Post-Publication Discussion
This journal is committed to maintaining the accuracy, transparency, and integrity of the scholarly publication record. As part of this commitment, the journal provides opportunities for the academic community to engage in scholarly discussion, offer constructive criticism, and submit responses to published articles. The journal also implements correction and retraction procedures in accordance with the principles of publication ethics, with reference to the guidelines of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).
1. Scope of Post-Publication Discussion
Readers, researchers, and members of the academic community may submit comments on published articles, particularly concerning methodology, analysis, the use of references, interpretation of results, and other substantive aspects.
Comments may be submitted in the form of a Letter to the Editor or other forms of scholarly commentary that comply with the journal's requirements.
All comments must be objective, relevant to the scholarly discussion, and supported by adequate evidence or references. Criticism must be expressed in courteous and professional language and must not contain personal attacks, discrimination, or hate speech.
2. Submission and Editorial Evaluation Procedures
Submission of Discussions or Correction Requests
Readers and researchers who wish to submit scholarly discussions or propose corrections to published articles may contact the Editorial Team through the journal's official email address. Submissions must identify the article concerned, including its title, author(s), and DOI or article URL, accompanied by a description of the issue and relevant supporting evidence.
Editorial Assessment
The Editor-in-Chief, together with the Editorial Board, will assess each submission based on its relevance, strength of evidence, and significance of the issues raised. Where necessary, the journal may seek additional opinions or assessments from experts or independent reviewers to assist in the evaluation process.
Distinguishing Academic Criticism from Substantive Errors
Differences in theoretical perspectives, methodological approaches, or interpretations of results do not automatically indicate fundamental scientific errors or violations of publication ethics. Each submission will be assessed based on its substance, the available evidence, and its implications for the validity and integrity of the article in question.
3. Authors' Right to Respond
When a post-publication discussion raises substantive criticism or questions concerning a published article, the authors of the article concerned will be given the opportunity to submit an official response through a Reply to the Letter to the Editor or another appropriate form of scholarly response.
Comments from readers and responses from authors will undergo editorial evaluation to ensure compliance with academic standards, scientific relevance, and the journal's publication ethics.
If they meet the publication requirements, the discussion and the authors' response may be published alongside one another and cross-linked to the article under discussion. This mechanism aims to promote open, balanced, and constructive exchanges of ideas within the scientific community.
4. Correction Procedures
If factual inaccuracies or limited errors are identified that do not affect the overall reliability of the results or the main conclusions of an article, the journal may publish a Correction Notice.
The notice must be directly linked to the original article so that readers can identify the corrected sections and obtain accurate information about the scholarly publication record.
Corrections are intended to maintain the accuracy and reliability of scholarly information, rather than to penalize authors for unintentional errors made in good faith (good-faith errors).
5. Research Integrity Issues and Subsequent Actions
If a post-publication discussion reveals indications of violations of research ethics or integrity, such as plagiarism, data fabrication, citation manipulation, or other relevant forms of misconduct, the journal will follow up in accordance with its applicable publication ethics and misconduct policies and the guidelines of COPE.
The actions taken will take into account the findings of the examination, the available evidence, the severity of the issues, and their impact on the reliability of the article and the integrity of the scholarly publication record.
Based on the results of the evaluation and investigation, the journal may take one or more of the following actions, as appropriate to the circumstances:
- Correction: When errors or inaccuracies in a published article require amendment.
- Expression of Concern: When serious issues remain under investigation or have not yet led to a conclusive determination, but readers need to be informed of the concerns.
- Retraction: When the findings of the investigation indicate that withdrawing the article is necessary to preserve the integrity and reliability of the scholarly publication record.
All post-publication actions will be carried out objectively, transparently, and proportionately, while ensuring fairness to all parties concerned and upholding the journal's responsibility to safeguard the integrity of scholarly research.
