Post Publication Discussion Policy

Post-Publication Discussion Policy

1. Purpose

The Journal of Community Service – JPKM encourages constructive, open, and responsible scientific discussion following the publication of articles (post-publication discussion). This discussion aims to improve the quality of scholarly publications, clarify the findings and contributions of community service activities, and provide readers and the academic community with opportunities to raise questions, provide responses, offer criticism, or share additional information relevant to published articles.

2. Scope of Discussion

Post-publication discussions may include:

  1. Clarification of the methods, implementation, results, or conclusions of community service activities.

  2. Critical responses to the interpretation of results and the contributions of an article.

  3. Additional information that may strengthen, clarify, or provide a different perspective on an article.

  4. Questions regarding the application of community service findings in other contexts.

  5. Identification of potential errors, inconsistencies, or issues of scientific integrity that require editorial attention.

Discussions must focus on scholarly substance and be conducted in polite, objective, and respectful language toward all parties involved.

3. Channels for Submitting Discussions

Readers may submit comments or questions regarding published articles through the official communication channels provided by the journal management, such as the editorial office email address, comment or discussion features on the journal platform where available, or other official mechanisms announced by the Journal of Community Service – JPKM.

Each submission should include the article title, author names, volume, issue, year of publication, and DOI or article link, where available. The submission should also briefly explain the main issue being discussed and provide supporting evidence or references, where necessary.

4. Review of Responses

The editorial board of the Journal of Community Service – JPKM reserves the right to review submitted responses before determining the appropriate follow-up action. This review is conducted to ensure that responses are relevant to the article, adequately substantiated, professionally presented, and free from insults, threats, privacy violations, or material unrelated to scholarly discussion.

Where necessary, the editorial board may request clarification from the submitter, invite the article's authors to respond, or involve editors and independent experts to assess the substance of the issues raised.

5. Authors' Right of Reply

Authors whose articles are the subject of discussion may be given the opportunity to provide a response or clarification. Authors' responses must address the substantive issues raised and be supported by relevant explanations or evidence.

The provision of a right of reply does not mean that authors are required to agree with all criticism received. However, authors are expected to respond to criticism professionally and remain open to evidence-based corrections.

6. Editorial Decisions and Follow-Up Actions

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

  1. Publish or facilitate the publication of responses and authors' replies, where an appropriate channel is available.

  2. Request additional clarification from the relevant parties.

  3. Recommend a correction if an error is found that affects the accuracy of the article.

  4. Initiate further investigation if a response indicates a suspected breach of publication ethics or publication integrity.

  5. Take other appropriate editorial actions in accordance with the journal's policies and the severity of the issues identified.

Post-publication discussion does not automatically result in the amendment, retraction, or withdrawal of an article. Any action affecting a published article must be based on editorial assessment and sufficient evidence and must follow the applicable policies and procedures for corrections and retractions.

7. Discussion Ethics

All parties involved in post-publication discussions are required to uphold the ethics of scholarly communication. Criticism must be directed at the content, methods, data, or conclusions of an article rather than at the authors or other parties personally.

The editorial board may reject or decline to facilitate responses that are irrelevant, inadequately substantiated, contain inappropriate language, violate privacy, or otherwise conflict with publication ethics.

8. Transparency and Editorial Independence

The Journal of Community Service – JPKM is committed to handling post-publication discussions fairly, objectively, and transparently. Editorial decisions are based on the substance of the issues raised and the available evidence, rather than on the identity, affiliation, reputation, or personal interests of the parties involved.

If a discussion reveals issues that may affect the reliability or integrity of an article, the editorial board will follow up in accordance with the journal's publication ethics policies and editorial procedures.

9. Journal Commitment

The Journal of Community Service – JPKM regards post-publication discussion as an integral part of its efforts to maintain the quality, accountability, and sustainability of scholarly communication. Through this mechanism, the journal encourages responsible exchanges of ideas and continuous improvements in knowledge and community service practices.

This policy applies to articles published in JPKM and may be reviewed periodically in accordance with developments in scholarly publishing practices and the journal's editorial policies.