Journal Complaints Policy

The African Journal of Empirical Research, published by AJER Publishing, is committed to maintaining the highest standards of publication ethics, transparency, accountability, fairness, and editorial integrity. The publisher provides a fair, confidential, and impartial mechanism for receiving, investigating, and resolving complaints concerning its journals, editorial processes, published articles, and the conduct of individuals involved in scholarly publishing.

Complaints may be submitted by authors, reviewers, editors, readers, researchers, or other interested parties. These may concern editorial decisions, peer-review procedures, publication delays, research misconduct, plagiarism, authorship disputes, conflicts of interest, unethical editorial practices, or other matters relating to journal operations.

Complaints Handling Procedure

  1. Submission and Acknowledgement: Complaints should be submitted in writing to the journal's editorial office, clearly outlining the concerns and providing relevant supporting evidence. The publisher acknowledges receipt and undertakes a preliminary assessment of the complaint.

  2. Impartial Investigation: Where a complaint warrants further investigation, the publisher establishes an independent task force or investigation committee comprising individuals who have no direct conflict of interest in the matter. The committee examines the complaint objectively and confidentially.

  3. Consultation with Concerned Parties: The journal ensures that all parties involved are given a fair opportunity to present their positions, provide explanations, and submit relevant evidence. No conclusions are reached without considering the available information and the responses of the concerned parties.

  4. Resolution and Corrective Action: Following the investigation, the committee submits its findings and recommendations to the publisher. Depending on the nature and severity of the complaint, appropriate measures may include mediation, reconsideration of editorial decisions, correction of published material, issuance of an editorial notice, retraction where justified, or other corrective actions consistent with accepted publication ethics.

  5. Communication and Appeals: The publisher communicates the outcome of the investigation to the concerned parties, subject to confidentiality requirements. Parties dissatisfied with the resolution may request reconsideration, particularly where new evidence or procedural irregularities are identified.

  6. Confidentiality and Non-Retaliation: All complaints are handled professionally and with appropriate confidentiality. The publisher does not tolerate retaliation against individuals who raise genuine concerns in good faith.