The editorial office of Social and Legal Studios ensures the open, impartial and timely consideration of complaints, enquiries and appeals related to the editorial process, peer review, publication ethics or already published materials.
The journal considers complaints and appeals in accordance with the principles of integrity, transparency, confidentiality and impartiality, as well as the recommendations of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).
SUBMISSION OF COMPLAINTS
Complaints may concern:
- possible breaches of publication ethics;
- suspicions of plagiarism, self-plagiarism, fabrication or falsification of data;
- failure to comply with the peer review procedure;
- conflicts of interest;
- copyright infringement;
- errors or inaccuracies in a published article;
- the conduct of editors, reviewers, authors or other persons involved in the editorial process.
A complaint must be sent to the official email address of the journal. It must be clearly, appropriately and reasonedly stated and contain sufficient information to verify the issue raised. Where possible, the complainant should provide documents, links, copies of correspondence or other materials confirming the substance of the complaint.
The editorial office does not consider submissions made in an offensive, threatening, discriminatory or defamatory form. If a complaint concerns personal claims that are not related to the editorial process, publication ethics or the content of published materials, the editorial office informs the complainant that the matter falls outside the responsibility of the journal.
CONSIDERATION OF COMPLAINTS
After receiving a complaint, the editorial office conducts a preliminary assessment and determines whether the issue raised falls within the journal’s remit. If the complaint is substantiated and contains sufficient information for verification, the editorial office initiates its consideration.
During the consideration process, the editorial office may:
- analyse the submitted materials and editorial correspondence;
- contact the author, reviewer, editor or another person involved to obtain explanations;
- involve an independent expert or a member of the Editorial Board who has no conflict of interest;
- check the manuscript or published article for breaches of publication ethics;
- apply the relevant COPE recommendations and procedures.
The editorial office aims to provide a response to the complainant within 30 working days of receiving the complaint. If the matter is complex and requires additional verification, consultation or the involvement of independent experts, the consideration period may be extended. In such cases, the complainant is informed of the extension and the approximate procedure for further consideration.
Following consideration, the editorial office may make one of the following decisions:
- dismiss the complaint as unfounded;
- provide an explanation to the complainant;
- contact the author with a request for explanations or corrections;
- refer the material for additional peer review or expert evaluation;
- publish a correction, clarification or expression of concern;
- initiate the procedure for retracting the article if the breach is substantial;
- take other measures in accordance with the journal’s policy and COPE recommendations.
SUBMISSION OF APPEALS
Authors have the right to appeal against an editorial decision to reject a manuscript or to require substantial revision if they believe that the decision was made in breach of procedure, on the basis of an incorrect interpretation of the manuscript content, unfounded reviewers’ comments or an existing conflict of interest.
An appeal must be submitted to the official email address of the journal within 30 calendar days from the date of receipt of the editorial decision. The appeal must include:
- the title of the manuscript;
- the names of the authors;
- the date on which the editorial decision was received;
- a clear explanation of the grounds for the appeal;
- a reasoned response to the comments of the editor or reviewers;
- documents or other materials supporting the author’s position, where available.
An appeal must not contain offensive, emotional or personal accusations. The author’s disagreement with a negative decision is not in itself sufficient grounds for reconsideration of the decision unless it is supported by specific scientific, procedural or ethical arguments.
CONSIDERATION OF APPEALS
After receiving an appeal, the editorial office reviews the history of the manuscript’s consideration, the reviewers’ conclusions, editorial correspondence and the author’s arguments. The appeal is considered by the Editor-in-Chief, the Deputy Editor-in-Chief or another authorised member of the Editorial Board who did not participate in the initial decision-making and has no conflict of interest.
Where necessary, the manuscript may be sent for additional independent peer review. The decision following consideration of the appeal may provide for:
- upholding the previous editorial decision;
- reconsideration of the manuscript;
- referral of the manuscript for additional peer review;
- inviting the author to submit a revised version;
- changing the previous editorial decision if the appeal is substantiated.
The decision following consideration of the appeal is communicated to the author in writing. The editorial office reserves the right to regard the decision on the appeal as final if the author does not provide new substantial evidence or arguments.
GENERAL PRINCIPLES FOR CONSIDERING COMPLAINTS AND APPEALS
All complaints and appeals are considered confidentially, impartially and in compliance with the principles of publication ethics. Persons in respect of whom there is a conflict of interest do not participate in the consideration of the relevant submission.
The submission of a complaint or appeal must not affect the editorial office’s attitude towards the author, reviewer or complainant in the future. The journal does not tolerate retaliation, discrimination or biased treatment of persons who report possible violations in good faith.
The editorial office of Social and Legal Studios seeks to resolve all substantiated submissions fairly, transparently and in accordance with international standards of publication ethics.
