Our Commitment. Journal of Social Cognition and Communication provides a transparent, structured, and constructive process for raising concerns. We strictly adhere to COPE (Committee on Publication Ethics) guidelines to ensure all appeals and complaints are handled with impartiality, confidentiality, and institutional accountability.

We distinguish between Appeals (related to editorial decisions) and Complaints (related to professional conduct or administrative processes).

1. Appeals Against Editorial Decisions

Authors may appeal a rejection if they can demonstrate a significant factual error or a procedural irregularity in the peer review. Note that:

• Appeals must provide evidence-based arguments addressing the specific points raised in the review reports.
• The case will be re-evaluated by a senior editor not involved in the initial decision, or an independent member of the Editorial Board.
• The journal will communicate the outcome of the appeal and explain the reasons for its final decision.

2. Complaints Against Conduct or Ethics

Complaints may involve suspected research misconduct, bias, or unethical behavior by any participant in the process, including:

• Plagiarism, data fabrication, or falsification.
• Conflicts of interest or breaches of confidentiality by reviewers.
• Unprofessional conduct or undue delays by editorial staff.
• Failure to follow the journal's stated editorial and ethical policies.

Send the manuscript identifier or article citation, a concise account of the issue and relevant evidence to [email protected]. Distinguish a request to reconsider a decision from an allegation about conduct or research integrity.

3. Investigation and Timelines

The journal follows the process and target times below when handling a complaint or appeal:

• Acknowledgment: Within 5 working days of receipt.
• Investigation: Conducted by the Editor-in-Chief or an independent committee if the complaint involves the Editor.
• Resolution: We aim to provide a final response within 4–8 weeks.
• External Escalation: If the complainant is unsatisfied with the internal resolution, the concern may be referred to the publisher or relevant institutional authorities where appropriate.

4. Confidentiality & Whistleblower Protection

All investigations are conducted with the highest degree of confidentiality. The journal protects the identity of whistleblowers and takes concerns about retaliation for raising a legitimate concern in good faith seriously. Anonymous allegations are investigated provided they offer credible evidence of a serious ethical breach.

Global Ethical Standards

Appeals and complaints are assessed on the evidence and handled independently of the original decision where a conflict of interest arises.