Complaints & Appeals

Jurnal Multidisiplin Dehasen (MUDE)

e-ISSN 2828-1799

Policy Statement

Jurnal Multidisiplin Dehasen (MUDE) provides a fair and transparent mechanism for handling complaints and appeals relating to editorial processes, peer review, publication ethics, journal administration, and published content. Complaints and appeals are considered objectively, confidentially, and without retaliation against individuals who raise concerns in good faith.

What May Be Submitted

• Appeals against editorial rejection or another editorial decision.
• Complaints concerning editorial handling or unreasonable procedural delay.
• Concerns regarding peer-review conduct or reviewer behaviour.
• Concerns regarding conflicts of interest or editorial independence.
• Complaints concerning publication ethics, plagiarism, authorship, research integrity, or misconduct.
• Concerns about corrections, retractions, published metadata, or the scholarly record.
• Complaints concerning journal administration, fees, communication, or implementation of published journal policies.

How to Submit a Complaint or Appeal

A complaint or appeal should clearly identify:

• the complainant's name and contact information;
• the manuscript title, submission ID, article title, or DOI where applicable;
• the specific decision, action, policy, or issue being challenged;
• a clear explanation of the grounds for the complaint or appeal; and
• supporting documentation or evidence where available.

Editorial Appeals

An appeal against an editorial decision should explain why the author believes that a material error occurred in the assessment of the manuscript, interpretation of reviewer comments, application of journal policy, or editorial procedure.

An appeal is not a mechanism to avoid revision requirements or to obtain acceptance solely because the author disagrees with a scientifically justified editorial decision.

Handling Procedure

1. Receipt: the journal records the complaint or appeal and checks whether sufficient information has been provided.
2. Initial assessment: the Editor-in-Chief or designated independent editor determines the nature of the matter and whether additional evidence is required.
3. Review: relevant editorial records, reviewer reports, correspondence, policies, or other evidence may be examined.
4. Independent consideration: where appropriate, another editor, editorial-board member, independent expert, publisher representative, institution, or ethics body may be consulted.
5. Decision: the journal communicates the outcome and, where appropriate, the reasons for the decision.
6. Record: material complaints and appeals are documented in the journal's editorial records.

Independence and Conflicts of Interest

A person whose conduct, decision, manuscript, or conflict of interest is directly involved in a complaint or appeal should not be solely responsible for deciding that matter. The case should be referred to an appropriately independent editor or authority whenever necessary.

Complaints Concerning the Editor-in-Chief

If a complaint concerns the Editor-in-Chief, the matter should be handled by an independent member of the editorial board, an authorised representative of the publisher, or another appropriate person who has no relevant conflict of interest.

Research Integrity Complaints

Complaints involving suspected fabrication, falsification, plagiarism, authorship manipulation, citation manipulation, unethical research, peer-review manipulation, undisclosed conflicts, or other serious research-integrity concerns are handled under the journal's Research Misconduct Policy.

Where necessary, the journal may contact authors, reviewers, institutions, ethics committees, research-integrity offices, or other relevant authorities.

Possible Outcomes

• confirmation of the original editorial decision;
• reconsideration of the manuscript by another editor;
• additional or independent peer review;
• correction of an administrative or metadata error;
• publication of a correction or other post-publication notice;
• initiation of a research-integrity investigation; or
• another proportionate editorial action consistent with journal policy.

Confidentiality and Good-Faith Complaints

Information relating to a complaint or appeal is shared only with persons reasonably necessary to evaluate or resolve the matter. Individuals who raise legitimate concerns in good faith should not be subjected to retaliation. Knowingly false, abusive, threatening, or defamatory communications may be declined.

Related Policies

• Peer Review Process
• Research Misconduct
• Corrections, Retractions & Withdrawal
• Conflict of Interest