Complaints and appeals

IJMEA  follows Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) guidelines on appeals, and complaints about the peer review process. Appeals to editorial decisions are welcomed. However, authors must present strong evidence, additional information, and data in the appeal letter. Authors can send an appeal letter to editorial office e-mail address editor@ijmeapub.com Appeal letters should include (if available)

• Complaints and Appeals

  The International Journal of Applied Research in Management, Economics and Accounting (IJMEA) is committed to maintaining a fair, transparent, and professional editorial and peer-review process.

  The journal welcomes legitimate complaints and appeals from authors, reviewers, readers, and other participants in the publication process.

  Complaints

  Complaints may concern matters including, but not limited to:

  • Editorial or peer-review procedures

  • Delays in manuscript processing

  • Communication with the editorial office

  • Reviewer or editorial conduct

  • Publication ethics and research integrity

  • Authorship or contributorship disputes

  • Conflicts of interest

  • Plagiarism or suspected research misconduct

  • Copyright or intellectual property concerns

  • Errors in published articles

  • Journal policies or administrative procedures

  Complaints should be submitted in writing to the journal's editorial office and should provide sufficient information and supporting evidence to allow the matter to be properly investigated.

  Appeals Against Editorial Decisions

  Authors may appeal an editorial decision when they believe that the decision was based on a significant misunderstanding, a serious procedural error, or relevant information that was not adequately considered during the editorial process.

  An appeal should:

  1. Clearly identify the manuscript and the decision being appealed.

  2. Explain the specific grounds for the appeal.

  3. Provide evidence or relevant information supporting the appeal.

  4. Address specific factual or procedural issues rather than simply expressing disagreement with the decision.

  An appeal should not be based solely on the author's disagreement with the reviewers' academic opinions.

  Appeal Process

  Appeals are reviewed by the Editor-in-Chief or an appropriate senior editorial representative who was not directly responsible for the original decision, where reasonably possible.

  The journal may seek additional information, consult members of the Editorial Board, or obtain an additional independent academic opinion when necessary.

  An appeal may result in:

  • Confirmation of the original decision;

  • Reconsideration of the manuscript;

  • Additional peer review; or

  • Correction of a procedural error.

  The outcome of an appeal will be communicated to the author once the review has been completed.

  The decision following an appeal is normally final.

  Complaints About Editorial Conduct

  Complaints concerning the conduct of an editor or a member of the Editorial Board will, where possible, be reviewed by an appropriate senior editorial representative who is independent of the matter.

  Where a complaint concerns the Editor-in-Chief, the publisher or an appropriate independent representative may oversee the investigation.

  Publication Ethics and Research Integrity

  Complaints involving suspected plagiarism, fabricated or falsified data, duplicate publication, authorship disputes, undisclosed conflicts of interest, or other research-integrity concerns will be investigated in accordance with the journal's Publication Ethics and Research Integrity Policy.

  Where necessary, the journal may request explanations or supporting documentation from authors, institutions, reviewers, or other relevant parties.

  Confidentiality and Non-Retaliation

  Complaints and appeals will be handled as confidentially as reasonably possible.

  IJMEA does not tolerate retaliation against individuals who raise legitimate concerns or participate in an investigation in good faith.

  Fees and Editorial Independence

  There is no fee for submitting a complaint or appeal.

  Complaints and appeals are handled independently of an author's ability or willingness to pay an Article Processing Charge. Payment of an APC does not influence editorial decisions, peer-review outcomes, or the handling of complaints and appeals.

  Response Time

  The journal aims to acknowledge complaints and appeals within a reasonable period and to investigate them as efficiently as possible.

  The time required to resolve a matter may vary depending on its complexity and whether additional information or external consultation is required.

  Contact

  Complaints and appeals should be submitted to the journal's editorial office through the official contact information provided on the Contact page.

  When submitting a complaint or appeal, authors should include the manuscript title, manuscript ID (if available), relevant dates, a clear description of the issue, and any supporting documentation.