Procedure for Handling Complaints

The procedure for handling complaints regarding violations of academic integrity and publication ethics in the «Science notes of KROK University» (Journal) includes the following actions:

 

1.Submission of Complaints

Any interested party (authors, reviewers, readers, and other participants in the process) may submit a complaint regarding violations of academic integrity or publication ethics. Complaints must be submitted in writing (via email or online submission system) to the journal's editorial office, typically at the following email address: snukrok@krok.edu.ua. The complaint must clearly describe the violation, provide any relevant evidence (if available), and include the complainant's contact information.

 

2.Initial Review of the Complaint

Upon receiving the complaint, the journal’s editorial team will conduct an initial review to assess whether the issue relates to violations of academic integrity or publication ethics. If necessary, the editorial team may involve independent experts for further evaluation. The review process should not take more than 30 days from the receipt of the complaint.

 

3.Investigation of the Violation

If the initial review indicates potential violations, the editorial team will initiate an investigation. This may include further consultations with the author(s) of the article, reviewers, and other relevant parties. In cases of serious violations, such as plagiarism, data fabrication, or ethical breaches, the journal may contact the relevant institutions or organizations for further action.

 

4.Actions to be Taken

Depending on the investigation results, the following actions may be taken, including but not limited to:

  • Rejection of the article.
  • Publication of a correction or retraction of the article.
  • Public apology from the authors.
  • Other actions as determined by the editorial team in accordance with COPE guidelines or other relevant organizations.

 

5.Communication with the Author

The editorial team must inform the author about the results of the investigation. In case of violations, the author will be given the opportunity to correct the errors, if possible. If the violations cannot be corrected, the article may be rejected or retracted.

 

6.Transparency and Public Disclosure

All steps related to the handling of complaints must be conducted transparently. Decisions regarding article retraction or other actions will be published on the journal's website, along with an explanation of the reasons for the action and any evidence of the violation (if allowed by law and ethical standards).

 

7.Appeal Process

If the author disagrees with the editorial decision, they have the right to file an appeal. The appeal must be submitted in writing within 14 days after receiving the decision. The editorial team will review the appeal within 30 days.

 

8.Documentation of the Process

All steps of the investigation, including the complaint, responses, and decisions taken, must be documented and archived by the journal for future reference, if necessary.