Complaints and Appeals Policy

1. Purpose and scope

The International Journal of Disaster Risk Management (IJDRM) is committed to fair, transparent and timely handling of complaints and appeals. This policy applies to authors, reviewers, readers, editors, institutions and other parties who wish to raise a concern about an editorial decision, the conduct of the peer-review or publication process, the actions of an editor, reviewer or staff member, an administrative matter, or the integrity of published content.

This policy is informed by the principles and core practices of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE). A complaint or appeal will be considered objectively, without discrimination or retaliation, and by a person who was not directly responsible for the matter under review whenever this is reasonably possible.

2. Types of submissions covered

·       Appeals against editorial decisions, including rejection, revision or withdrawal decisions.

·       Complaints concerning delays, communication, procedural fairness or the conduct of peer review.

·       Complaints concerning an editor, editorial board member, reviewer, journal staff member or the publisher.

·       Concerns about suspected research or publication misconduct in a submitted or published work.

·       Administrative complaints relating to fees, waivers, invoices, website information or publication services.

Concerns about plagiarism, fabrication, falsification, authorship, peer-review manipulation, citation manipulation, undisclosed competing interests, or unreliable published findings may also be handled under the Publication Ethics and Malpractice Statement and the Corrections, Expressions of Concern, Retractions and Article Removal Policy.

3. How to submit a complaint or appeal

Complaints and appeals should be submitted in writing to editor@ijdrm.com. Where the complaint concerns the Editor-in-Chief, it should be sent to office@ijdrm.com with the subject line “Confidential complaint concerning the Editor-in-Chief”. Such a complaint will be referred to an independent senior member of the Editorial Board or another suitably qualified person who has had no involvement in the matter.

The submission should include, where applicable:

·       the name and contact details of the complainant;

·       the manuscript title and manuscript ID, or the citation and DOI of the published article;

·       a clear description of the concern or the decision being appealed;

·       the relevant dates, correspondence and supporting documentation; and

·       the remedy or outcome sought.

Anonymous reports may be considered when they contain specific, verifiable information. However, anonymity may limit the journal’s ability to investigate or communicate an outcome.

4. Initial assessment

The journal will normally acknowledge receipt within five working days. An initial assessment will determine whether the matter falls within this policy, whether further information is needed, whether there is an immediate risk to the scholarly record, and who should handle the case.

Complaints that are abusive, threatening, discriminatory, repeatedly submitted without new evidence, or unrelated to the journal’s activities may be closed without further investigation. The journal will explain the reason for doing so whenever appropriate.

5. Appeals against editorial decisions

An appeal should normally be submitted within 30 calendar days of the editorial decision. An appeal is not a request for a routine second review and will not be accepted merely because the author disagrees with reviewers’ opinions. It should identify a substantial factual error, procedural irregularity, undisclosed conflict of interest, or significant misunderstanding that may have affected the decision.

The appeal will be reviewed by the Editor-in-Chief or, where a conflict exists, by an independent editor or senior Editorial Board member. The journal may consult the original reviewers, invite an additional independent assessment, uphold the original decision, modify the decision, or reopen the review process. Only one appeal will normally be considered for a manuscript. The outcome of the appeal is final within the journal.

6. Handling complaints

The appointed handler will review the available evidence, request relevant records or responses, and give affected parties a reasonable opportunity to comment. The journal aims to provide an initial substantive response within 30 calendar days. Complex research-integrity cases may require more time, particularly where an institution, funder or external expert must be consulted. In such cases, the complainant will be informed that the review remains ongoing.

Where a complaint is upheld, IJDRM may apologise, correct information, reconsider an editorial step, change an internal procedure, issue a correction or other post-publication notice, refer the matter to an institution, or take another proportionate action.

7. Complaints concerning the Editor-in-Chief or publisher

The subject of a complaint will not investigate or decide that complaint. A complaint concerning the Editor-in-Chief will be assigned to a non-conflicted senior Editorial Board member or an independent external expert. A complaint concerning the publisher will be reviewed by a non-conflicted representative of the publisher’s governing body and, where necessary, an independent adviser.

8. Confidentiality, records and protection from retaliation

Information will be shared only with those who need it to assess or resolve the matter, subject to legal, ethical and procedural requirements. Records of complaints, appeals, evidence, decisions and actions will be retained securely. No author, reviewer, editor or reader will be disadvantaged for raising a concern in good faith.

9. External matters

IJDRM cannot adjudicate employment disputes, institutional grievances, criminal allegations or legal claims outside its editorial and publishing responsibilities. Where appropriate, the journal may refer a matter to an author’s institution, ethics committee, funder, competent authority or another relevant body.

10. Contact

General complaints and appeals: editor@ijdrm.com
Complaints concerning the Editor-in-Chief or publisher: office@ijdrm.com