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1. Purpose
The Asia-Pacific Journal of Applied Sport Sciences (APJASS)is committed to ensuring fairness, transparency, and accountability throughout the editorial and publication process.
Authors, reviewers, readers, and other stakeholders may submit appeals regarding editorial decisions or complaints concerning the journal's editorial processes, publication ethics, or professional conduct.
APJASS manages all appeals and complaints in accordance with the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) Core Practices and other internationally recognized standards of scholarly publishing.
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2. Appeals
Authors may appeal an editorial decision if they believe that the decision was based on a misunderstanding of the manuscript, a procedural error, or factual inaccuracies in the peer-review process.
Appeals will be considered only when supported by a clear and reasoned explanation. Disagreement with reviewers' opinions alone does not constitute sufficient grounds for an appeal.
Appeals should not be used to submit revised manuscripts unless specifically requested by the Editor-in-Chief.
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3. Appeal Procedure
Authors wishing to appeal an editorial decision should submit a written appeal to the Editorial Office within a reasonable period after receiving the decision.
The appeal should include:
- -manuscript title and manuscript ID;
- -corresponding author's name and contact information;
- -the editorial decision being appealed;
- -a detailed explanation of the grounds for the appeal; and
- -any supporting evidence considered relevant.
The Editor-in-Chief will review the appeal and may consult the original handling editor, additional editorial board members, or independent experts.
The Editor-in-Chief's decision following the appeal shall be final.
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4. Complaints
APJASS welcomes complaints concerning matters including, but not limited to:
- -editorial processes or editorial decisions;
- -delays in peer review or publication;
- -alleged breaches of publication ethics;
- -plagiarism, duplicate publication, or research misconduct;
- -conflicts of interest;
- -reviewer or editor misconduct;
- -authorship disputes;
- -journal policies or publication practices.
Complaints should be submitted in writing with sufficient detail and supporting documentation whenever possible.
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5. Complaint Handling Procedure
Upon receipt of a complaint, the Editorial Office will acknowledge receipt and conduct a preliminary assessment.
Where appropriate, the matter may be referred to the Editor-in-Chief, Editorial Board, or Research Ethics Committee for further investigation.
All parties involved will be given an opportunity to respond before any decision is made.
If necessary, APJASS may consult external experts or follow the guidance provided by COPE.
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6. Outcomes
Following investigation, APJASS may take one or more of the following actions:
- -maintain the original editorial decision;
- -reconsider the manuscript through additional editorial review or peer review;
- -publish a Correction, Erratum, or Corrigendum;
- -issue an Expression of Concern;
- -retract the published article;
- -revise journal policies or editorial procedures where appropriate; or
- -take any other action deemed necessary to protect the integrity of the scholarly record.
Complaints should be submitted in writing with sufficient detail and supporting documentation whenever possible.
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7. Confidentiality
All appeals and complaints will be handled confidentially.
Information relating to an appeal or complaint will be disclosed only to individuals directly involved in the investigation or decision-making process, unless disclosure is required by law or necessary to protect the integrity of the scholarly record.
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8. Conflict of Interest
Editors or reviewers who have a conflict of interest regarding an appeal or complaint shall not participate in its consideration.
Where appropriate, an independent editor or external expert will be appointed to ensure an impartial review.
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9. Protection Against Retaliation
APJASS does not tolerate retaliation against any individual who submits an appeal or complaint in good faith.
All appeals and complaints will be handled fairly, impartially, and without discrimination.
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10. Final Decision
The final decision regarding an appeal or complaint rests with the Editor-in-Chief.
Where necessary, the Editor-in-Chief may seek advice from the Editorial Board or the Research Ethics Committee.
All decisions made in accordance with this policy shall be considered final.
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11. Contact Information
Appeals and complaints should be submitted to:
Editorial Office
Asia-Pacific Journal of Applied Sport Sciences (APJASS)
Asian Society for Sport Convergence Sciences (ASCS)
E-mail: sport@ascs.kr
