Complaints & Appeals

Complaints and Appeals Policy

The Journal of Artificial Intelligence and Human Sciences (YZIB) is committed to maintaining a fair, transparent, impartial, and accountable editorial and publication process.

Authors, reviewers, readers, editors, and other stakeholders may submit complaints or appeals concerning editorial decisions, peer-review procedures, publication ethics, journal policies, or the conduct of individuals involved in the publication process.

All complaints and appeals will be handled seriously, confidentially, and without discrimination or retaliation.

1. Scope

Complaints or appeals may relate to, but are not limited to:

  • editorial decisions;

  • peer-review procedures;

  • delays or procedural irregularities;

  • concerns about editorial conduct;

  • reviewer conduct;

  • conflicts of interest;

  • authorship or contributorship issues;

  • publication ethics concerns;

  • plagiarism, data manipulation, or research misconduct;

  • corrections, retractions, or post-publication actions;

  • journal policies or their application; and

  • other matters concerning the integrity or fairness of the publication process.

2. Complaints

A complaint concerns dissatisfaction with the journal's procedures, services, policies, conduct, or handling of a matter.

Complaints should be submitted to the editorial office in writing and should include sufficient information to allow the journal to understand and evaluate the issue.

Where possible, the complaint should include:

  • the complainant's name and contact information;

  • manuscript title and identification number, if applicable;

  • a clear description of the concern;

  • relevant dates or correspondence;

  • supporting documents or evidence; and

  • the outcome or remedy being requested.

Anonymous complaints may be considered when they contain specific, credible, and verifiable information.

3. Appeals Against Editorial Decisions

Authors may appeal an editorial decision when they believe that:

  • a significant factual or methodological issue was misunderstood;

  • the decision was based on a clear error;

  • relevant information was overlooked;

  • the peer-review process contained a substantial procedural irregularity;

  • a conflict of interest affected the decision; or

  • the journal's policies were applied incorrectly.

An appeal should not be based solely on disagreement with reviewers' opinions or dissatisfaction with a rejection decision.

4. Submitting an Appeal

Appeals should normally be submitted by the corresponding author.

The appeal should:

  • identify the manuscript;

  • clearly state the decision being appealed;

  • provide specific reasons for reconsideration;

  • respond to the relevant editorial or reviewer concerns;

  • provide supporting evidence where appropriate; and

  • be written in a professional and respectful manner.

Repeated appeals presenting substantially the same arguments without new evidence may not be reconsidered.

5. Review of Appeals

Appeals will normally be reviewed by the Editor-in-Chief or by another qualified editor who was not directly responsible for the original decision.

Where necessary, the journal may:

  • consult another editor;

  • seek an additional independent review;

  • consult a member of the editorial board;

  • request clarification from the authors or reviewers; or

  • obtain advice from an appropriate external expert or institution.

The purpose of an appeal is to determine whether the original decision was reached fairly and in accordance with the journal's policies and scientific standards.

An appeal does not guarantee that the original decision will be changed.

6. Final Editorial Decision

Following evaluation of an appeal, the journal may:

  • uphold the original decision;

  • reconsider the manuscript;

  • request additional review;

  • revise the editorial decision; or

  • take another appropriate editorial action.

The decision reached following the formal appeal process will normally be considered final.

7. Complaints Concerning Editors

If a complaint concerns an editor, the matter will be handled by another editor who has no relevant conflict of interest.

If the complaint concerns the Editor-in-Chief, responsibility for evaluating the complaint should be transferred to an appropriate independent member of the editorial structure or another person designated to ensure impartial review.

The editor who is the subject of the complaint will not determine the outcome of the complaint.

8. Complaints Concerning Reviewers

Concerns about reviewer conduct may include:

  • inappropriate or unprofessional language;

  • breaches of confidentiality;

  • undisclosed conflicts of interest;

  • misuse of privileged information;

  • discriminatory or personally targeted comments;

  • significant delays;

  • suspected manipulation of peer review; or

  • other conduct inconsistent with responsible peer review.

YZIB may investigate such concerns and, where warranted, may discontinue the reviewer's involvement, remove the reviewer from future assignments, or take other appropriate action.

9. Publication Ethics Complaints

Complaints involving suspected:

  • plagiarism;

  • fabrication or falsification;

  • duplicate publication;

  • authorship manipulation;

  • undisclosed conflicts of interest;

  • unethical research;

  • peer-review manipulation;

  • inappropriate use of artificial intelligence;

  • citation manipulation; or

  • other research-integrity concerns

will be handled under the journal's relevant publication ethics policies.

YZIB may request evidence, supporting documents, research data, ethics approvals, correspondence, or other materials necessary to evaluate the concern.

Where appropriate, the journal may contact authors' institutions, ethics committees, funding bodies, or other relevant organizations.

10. Confidentiality

Complaints and appeals will be handled confidentially to the extent reasonably possible.

Information will be shared only with individuals whose involvement is necessary to evaluate or resolve the matter.

Confidentiality may be limited where disclosure is required by law, institutional investigation, research-integrity procedures, or other legitimate obligations.

11. Fairness and Non-Retaliation

No person will be disadvantaged solely because they have submitted a complaint or appeal in good faith.

Complaints and appeals will be evaluated on their substance and supporting evidence rather than on the academic status, institutional affiliation, nationality, or other characteristics of the complainant.

Knowingly false, malicious, abusive, or harassing complaints may themselves be considered inappropriate conduct.

12. Response and Resolution

YZIB will seek to acknowledge complaints and appeals within a reasonable period and will endeavor to resolve them as efficiently as the complexity of the matter permits.

Cases involving external investigations, institutions, legal matters, or extensive evidence may require additional time.

The complainant or appellant will be informed of the outcome when appropriate.

13. Post-Publication Complaints

Complaints concerning published articles will be evaluated in accordance with the journal's Corrections, Retractions & Withdrawals Policy, Publication Ethics Policy, and other relevant procedures.

Depending on the circumstances, the journal may:

  • take no further action;

  • request clarification;

  • publish a correction;

  • issue an Expression of Concern;

  • retract an article; or

  • take another appropriate editorial action.

14. External Review

Where a complaint cannot be resolved internally, or where an independent evaluation is necessary, YZIB may seek advice from:

  • relevant academic institutions;

  • research-integrity offices;

  • ethics committees;

  • professional organizations; or

  • other appropriate independent bodies.

15. Abuse of the Complaints and Appeals Process

The complaints and appeals process must not be used to:

  • intimidate editors, reviewers, or authors;

  • repeatedly challenge decisions without substantive grounds;

  • pursue personal disputes;

  • harass individuals;

  • interfere improperly with editorial independence; or

  • manipulate publication decisions.

YZIB reserves the right to limit further correspondence where a matter has been fully considered and repeated submissions do not provide new and relevant evidence.

16. Policy Updates

YZIB reserves the right to review and update this policy in response to developments in publication ethics, editorial practice, research integrity, and scholarly publishing standards.