appeals as promptly as possible, taking into account the nature of the case and the need to gather relevant information or obtain independent opinions.
Response times may vary depending on the complexity of the case. Delays resulting from external or institutional investigations will not be considered negligence by the journal, provided that the relevant parties are informed of such delays when communication is possible and appropriate.
- Communication
Complaints and appeals should be submitted through the official contact details published on the journal’s website.
The journal will inform the complainant or appellant of the outcome or action taken, to the extent permitted by confidentiality requirements and the protection of the parties involved.
- Ethical Framework
This policy is implemented in conjunction with the journal’s Publication Ethics Policy, Peer Review Policy, Plagiarism and Research Misconduct Policy, and Post-Publication Corrections and Retractions Policy, and is guided by internationally recognized principles and practices of publication ethics.
