Complaints Policy
How Scientific Literature receives, reviews, escalates, and responds to complaints relating to editorial processes, publications, policies, or services.
A Clear and Fair Process for Raising Concerns
Scientific Literature takes credible complaints seriously. This policy explains how authors, reviewers, editors, readers, and other stakeholders may raise concerns about editorial processes, published content, conduct, service, or compliance with journal policies.
Purpose of This Policy
We aim to address complaints objectively, respectfully, and within a reasonable timeframe. A complaint should identify a specific concern and provide enough information for the matter to be assessed. General disagreement with an editorial decision is not, by itself, evidence of misconduct or procedural failure.
What May Be Submitted as a Complaint?
- Concerns about the handling of a manuscript or the application of stated editorial procedures.
- Concerns about inappropriate conduct, undisclosed conflicts of interest, or possible breaches of publication ethics.
- Concerns regarding published material, corrections, retractions, authorship, attribution, or research integrity.
- Concerns about communication, administrative service, accessibility, or the application of a journal policy.
- Concerns about advertising or other material displayed on the platform.
How to Submit a Complaint
Please submit the complaint through our contact channel and include your full name and contact details, the journal and manuscript/article involved, any manuscript ID or DOI, a clear description of the concern, relevant dates, and supporting documents or correspondence where appropriate.
Review Process
- Receipt: the complaint is received and recorded.
- Initial assessment: the matter is reviewed to determine its nature, scope, and the appropriate person or team to handle it.
- Information gathering: relevant records may be reviewed and appropriate individuals may be asked for clarification.
- Outcome: the complainant is informed of the outcome or next step where appropriate.
- Escalation: if the complaint raises a serious ethical or research-integrity issue, it may be escalated for further editorial or institutional consideration.
Editorial Decisions and Appeals
A complaint about process is distinct from an appeal against an editorial decision. Where a journal permits appeals, an author should explain why they believe a material error occurred in the assessment or why relevant evidence was overlooked. An appeal does not guarantee reconsideration or acceptance.
Confidentiality and Fairness
Information will be shared only as reasonably necessary to review the concern. Individuals involved in a complaint should be treated fairly and given an opportunity to respond when appropriate. Retaliatory or abusive communications are not acceptable.
Vexatious or Abusive Complaints
Scientific Literature may limit correspondence where repeated submissions do not provide new information, where communications are threatening or abusive, or where a complaint has already been reasonably addressed.