Complaints and Appeals

Appeals against editorial decisions

• Authors may appeal against a rejection or other editorial decision.
• The appeal must give the manuscript ID and a reasoned case: a factual error, a procedural concern, or information that was overlooked.
• General disagreement with the reviewers is not sufficient.
• The Editor-in-Chief considers the appeal and may consult an independent member of the editorial board.
• The outcome is notified in writing, and that decision is final.

Complaints about editorial or peer-review conduct

• Authors, reviewers and readers may complain in writing about the conduct of an editor or reviewer.
• The Editor-in-Chief investigates. A complaint about the Editor-in-Chief is referred to a senior member of the editorial board.

Complaints about publication ethics

Allegations of research or publication misconduct, such as plagiarism, data fabrication or undisclosed conflicts, are handled separately under the Publication Ethics and Malpractice Statement.

Response timeline

• Complaints and appeals are acknowledged within two weeks.
• A substantive response follows within a reasonable time, depending on the complexity of the matter.

Confidentiality

All complaints and appeals are handled in confidence. Information is shared only with those who need it to resolve the matter.

How to contact us

Write to editor@stanfordgroup.org. The journal follows COPE guidance on complaints and appeals.