Complaints and Allegations Handling Procedure

Suspected breaches of our publication ethics policies, either before and after publication, as well as concerns about research ethics, should be reported to Editorial.

Claimants will be kept anonymous if requested, though claimants may also wish to use an anonymous.

UARR may ask the authors to provide the underlying data and images, consult editors, and contact institutions or employers to ask for an investigation or to raise concerns.

Upon receipt of a complaint:

the Editor-in-Chief or a designated editorial board member will conduct an initial assessment within 10 working days;

the complainant may be asked to provide additional information or clarification;

if the complaint appears valid, a formal investigation will be initiated.

The editorial board conducts the investigation, involving independent experts if necessary. All parties involved have the right to provide a written explanation. Each party will be treated fairly and given the opportunity to respond.

Depending on the findings, the editorial board may take one or more of the following actions:

issue a correction or erratum;

publish a notice of concern or a formal retraction;

notify the author’s affiliated institution;

reject the manuscript or withdraw the published article;

impose a submission ban for a specified period;

take other appropriate measures as recommended by COPE.