Post-Publication Discussion Policy

1. Policy Statement

Seltics Journal: Scope of English Language Teaching, Literature and Linguistics Journal recognizes that scholarly communication and academic discussion may continue after an article has been published. The journal welcomes constructive, evidence-based comments, questions, and concerns regarding articles published in the journal.

Post-publication discussion aims to encourage academic dialogue, clarify scholarly arguments, improve the quality of published research, and maintain the accuracy, reliability, and integrity of the scholarly record.

The journal is committed to handling post-publication comments fairly, objectively, transparently, and in accordance with the principles of publication ethics.

2. Scope of Post-Publication Discussion

Post-publication discussion may address substantive academic issues related to articles published in Seltics Journal, including:

Theoretical or conceptual arguments and interpretations presented in a published article.
Research methods, data analysis, interpretation of findings, and conclusions.
The accuracy of factual statements, citations, references, tables, figures, or other published materials.
Relevant literature or scholarly perspectives that may contribute to further discussion of the published work.
Potential errors, inconsistencies, or concerns that may affect the interpretation or reliability of an article.
Possible violations of research or publication ethics that require editorial assessment.

Comments should be relevant to the published article and contribute meaningfully to scholarly discussion. The journal does not consider personal attacks, discriminatory remarks, unsupported accusations, or comments unrelated to the academic content of the publication.

3. Submission Procedure

Readers, researchers, authors, and other interested parties may submit post-publication comments or raise concerns about a published article by contacting the Editorial Team through the journal's official email address provided on the journal's website.

The journal does not require submissions to be made through a dedicated post-publication discussion feature in the Open Journal Systems (OJS) platform. Email is the designated communication channel for submitting comments and concerns under this policy.

A submission should include the following information:

The title of the published article and, where available, its DOI or article URL.
The name of the person submitting the comment and their institutional affiliation, if applicable.
A clear and concise explanation of the issue, question, or concern.
Supporting evidence, relevant references, or other information necessary to assess the matter.
The submitter's contact email address for further communication.

The Editorial Team may request additional information or clarification when necessary. Submission of a comment does not automatically guarantee its acceptance or publication.

4. Initial Editorial Assessment

Upon receiving a post-publication comment or concern, the Editorial Team will conduct an initial assessment to determine whether the submission is relevant to the published article, sufficiently clear, and supported by appropriate reasoning or evidence.

The assessment may consider:

The academic relevance and significance of the issue raised.
The quality and adequacy of the supporting evidence.
Whether the matter concerns scholarly interpretation, a correctable error, or a potential research or publication ethics issue.
Whether further clarification from the original author(s) or an independent expert is necessary.

The Editorial Team may decline to pursue submissions that are irrelevant, abusive, unsupported, or clearly outside the scope of scholarly discussion. Decisions will be made fairly and professionally, without prejudice against the submitter or the original author(s).

5. Communication with the Original Author(s)

When a post-publication comment raises a substantive academic question or a concern that requires clarification, the Editorial Team may contact the corresponding author of the published article and invite a response.

The original author(s) may be asked to clarify their arguments, explain their research methods or findings, respond to specific criticisms, or provide supporting information where appropriate.

The Editorial Team will assess the response alongside the original comment and any relevant evidence. Where necessary, the journal may consult an independent reviewer or subject expert to obtain an impartial assessment.

The opportunity to respond is intended to ensure fairness and to facilitate constructive scholarly dialogue. It does not guarantee that the original author(s)' response will be published.

6. Publication of Post-Publication Discussions

Depending on the nature of the submission and the journal's editorial assessment, a post-publication discussion may be handled through editorial correspondence or considered for formal publication as a scholarly comment, commentary, letter, or response, where an appropriate publication format is available.

If the journal decides to publish a comment or response, the submission will be subject to editorial assessment and, where appropriate, peer review. The published content must meet the journal's standards for academic quality, relevance, professional conduct, and publication ethics.

Where appropriate, the journal may provide the original author(s) with an opportunity to respond to a published comment. The journal aims to represent substantive academic disagreements fairly and accurately.

The publication of a comment or response does not necessarily imply that the journal endorses the views expressed by the contributor.

7. Handling Concerns About Research or Publication Misconduct

If a post-publication comment raises credible concerns about plagiarism, data fabrication or falsification, inappropriate authorship, research ethics, undisclosed conflicts of interest, or other potential research or publication misconduct, the Editorial Team will assess the matter in accordance with the journal's relevant ethical policies.

The journal may request explanations or supporting documentation from the author(s), seek independent expert advice, or contact the author's affiliated institution or other relevant parties when appropriate.

An allegation will not be treated as proven solely because it has been reported. The journal will consider the available evidence and provide relevant parties with an appropriate opportunity to respond.

Further procedures are described in the journal's Allegation of Research Misconduct Policy and Conflict of Interest Policy.

8. Corrections, Expressions of Concern, and Retractions

If the assessment of a post-publication comment identifies an error or concern that may affect the accuracy, reliability, or ethical integrity of a published article, the Editorial Team will determine the appropriate course of action.

Depending on the nature and seriousness of the issue, possible actions include:

No further action if the concern is not substantiated or does not require an editorial intervention.
Editorial clarification or communication with the relevant parties.
Publication of a correction when an error requires formal rectification.
Publication of an expression of concern when credible issues remain unresolved and further investigation is necessary.
Retraction when the evidence establishes that serious problems undermine the reliability or integrity of the published article.

Any formal editorial notice will identify the affected article and explain the reason for the action to the extent that can appropriately be disclosed. Where technically possible, the notice will be linked to the original article.

Detailed procedures are provided in the journal's Correction and Retraction Policy.

9. Confidentiality, Fairness, and Professional Conduct

The Editorial Team will handle post-publication correspondence responsibly and maintain confidentiality where appropriate. Information will be shared only with relevant parties as necessary to assess or resolve the matter, subject to applicable ethical and legal requirements.

All parties involved in post-publication discussions are expected to communicate respectfully, provide accurate information, and avoid personal attacks or knowingly misleading statements.

Editorial decisions will be based on the scholarly merits of the submission, the available evidence, and the need to preserve the integrity of the published record.

10. Editorial Decisions and Communication

The Editorial Team will communicate with the submitter when further information, clarification, or a response is required. Where an editorial decision is made, the journal may inform the relevant parties of the outcome through email.

The time required to assess a post-publication comment may vary depending on the complexity of the issue, the availability of relevant evidence, and the need for expert consultation. The journal will seek to handle matters as promptly as reasonably possible without compromising the fairness or quality of the assessment.

The Editorial Team retains responsibility for determining the appropriate editorial action in accordance with the journal's policies and publication ethics principles.

11. Related Editorial Policies

This policy should be read together with the following Seltics Journal policies:

Plagiarism Policy
Allegation of Research Misconduct Policy
Conflict of Interest Policy
Correction and Retraction Policy
Publication Ethics
Artificial Intelligence (AI) Policy, where applicable

These policies work together to support responsible scholarly communication, transparent editorial procedures, and the integrity of the journal's publications.

Seltics Journal
Scope of English Language Teaching, Literature and Linguistics Journal
English Education Study Program, Faculty of Teacher Training and Education, Universitas Muslim Maros, Indonesia