The editorial board of the journal «GRAIL OF SCIENCE» adheres in its work to the principles of integrity, transparency, and responsibility, and considers all complaints regarding violations of academic integrity and publication ethics in accordance with the recommendations of international organizations in the field of publication ethics and relevant national standards, in particular:
– recommendations on complaints and appeals by the
Committee on Publication Ethics
– recommendations on ethics and editorial processes by the
World Association of Medical Editors
– principles set out in the
San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment
– best practices by the
Open Access Scholarly Publishing Association
– as well as standards established in the
Code of Ethics of a Scientist of Ukraine
Submission and Content Requirements for a Complaint.
A complaint regarding possible violations of academic integrity or publication ethics must be submitted in written form to the editorial office email grail@ukrlogos.group. Complaints may be submitted by authors, reviewers, readers, or other interested parties. Complaints may concern issues such as violations of academic integrity (plagiarism, fabrication, falsification of data); authorship violations; conflicts of interest; biased or low-quality peer review; violations of editorial procedures; errors or ethical issues in published materials, etc. A complaint must include:
– a clear description of the nature of the violation;
– a reference to the relevant publication or manuscript;
– supporting materials (if available).
Preliminary Review. 3 to 14 days
After receiving a complaint, the editorial board:
– acknowledges its receipt within a reasonable time;
– conducts a preliminary assessment of its validity;
– determines the need for further investigation.
All complaints are considered impartially, regardless of the status of the complainant or the authors.
Confidentiality of information and protection of personal data of all parties are ensured.
Investigation. 7 to 60 days
If necessary, the editorial board initiates a detailed investigation, which may include:
– communication with authors, reviewers, and other participants in the process;
– involvement of independent experts and/or members of the editorial board;
– обращения to institutions and/or organizations.
Decision-Making. 1 to 3 days
Based on the results of the review and/or investigation, the following decisions may be made:
– rejection of the complaint if it is unfounded;
– request for revision or explanation from the authors;
– rejection of the manuscript (if it has not yet been published);
– внесення corrections to the publication;
– publication of an expression of concern;
– retraction of the publication;
– notification of relevant institutions and/or organizations.
The editorial board ensures the integrity of the scientific record and acts in accordance with the principle of correcting scientific errors when they are identified. Persons who have a potential conflict of interest regarding the subject of the complaint are not involved in its consideration.
The editorial board reserves the right to refuse further cooperation, and to temporarily or permanently restrict the publication opportunities of authors whose materials have been subject to confirmed violations identified during the review and/or investigation.
Notification of Parties. 1 to 3 days
After completion of the review and/or investigation:
– the complainant receives notification of the results of the complaint review;
– the authors are informed of the decision;
– if necessary, relevant editorial notices are published.
Appeal of Editorial Decisions.
In case of disagreement with the editorial decision, the complainant or the author may submit a reasoned appeal. The editorial board reconsiders the case taking into account new arguments or evidence. If the issue cannot be resolved at the journal level, it may be referred to relevant external bodies or considered with the involvement of independent experts.
In complex or disputed cases, the editorial board reserves the right to contact the Committee on Publication Ethics for consultation or recommendations on further actions.
Edition dated 23.01.2026
