Complaints and Appeals Policy
Regional Studies Journal (RSJ) is committed to handling complaints and appeals related to publishing, peer review, and editorial processes with fairness, transparency, and independence, thereby safeguarding the integrity of the scholarly process and the rights of all parties involved.
1. Scope of Complaints
Complaints may be submitted by authors, reviewers, editorial board members, or other stakeholders regarding any aspect of the editorial or publishing process, including:
- Editorial procedures or unjustified delays in processing manuscripts.
- Peer review procedures or the application of peer review policies.
- Potential violations of publication ethics.
- Conflicts of interest.
- Authorship and scholarly contributions.
- Editorial decisions perceived to be inconsistent with the journal’s policies or established procedures.
2. Submission of Complaints
Complaints must be submitted in writing to the Editorial Board through the journal’s official communication channels. The complaint should clearly state the subject of the complaint and provide relevant information or supporting documentation, where applicable.
Complaints should be submitted as soon as reasonably possible after the incident to allow the journal to investigate the matter effectively.
3. Handling of Complaints
All complaints are treated seriously, impartially, and with appropriate confidentiality.
Complaints are reviewed by the responsible editor and may be referred to the Editor-in-Chief or to another member of the Editorial Board who has no conflict of interest in relation to the matter.
The journal may request additional information from the complainant or other relevant parties before taking any action or reaching a decision.
4. Complaints Regarding Editorial Decisions
Complaints concerning manuscript rejection or other editorial decisions must include clear and specific grounds for objection and should be supported by relevant facts or information.
Appeals are not accepted solely on the basis of disagreement with reviewers’ opinions unless objective grounds are provided, such as procedural errors, significant misunderstandings of the manuscript, or relevant information that was not taken into consideration.
5. Appeals of Editorial Decisions
Authors may request reconsideration of an editorial decision if they believe that the decision was affected by a procedural error or by considerations inconsistent with the journal’s policies.
Appeals must be submitted in writing and include a clear justification and any relevant supporting evidence.
Appeals are reviewed independently of the original evaluation to the extent possible. The journal may seek additional editorial or peer review input where necessary.
The decision reached following consideration of an appeal is final.
6. Complaints Related to Peer Review
If a complaint alleges misconduct in the peer review process, including a conflict of interest, breach of confidentiality, or unprofessional conduct, the journal will investigate the matter and take appropriate action based on its nature and circumstances.
Reviewer identities remain confidential unless disclosure is permitted under the journal’s policies and applicable procedures.
7. Complaints Related to Publication Ethics
Complaints involving plagiarism, data manipulation, inappropriate authorship, duplicate publication, or other violations of publication ethics are handled in accordance with the journal’s Publication Ethics Policy and Corrections and Retractions Policy.
The journal may request clarification or additional information from authors, reviewers, editors, or relevant institutions where necessary to investigate the matter.
8. Conflicts of Interest in Complaint Handling
No individual may participate in the investigation or decision-making process concerning a complaint if they have a direct or potential conflict of interest in relation to the matter.
Complaints involving a conflict of interest are referred, where appropriate, to an independent editorial representative for review.
9. Confidentiality and Protection of Parties
Complaints and appeals are handled with appropriate confidentiality. Information provided in connection with a complaint or appeal is used solely for the purpose of investigating and resolving the matter.
RSJ does not tolerate retaliatory actions against individuals who submit complaints in good faith or participate in an investigation.
10. Independence of Decisions
The handling of complaints and appeals is independent of personal, institutional, or commercial considerations.
Decisions are based on relevant evidence, established facts, the journal’s policies, and applicable editorial procedures.
11. Record Keeping
The journal maintains appropriate records of complaints, appeals, and actions taken, in accordance with applicable confidentiality and data protection requirements.
Such records may be used to review and improve editorial procedures and enhance the quality and integrity of the journal’s publishing practices.
12. Commitment to the Integrity of the Scholarly Record
Through this policy, RSJ provides a clear and fair mechanism for addressing complaints and appeals, protecting the rights of authors, reviewers, and editors, and promoting transparency, accountability, and the integrity of the published scholarly record.
