Complaints & Appeals Policy

1. Policy Statement

Impaxon welcomes legitimate complaints and appeals that help improve editorial quality, publication ethics, transparency, and trust in the scholarly record.

Complaints and appeals are reviewed objectively. Individuals who raise concerns in good faith will not be disadvantaged because they have submitted a complaint or appeal.

2. Scope

This policy applies to complaints and appeals involving manuscript handling, editorial decisions, peer review conduct, publication ethics, conflicts of interest, corrections, retractions, published content, journal processes, and publisher conduct.

3. Appeals Against Editorial Decisions

Authors may appeal an editorial decision if they believe there has been a procedural error, misunderstanding, conflict of interest, factual mistake, or clear failure to consider relevant evidence.

Disagreement with the academic judgment of editors or reviewers is not, by itself, sufficient grounds for appeal.

4. Submitting an Appeal

Appeals should be submitted in writing to the relevant journal editorial office. The appeal must clearly identify the manuscript, explain the reason for the appeal, and provide supporting evidence.

Authors should not submit a revised manuscript as an appeal unless the editor specifically requests it.

5. Appeal Assessment

Appeals are assessed by the Editor-in-Chief, a senior editor, or another qualified editor who was not directly involved in the original decision where possible.

The journal may consult original reviewers, invite additional reviewers, seek advice from editorial board members, or request further information from the authors before reaching a decision.

6. Appeal Outcomes

Possible appeal outcomes include maintaining the original decision, reopening editorial consideration, requesting further review, inviting revision, or taking another appropriate editorial action.

The outcome of an appeal will normally be final unless substantial new evidence becomes available.

7. Complaints About Peer Review

Complaints about peer review may involve reviewer conduct, inappropriate comments, conflicts of interest, confidentiality concerns, delays, suspected bias, or procedural irregularities.

The journal will review such complaints carefully and may take appropriate action, including seeking clarification, disregarding inappropriate review comments, inviting additional review, or removing a reviewer from future assignments.

8. Complaints About Editors or Editorial Conduct

Complaints about editorial conduct may involve alleged bias, conflicts of interest, inappropriate communication, unreasonable delay, procedural error, or failure to follow journal policy.

Such complaints will be reviewed by the Editor-in-Chief, publisher, or an appropriate senior editorial representative. Where the complaint concerns the Editor-in-Chief, it may be reviewed by the publisher or another independent senior editor.

9. Publication Ethics Complaints

Complaints involving plagiarism, duplicate publication, authorship disputes, data concerns, image manipulation, conflicts of interest, ethical approval, consent, peer review manipulation, or research misconduct will be handled in accordance with Impaxon's publication ethics policies.

The journal may request supporting documentation, contact authors, consult institutions, or seek advice from appropriate experts where necessary.

10. Complaints About Published Articles

Readers, authors, reviewers, institutions, or other stakeholders may raise concerns about published articles. Concerns should be specific and supported by evidence wherever possible.

Where a published article is found to require correction, expression of concern, retraction, or other post-publication action, Impaxon will follow its Corrections & Retractions Policy.

11. Handling Process

Complaints and appeals are acknowledged and assessed according to their nature and seriousness. The journal may request additional information before deciding whether further investigation is required.

Impaxon aims to handle complaints and appeals in a reasonable timeframe, but complex matters involving multiple parties, institutions, or technical evidence may require additional time.

12. Confidentiality

Complaints and appeals are handled confidentially where possible. Information will be shared only with individuals who need to be involved in the assessment, investigation, or resolution of the matter.

Confidentiality may be limited where disclosure is required by law, ethical obligations, institutional investigation, or protection of the scholarly record.

13. Good Faith and Misuse of Process

Impaxon expects complaints and appeals to be submitted in good faith, with accurate information and a clear basis for concern.

Abusive, defamatory, repetitive, malicious, or unsupported complaints may be declined where they do not raise a legitimate publishing or ethical issue.

14. Final Decision

Once a complaint or appeal has been reviewed and a final decision has been communicated, the matter will normally be considered closed unless significant new evidence is submitted.

15. Changes to this Policy

Impaxon may revise this policy periodically to reflect developments in publication ethics, editorial practice, complaint handling, and scholarly publishing standards.