Appeal Policy

Appeal Policy

"The Shield - Research Journal of Physical Education & Sports Science" is committed to fair and transparent processes for addressing appeals and complaints. This policy strictly aligns with the guidelines and flowcharts set forth by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) to uphold the highest ethical standards in sports sciences publishing.

  1. Appealing Editorial Decisions (Pre-Publication)

Authors may appeal a decision (e.g., rejection) if they believe the editorial or peer review process was flawed or requires re-evaluation based on new evidence.

Grounds for Appeal

Appeals must be based on objective criteria, such as:

  • Procedural Errors: Evidence of bias in the peer review process (e.g., biased review of a study on athlete performance).
  • Misinterpretation: Clear evidence that the reviewers or editors misinterpreted the data or core argument (e.g., misinterpretation of statistical analysis in sports biomechanics research).
  • New Evidence: New, compelling evidence that directly impacts the conclusions (e.g., updated injury recovery protocols that were unavailable during the initial review).

Appeal Process

  1. Submission: The appeal must be submitted via email to [email protected] within 30 days of the decision notification.
  2. Required Documents: The submission must include:
    • Manuscript ID and title.
    • A point-by-point rebuttal addressing all major reviewer and editor comments.
    • Supporting evidence (e.g., additional data validating training methodologies or statistical re-analysis).
  3. Editorial Review: The Editor-in-Chief re-evaluates the submission, often consulting independent experts (e.g., sports physiologists) who were not involved in the original review.
  4. Outcome: The final decision is communicated to the author within 4–6 weeks. Outcomes include acceptance, request for further revisions, or rejection upheld.
  5. Appealing Post-Publication Corrective Actions

Concerns regarding the integrity of a published article are handled according to the strictest ethical standards.

Grounds for Retraction or Correction

Corrective actions (e.g., Correction, Erratum, or Retraction) may be appealed if the investigation process is deemed flawed. Initial corrective actions are initiated due to:

  • Data Integrity Issues: Such as fabricated athlete performance metrics or falsified research results.
  • Plagiarism: Including copied text or data in sports psychology studies.
  • Ethical Breaches: Such as unapproved use of minors’ sports performance data or lack of ethics clearance.

Investigation and Resolution

  1. Submit Concerns: Concerns about a published article must be submitted via email to [email protected] with clear, documented evidence.
  2. Investigation: The journal strictly follows COPE’s Retraction Guidelines. The Editor-in-Chief collaborates with the editorial board and relevant ethics experts (e.g., sports sociologists) to conduct a thorough investigation.
  3. Resolution: Based on the investigation, the journal will issue a Correction (for minor errors) or a Retraction (for severe breaches), linking the notice to the original article.
  4. General Concerns or Complaints

This mechanism covers complaints not directly related to a specific acceptance/rejection decision.

  • Scope: Includes allegations of bias (e.g., unfair peer review of coaching strategy research), ethical concerns (e.g., undisclosed conflicts in sports equipment studies), or procedural errors.
  • Process: Submit the complaint via email to [email protected] with all details (manuscript ID, issue description, and evidence). The Managing Editor reviews all documentation and correspondence using COPE’s Complaints Framework.
  • Outcome: A written resolution is provided within 6–8 weeks.

Contact for Appeals or Complaints:

Editor The Shield - Research Journal of Physical Education & Sports Sciences Email: [email protected]