Complaints and Appeals

Complaints and Appeals

Overview

The Review of Economics, Accounting, Business, and Management Studies (REABMS) is committed to maintaining a fair, transparent, accountable, and impartial editorial process. The journal recognizes the importance of providing authors, reviewers, readers, and other stakeholders with clear procedures for raising concerns regarding editorial decisions, peer review, publication ethics, or journal operations.

REABMS welcomes legitimate complaints and appeals as opportunities to improve editorial quality, strengthen transparency, and uphold public confidence in scholarly publishing. All complaints and appeals are handled confidentially, objectively, and without prejudice, following principles of procedural fairness and due process. The journal is committed to resolving concerns in a timely manner while maintaining editorial independence and safeguarding the integrity of the scholarly record.

Complaints Policy

REABMS accepts complaints concerning matters directly related to the journal's editorial activities and publishing practices. Complaints are evaluated impartially by the Editorial Office and, where appropriate, by the Editor-in-Chief or the Editorial Board. The journal is committed to:

  • Treating all complainants respectfully and fairly
  • Investigating concerns objectively
  • Maintaining confidentiality throughout the process
  • Avoiding conflicts of interest during investigations
  • Providing timely responses whenever reasonably possible
The submission of a complaint does not affect the independent editorial evaluation of manuscripts.

Scope of Complaints

The journal will consider complaints relating to matters including, but not limited to:

Editorial decisions & conduct Peer review procedures Publication ethics Research misconduct Plagiarism / Duplicate publication Authorship disputes Conflicts of interest Editorial delays Data integrity concerns Post-publication matters Policies & publishing practices Alleged breaches of confidentiality Concerns regarding editorial independence

Complaints falling outside the journal's editorial responsibilities may not be investigated but will receive an appropriate response where feasible.

Submitting a Complaint

Complaints should be submitted in writing to the Editorial Office through the journal's official email:

Editorial Office

Email: editor@reabms.org

To facilitate a fair investigation, please include:

  • Full name of the complainant & Contact information
  • Manuscript title or article title (where applicable)
  • Manuscript identification number (if available)
  • Detailed description of the concern
  • Relevant dates & Supporting documentation/evidence

Review Process

  • Acknowledge receipt of the complaint
  • Conduct a preliminary assessment to determine scope
  • Gather relevant information from editors, reviewers, or authors
  • Seek additional clarification if necessary
  • Reach an impartial decision based on available evidence

Where appropriate, the Editor-in-Chief may consult the Editorial Board or experts. Complaints involving the Editor-in-Chief may be referred to an independent senior editor.

Response Time

The Editorial Office aims to acknowledge receipt promptly and provide a substantive response within 30 working days, whenever reasonably possible. Complex cases may require additional time. Where delays are unavoidable, the complainant will be informed of the expected timeframe.

Appeals Policy

REABMS recognizes that authors may occasionally believe that an editorial decision was affected by a procedural error, misunderstanding, or other legitimate concern.

Authors may appeal editorial decisions when there is reasonable evidence that:

  • A significant factual error affected the editorial decision
  • Editorial procedures were not properly followed
  • A reviewer substantially misunderstood the manuscript
  • A conflict of interest may have influenced the review process
  • Editorial evaluation appears inconsistent with the journal's published policies

Appeals are intended to review the fairness of the editorial process—not to provide a second opportunity for routine reconsideration of editorial judgments.

Grounds for Appeal

Appeals may be considered when supported by credible evidence demonstrating:

Procedural irregularities Material factual errors Undisclosed reviewer conflicts Reviewer bias Administrative mistakes Significant misunderstanding affecting decision

Disagreement with reviewer opinions or editorial judgment alone does not constitute sufficient grounds for an appeal.

Submitting an Appeal

Authors wishing to appeal an editorial decision should submit a formal written appeal to the Editorial Office. Appeals should include:

  • Manuscript title & reference number
  • Date of the editorial decision
  • Detailed explanation of the grounds for appeal
  • Point-by-point response to reviewer comments, where applicable
  • Supporting evidence

Appeals should be submitted within a reasonable period after notification of the editorial decision.

Independent Review & Final Decision

Appeals are reviewed independently by the Editor-in-Chief or another senior editor who was not directly responsible for the original decision. During the process, the journal may review the history, consult reviewers, invite new reviewers, or seek expert advice.

Final Decision Outcomes:

  • Uphold the original editorial decision
  • Invite submission of a revised manuscript
  • Initiate an additional round of independent peer review
  • Reverse the original decision if a significant error is confirmed
The decision reached after completion of the appeal process is considered final.

Limitations

To ensure efficient administration:

  • Only one formal appeal is normally considered per manuscript.
  • Appeals do not guarantee reconsideration or acceptance.
  • Appeals lacking sufficient evidence may be declined.
  • Repetitive or frivolous appeals may not receive further consideration.

The journal reserves the right to discontinue correspondence if communications become inappropriate.

Confidentiality

All complaints and appeals are handled confidentially.

Information relating to investigations will be shared only with individuals directly involved in evaluating the matter or where disclosure is required by law or publication ethics obligations. The journal respects the privacy of all parties while ensuring a fair investigation.

Editorial Independence

Complaints and appeals are evaluated independently of commercial, institutional, political, or personal influences.

Decisions are based exclusively upon: scholarly merit, publication ethics, editorial policy, and available evidence.

Submission of a complaint or appeal does not influence future editorial consideration of manuscripts.

Commitment to Editorial Fairness

The Review of Economics, Accounting, Business, and Management Studies (REABMS) is committed to maintaining editorial independence, procedural fairness, accountability, and ethical decision-making throughout the publication process. By providing transparent procedures for resolving complaints and appeals, the journal seeks to strengthen confidence in its editorial practices while protecting the rights of authors, reviewers, editors, readers, and other stakeholders.

This policy is informed by the guidance and best practices of: