Complaints and Appeals Policy

ELEMENTAR : JURNAL PENDIDIKAN DASAR
Complaints and Appeals Policy

A fair, impartial, confidential, and evidence-based approach to editorial complaints and publication appeals in primary education research.

FAIR PUBLISHING IMPARTIAL REVIEW EDITORIAL INDEPENDENCE
Commitment to Fair and Responsible Publishing

ELEMENTAR : Jurnal Pendidikan Dasar, published by the Faculty of Tarbiyah and Teacher Training (FITK), UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta, fully recognizes the rights of authors, reviewers, readers, research participants, and relevant stakeholders to raise legitimate editorial and publication-ethics concerns.

The journal considers structured complaints and formal appeals regarding scholarly content, editorial decisions, peer review processes, research integrity, professional conduct, and general publication administration.

All procedures are guided by established publication ethics and COPE principles to ensure fairness, strict confidentiality, and full editorial independence.

Core Principle

A complaint does not automatically establish misconduct, and an appeal does not guarantee the reversal of an editorial decision. All matters are evaluated strictly based on their verifiable evidence and procedural merits.

01SubmissionWritten Formal Concern
02AssessmentEditorial Evaluation
03ResolutionReasoned Determination
1. Scope of Complaints and Appeals

Complaints and appeals may involve concerns regarding:

  • Editorial Decisions: Factual errors, misunderstandings, or procedural flaws.
  • Peer Review: Reviewer conduct, bias, or integrity breaches.
  • Research Misconduct: Plagiarism, fabrication, or falsification.
  • Authorship: Disputed credits or unauthorized changes.
  • Published Content & Ethics: Reliability issues or vulnerable participant protections.
Mere scholarly disagreement does not constitute valid grounds.
2. Submission Guidelines

Concerns must be submitted in writing via official journal channels:

Include submission ID/DOI, clear background evidence, and requested remedies.

Ensure complete and verifiable documentation is attached.
3. Initial Assessment

The Editorial Office acknowledges submissions promptly and checks whether the matter falls within journal scope and responsibility.

Incomplete submissions requiring further context or clarification will be requested prior to launching formal reviews.

Filters out vague or unsupported claims.
4. Investigation Procedure
  • Assess: Evaluate seriousness and relevance.
  • Clarify: Obtain statements from involved individuals.
  • Consult: Seek independent expert evaluation.
  • Refer: Forward formal cases to institutions if needed.
  • Determine: Issue a reasoned response based on policy.
Maintains strict conflict-of-interest exclusion protocols.
5. Outcomes and Communication

Resolutions vary depending on findings and may include:

  • Clarification or explanation of decisions.
  • Correction of procedural or administrative errors.
  • Reassessment via independent peer review.
  • Confirmation or reversal of decisions.
  • Issuing Corrections, Expressions of Concern, or Retractions.
Communicated clearly while respecting confidentiality.
6. Appeals Against Decisions

Authors may appeal decisions if they demonstrate material factual mistakes, procedural oversights, or major misunderstandings.

Appeals must provide concrete evidence and reasoning. They cannot be used to pressure editors. Manuscripts remain under exclusive-submission rules during appeals.

Reassessment does not automatically guarantee acceptance.
7. Confidentiality & Fairness
  • Strict protection of correspondence and records.
  • Safeguards against retaliation for good-faith reporters.
  • Guaranteed right of response for accused parties.
  • Special care for vulnerable populations and minors.
Ensures ethical balance and safety across investigations.
8. Record-Keeping & Improvement

Secure archives of complaints, evidence files, and resolutions are retained securely by the editorial office under data-protection regulations.

Recurring trends are regularly reviewed to enhance policy clarity and administrative consistency.

Supports continuous publishing standards advancement.