Complaints and Appeals Policy

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The Journal of Research in Social Sciences and Language (JSSAL) is committed to handling all complaints and appeals fairly, confidentially, and in a timely manner, in accordance with COPE guidelines on complaints and appeals.

Appeals Against Editorial Decisions: Authors who wish to appeal a rejection decision must submit a written appeal to the editor-in-chief at jssal@jssal.com within 30 days of receiving the decision. The appeal must clearly state the grounds for reconsideration and provide a point-by-point response to the reviewers' comments. Appeals based solely on disagreement with the decision, without new scientific arguments, will not be considered.
Appeal Review Process: Appeals are reviewed by the editor-in-chief and, if necessary, an independent editorial board member who was not involved in the original decision. The editor-in-chief's decision on the appeal is final. Authors will be informed of the outcome of their appeal within 30 working days of submission.
Complaints About Editorial Processes: Complaints regarding editorial processes, reviewer conduct, publication timelines, or any other aspect of the journal's operations may be submitted in writing to jssal@jssal.com. All complaints will be acknowledged within 7 working days and investigated within 30 working days. The complainant will be informed of the outcome and any actions taken.
Complaints About Published Content: Concerns about the integrity of published articles, including allegations of plagiarism, data fabrication, citation manipulation, or authorship disputes, will be handled in accordance with COPE flowcharts and JSSAL's Retraction Policy. If an investigation finds evidence of misconduct, appropriate action will be taken, including issuing corrections, expressions of concern, or retractions.
Complaints About Reviewer or Editor Conduct: If an author or any party believes that a reviewer or editor has acted inappropriately, including showing bias, breaching confidentiality, or misusing submitted material, a formal complaint should be submitted to jssal@jssal.com. All such complaints will be treated confidentially and investigated thoroughly.
Confidentiality: All complaints and appeals are handled confidentially. The identities of complainants will be protected to the extent possible. JSSAL is committed to ensuring that no complainant suffers any negative consequences as a result of submitting a complaint or appeal in good faith.
Summary:
  • Appeals must be submitted within 30 days of the editorial decision
  • All complaints will be acknowledged within 7 working days
  • Investigations will be completed within 30 working days
  • All complaints and appeals are handled confidentially
  • Misconduct in published articles is handled per COPE flowcharts

This policy is aligned with international guidelines from COPE on complaints and appeals in scholarly publishing.