Appeals and Complaints

Authors may appeal an editorial decision once per manuscript. Anyone may complain about how an SSG journal has handled something. Every appeal and complaint is answered in writing, by someone who was not involved in the original decision.

• Who and when: the corresponding author, within 30 days of the decision, by email to the journal's Editor-in-Chief at the address on the journal page. The subject line is "Appeal – [manuscript number]".
• What to include: a clear explanation of why the decision should be reconsidered, with a point-by-point response to the reviewer and editor comments. Valid grounds include a reviewer misunderstanding the work, a factual error, a conflict of interest that was not handled, or a failure to follow the journal's procedures. Simply disagreeing, or pointing to the work's importance without new arguments, is not a valid ground.
• How it is handled: the Editor-in-Chief, or an editor who was not involved before, reviews the appeal together with the full file. They may ask an extra independent reviewer for advice. If the Editor-in-Chief took part in the original decision, the appeal is assigned to a senior editor who had no prior involvement with the manuscript.
• Possible outcomes: the rejection is upheld; the manuscript is invited back as a revision; or it is sent for further review. A reasoned answer is normally given within 30 days.
• Finality: the outcome of an appeal is final. A second appeal on the same manuscript is not considered. A manuscript that is still under appeal must not be submitted to another journal.

Complaints may concern delays, how a manuscript was handled, the behaviour of an editor or reviewer, publication ethics, or the publisher's services and fees.

1. Submitting a complaint: email editorial-office@scientificstepsgroup-ssg.com with the subject line "Complaint". Include the manuscript or article details and the facts of the complaint.
2. Acknowledgement: within 5 working days.
3. Investigation: the complaint goes to the right person. Complaints about an editor go to the Editor-in-Chief. Complaints about the Editor-in-Chief go to the Publishing Director. Complaints about the publisher go to the Publishing Director together with a senior editor of another SSG journal who is not involved in the matter. Complaints about the Publishing Director are handled by a senior editor of an SSG journal who has no involvement in the matter and no financial interest in SSG.
4. Answer: a written response giving the findings, and any action taken, normally within 30 days. If the case is complex, the complainant is told how long it will take.
5. Escalation: if the complainant is not satisfied, they may ask the Publishing Director to review the case.

Complaints are treated confidentially and fairly. No one is disadvantaged in later submissions because they made a complaint in good faith.